Saskatchewan Provincial Parks – 2023 Reservations Information

It’s mid January and I know a lot of hard core campers, like myself, are already dreaming of those warm summer nights at the lake. In fact, I think many of us start dreaming about next year’s season as soon as last year’s gear was neatly packed away. It really is a way of life for many of us.

Of course camping isn’t just for us die hard fans. It really is an experience that just about everyone can enjoy. I’ve taken advantage of lots of different ways to camp in our provincial parks over the years. I’ve tented. I’ve camped in an RV. I’ve booked some of the Camp Easy sites that were introduced a few years ago. There are so many ways to get out there and take advantage of our beautiful parks.

2013 Reservation Dates

April 3 – Seasonal Camping

Seasonal camping reservations open up for all provincial parks on April 3rd.

There are four types of seasonal sites available in our provincial parks:

• Full-service campsites are defined campsites with electricity, water, and sewer hookup. Campers also have access to a service centre, firewood, fire pit and picnic table. Service centres contain showers, flush toilets, hot and cold running water, sinks, and electrical outlets.
• Electric campsites are defined campsites with electricity and water point access. Campers also have access to a service centre, firewood, fire pit and picnic table.
• Non-electric campsites are campsites with access to non-dedicated water points, firewood, fire pit, picnic table and within driving distance of a service centre. No electricity available within campsites.
• Economy campsites are rustic, non-electric campsites without one or more of the following: firewood; campsite furniture; water; or access to a service centre (closest one is more than a 10-minute drive away).

Here is a break down of what is available for seasonal sites at each park. You can click on each to bring up the list of sites:

• Blackstrap – 10 electric sites
• Bronson Forest – 12 electric sites
• Buffalo Pound – 30 electric sites and 10 full serve sites
• Candle Lake – 18 electric sites and 2 non electric sites
• Crooked Lake – 23 electric sites
• Danielson – 21 electric sites
• Duck Mountain – 98 electric sites
• Echo Valley – 100 electric sites
• Good Spirit – 30 electric sites and 2 full service sites
• Great Blue Heron – 10 electric sites
• Greenwater – 20 electric sites and 14 full serve sites
• La La Ronge – 7 electric sites
• Makwa Lake – 23 electric sites and 4 non electric
• Meadow Lake – 24 electric sites and 5 full serve sites and 2 non electric sites
• Moose Mountain – 70 electric sites
• Narrow Hills – 10 electric sites and 3 economy sites
• Pike Lake – 23 electric sites
• Porcupine Hills – 7 economy sites
• Rowan’s Ravine – 104 electric sites
• Battlefords – 53 electric sites

April 4 – Nightly Camping

• Candle Lake
• Good Spirit Lake
• Meadow Lake
• Saskatchewan Landing

April 6 – Nightly Camping

• Douglas
• Echo Valley
• Makwa Lake
• Narrow Hills
• Pike Lake

April 10 – Nightly Camping

• Danielson
• Great Blue heron
• Greenwater Lake
• Rowan’s Ravine
• The Battlefords

April 11 – Nightly Camping

• Buffalo Pound
• Bronson Forest
• Duck Mountain
• Moose Mountain

April 12 – Nightly Camping

• Blackstrap
• Crooked Lake
• Cypress Hills
• Lac La Ronge

**Group camping, pavilion, picnic shelters and rec hall bookings open on the same day as nightly reservations at each park

What’s New This Year?

There are always a couple of changes to the process or to the parks every year and we know how that can throw a wrench into the whole experience. Luckily the changes are minimal this year and only one of them is a system change.

Notification Feature

This was a featured we were promised last year that ended up not functioning. So, they are trying it again this year. If your site of choice is already booked by another camper you can add it to your list and the system will alert you if the site becomes available.

There have been an additional 37 seasonal sites added between 5 parks.

New Camp Easy Yurts have been added at Pike Lake, Good Spirit, Greenwater and Crooked Lakes. There are now 9 provincial parks with Camp Easy sites and they are a fantastic opportunity for campers with the bear minimal of gear or even those of us that have all the essentials but maybe don’t have the time and/or energy some days!

There are also a few fee changes this year. I will add a list of fees further in this post.

Reservation Tips

If you have ever tried you hand at reserving sites on the day it opens you know it is not always a seamless experience. It can be pretty frustrating. The good news is, as far as I know, the system hasn’t changed much from last year. We had a few years where we were introduced to completely new booking systems and that can be a challenge for both people wanting to book and the system itself. Last year’s experience went relatively well. I know not everyone will agree with that but my own experience reserving the past couple of years has been pretty smooth.

If you do not already have an account now is the time to make one. And if you do have an existing account now is the time to log in and make sure you remember your credentials and can get in to the system!

Take advantage of the tutorials provided on how to book sites. They are very helpful, especially if you are new to the system.

There are also a couple of documents that I highly recommend you print and keep on hand if this is a new experience for you:

How to Book A Seasonal Site

How to Book a Nightly Site

Familiarize yourself not only with the booking process but also with the sites at the parks you are wanting to reserve. Opening reservation day is NOT the day you want to chose a site. When the system opens you should be prepared with a list of sites and dates ready to go. There is lots of good information, along with photos, of the sites so you can do a little research ahead of time.

Don’t count on getting what you want. Have a ranked list of sites and dates that you are willing to book. You can log in at any time and create a list of your favorite sites for easy access. You can also access past reservations if you have some sites you have booked before but don’t remember the site number.

Reservations open on the specified days at 7:00 am. You can, and should, log in ahead of that time. However, you will not be able to reserve until that time and at 7:00 am sharp you must refresh your screen. Depending on how busy things are (and expect them to be busy) you will then either be able to go directly to reserve your site(s) OR you may be added to a queue. Note that if you added any sites to your cart prior to 7:00 am they will no longer be there. You cannot begin any part of the process before 7:00 am and/or until your place in the queue comes up.

I know that people like to have several devices logged in and even have multiple people on multiple devices logged in for them. That is entirely up to you BUT don’t get angry when the system is overloaded. That’s bound to happen when a multitude of people have 4 or 5 log ins going at once. I personally have never had more than two browsers open during this process and I have had good luck with getting in.

This can be a stressful experience. And there are going to be people frustrated and disappointed, especially seasonal campers. It’s always been a challenge to secure a seasonal spot in some parks and the demand since the pandemic hit (for all camping not just seasonal) has made it even more challenging. If you don’t get a seasonal on opening day CHECK BACK OFTEN to see if one or more open up. Because it does happen. If the favorites notification system works this year that will make is easier but if you have your heart set on a seasonal and don’t manage to snag one the morning it opens be persistent with checking. You may get lucky.

Also note that the limits for the amount of nights you can book a nightly site were removed a couple of years ago so that also provides a little flexibility,

Fees

Service	Fee
Seasonal Camping:
Full Service	$ 3,400.00
Electric	$ 2,600.00
Non Electric	$ 1,400.00
Economy	$ 1,100.00
Nightly Camping
Full Service	$ 44.00
Electric	$ 33.00
Non Electric	$ 20.00
Economy	$ 18.00
Group Camping
Small (up to 7 sites)	$120.00 – electric $ 80.00 – non electric $ 72.00 – economy
Medium (8-12 sites)	$ 180.00 – electric $ 120.00 – non electric $ 108.00 – economy
Large (13 or more sites)	$ 240.00 – electric $ 160.00 – non electric $144.00 – economy
Campy Easy
Camp easy tent or Yurt	$ 85.00
Mongolian Yurt	$ 116.00
Refundable damage deposit	$ 50.00 / reservation
Park Entry Permits
Annual Permit	$ 82.00
Weekly Permit	$ 42.00
Daily Permit	$ 11.00

We have such a beautiful province with so many amazing camping opportunities. I personally love our provincial parks but we also have some lovely regional parks that are worth considering. There are also a fair amount of private campgrounds to check out.

Good luck and happy camping!