Campers Get Ready - Provincial Parks and Reserves Opening for 2013

The 2013 camping season is quickly approaching in Newfoundland and Labrador, with seven provincial parks scheduled to open in time for the Victoria Day weekend. Barachois Pond, Butter Pot, Frenchman’s Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, La Manche, Lockston Path and Notre Dame are set to open May 15. The remaining six provincial camping parks will open in late May and early June.

The guided tours for the Cape St. Mary's Visitor Centre and Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve will open to the public on May 11.

“Our system of parks and protected areas are places of natural beauty for which we are renowned,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “I encourage all residents and visitors to explore the natural features that our province has to offer, including our many campgrounds and reserves.”

The provincial parks Campsite Reservation Service will launch between April 23 and April 26. The service is available by calling toll-free 1-877-214-CAMP (2267) or online at www.NLcamping.ca and will begin at 7:00 a.m. Newfoundland Standard Time on the scheduled launch dates outlined in the backgrounder below.

In 2012, more than 12,500 reservations were made in provincial parks through the campsite reservation service.

Clients will notice a new security measure, Captcha, has been introduced to the campsite reservation service to provide equal access to the online reservation system. This measure will be in place during the launch period of April 23-26.

The province's network of provincial parks and natural areas includes 13 camping parks, seven day-use parks, the T'Railway Provincial Park, Main River Waterway Provincial Park and 10 park reserves, for a total of 32 provincial parks. In addition to provincial parks, there are two wilderness reserves and 18 ecological reserves that protect significant seabird colonies, rare plants and significant fossil sites.

More information about provincial parks and reserves may be obtained by calling 709-635-4520 or visiting www.gov.nl.ca/env/parks

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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575; 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
2013 Launch Dates for Campsite Reservation Service

 2013 Opening and Closing Dates for Provincial Parks and Reserves

Note: Dates are subject to change depending on weather and snow conditions at the time of opening.

2013 04 15                             11:25 a.m.