Parks Canada places red Adirondack/Muskoka chairs in many of its parks, like these in Gros Morne National Park/Canadian Tourism Commission

With so many Canadians being asked to stay home and avoid non-essential travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty about how this year will play out, Parks Canada has moved the start of this summer’s reservations for campsites and experiences from January to April.

When the reservation system does open, it will be for trips between May 2021 and March 2022. The reservation openings for different parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites will also be staggered throughout April.

The delay means people can make their reservations closer to the date of travel and reduce the number of bookings that may need to be cancelled due to potential Covid-19 restrictions. It will also give Parks Canada more time to monitor the pandemic and make any necessary changes to its full-service campsites, roofed accommodations, interpretive guided hikes and remote backcountry experiences.

“This year, Canadians have reconnected with nature,” Parks Canada noted in a news release. “From camping to hiking and canoeing — families have enjoyed national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas close to home, which have provided access to nature while practicing safe physical distancing.”

Online reservations can be made here or by calling 1-877-737-3783.

For a limited number of national parks, people can already make reservations for camping until the end of March. This includes Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park and Yoho National Park (both backcountry only), La Mauricie National Park, Riding Mountain National Park and Fundy National Park.

As well, starting January 12, visitors will be able to reserve the oTENTiks in Point Pelee National Park for the spring bird migration. Point Pelee has 24 of the popular oTENTiks that are a cross between a prospector tent and A-frame cabin and come with raised wooden floors, beds, furniture and lighting. They cost $122.64 a night (about $96 USD) and are clustered in an area it calls Camp Henry.

"Parks Canada is asking Canadians to be cautious and conservative in their use of Parks Canada adminstered places this winter, to observe travel restrictions, to respect the guidance of public health experts, and to make every effort to flatten the curve and keep one another safe,” spokesperson Laurence Crête said in an email interview.

In the past decade, the park’s reservation system has grown from taking 100,000 bookings a year to taking nearly 400,000. Each park decides how many campsites to offer for reservations, but most have increased that number in response to visitors who arrived on busy weekends and found campsites still available that could not be reserved. In 2009, 60 per cent of reservations were made through the website instead of by phone. By 2019, that number was 89 per cent and it’s expected to continue to climb.

Parks Canada protects a network of natural and cultural heritage places that includes 47 national parks, one national urban park, 171 national historic sites and five national marine conservation areas. Thirty-eight of these spots take reservations.

Canada/United States border restrictions which began last March are currently in place until January 21, but will likely be extended to prevent non-essential travel. The joint initiative is typically reviewed every 30 days.