The Victoria Day long weekend marks to unofficial kickoff to camping season to most B.C. campers.
The weekend provides campers around B.C. to get out and explore the many B.C. provincial parks and recreation sites.
Bookings at B.C. provincial parks is up 14 per cent this year, up to 41,154 bookings to date, compared with 36,038 bookings at this same time in 2013.
So what does Burns Lake and the area have to offer B.C. campers?
There are three provincial parks in the Burns Lake area that are listed on the B.C. Parks website, (www.bcparks.ca), Ethel M. Wilson Memorial park, Babine Lake Marine (Pendleton Bay) park and Dead Man’s Island.
Ethel M. Wilson and Pendleton Bay parks are maintained by the Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society, and officially open May 15 this year.
Both parks offer great fishing opportunities, and Pendleton Bay has a boat launch for campers looking to use their boat.
Along with the two provincial parks, which are high traffic campsites, Burns Lake offers a number of other camping spots that provide a great camping experience as well.
These include, Kager Lake, Augier Lake, Coop Lake, Taltapin Lake, Indian Bay, McLure Pit, Pinkut Lake and Takysie Lake, although Takysie Lake will be closed for the summer due to upgrades happening around the site.
Burns Lake’s camping sites set themselves apart from other areas in B.C. because of the abundance of lakes, excellent fishing opportunities and there is no need to make a reservation.
Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society president, Lynn Synotte, has a few reminders for people looking to use the camping sites during the upcoming long weekend, and all summer.
“Remember these sites are free, it is important for the users to be responsible,” Synotte said, “use the fire rings provided, make sure your fires are out before leaving, wear life jackets when out on the water, take your garbage with you when you leave and leave it cleaner than when you arrived. Respect other campers.”
For more information on camping opportunities in Burns Lake, visit one of the following: the Burns Lake visitors centre, Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society’s FaceBook page, the Ministry of Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. and the Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association’s website.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for the 2014 Burns Lake tourist book coming out May 21.