Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
YELLOWKNIFE - Campgrounds around Yellowknife are so busy, RVers and campers are being forced into spare spots near showers and bathrooms, according to one parks official.
Philip Lee, regional superintendent for the North Slave for Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), said they were expecting a big demand for spots over the long weekend.
"They'll be full to overflowing," he said last week.
An online reservation system is helping officials to know when campsites will be full, he added.
Fred Henne Territorial Park has seen the majority of the traffic this summer with 800 of Yellowknife's 1,500 reservations.
"It's the only campground with power," Lee said.
That is one of the reasons it's such a big draw, especially with tourists, he said.
"It's close to the city and most tourists want to see the city," he said.
The online reservation system is also allowing staff to see reservation trends.
In the past, Lee said he was aware Prelude and Reid Lake territorial parks were more popular with residents of the North, while Fred Henne saw more tourist traffic.
"Local demand is certainly the big draw, especially at Prelude Lake and Reid Lake," Lee said.
Yellowknifer Tom Snow was at the campgrounds on Wednesday and said that he could only stay there until Saturday.
"We come here whenever we can to get a campsite," he said.
He said that he didn't use the online booking system but just showed up.
Another camper, who didn't want to be identified, said that the camping was fine.
"You don't really notice when it's crowded," she said.
Lee couldn't tell whether the parks have been seeing more visitors than last year, but so far everything looks good.
"If the weekends are any indication we are up."
ITI has a 14-day maximum stay rule in effect at Fred Henne and Prelude Lake between June 15 and Aug. 15.
"It's designed to ensure that the sites aren't totally taken up by local residents," Lee said.
Closing date for the parks this year is Sept. 15.
