Key Camping Reservation Dates for 2026

Jeremy
Jan 15
3 min read

Your guide to booking campsites early across BC and the Canadian Rockies

The best time to secure your 2026 campsite is January Parks Canada campgrounds open on specific mornings, and many fill within minutes.

Below is a simple, date-by-date guide, followed by an

explanation of how BC Parks reservations work.

Outland camper with the roof top tent open near Vancouver BC

Parks Canada – 2026 Reservation Opening Dates

Parks Canada releases availability in January 2026, with reservation launch days staggered by park.

Friday, January 16, 2026 — 8:00 AM PT

Front-country and backcountry camping opens in several BC national parks:

Glacier National Park• Loop Brook• Hermit Meadows• Illecillewaet

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve• SMONEĆTEN• Prior Centennial• Sidney Spit• Shingle Bay

Mount Revelstoke National Park• Snowforest• Eva Lake Backcountry• Jade Lakes Backcountry

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 — 8:00 AM MT

Front-country camping opens in two national parks:

Kootenay National Park• Redstreak• Marble Canyon• McLeod Meadows

Yoho National Park• Kicking Horse• Monarch

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 — 8:00 AM MT

A major launch day for Alberta:

Waterton Lakes National Park• Townsite

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site• Heritage Camping• Main Campground

Wood Buffalo National Park• Pine Lake

Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 8:00 AM MT

Yoho National Park• Lake O’Hara Overnight Camping

Note: The day-use bus is by lottery — apply March 2–23 — but the overnight campground follows this launch date.

Friday, January 23, 2026 — 8:00 AM MT

Banff National Park — Front-country Campgrounds• Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court• Tunnel Mountain Village 1 & 2• Lake Louise (hard-sided & soft-sided)• Protection Mountain• Johnston Canyon• Two Jack Main & Lakeside• Rampart Creek• Silverhorn Creek

One of the busiest mornings of the season.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 — 8:00 AM MT

Jasper National Park — Front-country Camping• Whistlers• Miette• Wapiti• Overflow

BC Parks Reservations (Provincial Parks) — How They Work in 2026

Outland camping setup at a campground near vancouver BC

Unlike Parks Canada, BC Parks does not release all sites on one day.

Rolling 3-Month Booking Window

You can reserve up to 3 months before your arrival date, at:🕖 7:00 AM Pacific Time, every morning

Example:Arrive July 15 → Book April 15 at 7 AM

This applies to most popular provincial parks, including:

Golden Ears
Alice Lake
Porteau Cove
Manning Park
Rathtrevor Beach
French Beach
and dozens more across BC

Why it matters

✔️ No single “camping opening day”

✔️ You must track your own targeted arrival date

✔️ Sites appear every morning and disappear fast in summer

Good to know

Some parks have first-come, first-served sites
Remote forest recreation sites don’t require reservations
Long weekends book up immediately — set reminders early

Outland ford maverick camper with roof top tent being set up in the canadian rockies

January is also a great time to lock in your vehicle dates especially for the June through September peak season.

Check availability anytime at: outlandvancouver.com/bookyourcamper

Add All 2026 Camping Launch Dates to Your Calendar

Don’t want to set reminders manually? We’ve put together a downloadable calendar file that automatically adds every Parks Canada opening day straight to your phone or laptop.

Just download the file below and import it into your calendar app: