Overnight camping begins Monday

Campgrounds in Saskatchewan’s provincial parks open for overnight stays starting Monday.

Some changes will be implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19.

For instance, only half of the sites at any given campground can be booked. Cleaning and sanitizing procedures are required, and common areas like playgrounds and showers will stay closed.

An automatic permit-checking system will also be implemented, allowing campers to avoid contact with staff working the front gate.

Currently, only Saskatchewan residents will be allowed to book an overnight campsite in the provincial parks.

Gene Makowsky, the province’s minister of parks, culture and sport, is optimistic camping can still be a good time with these restrictions.

“While some restrictions remain in place for now, there is still plenty of opportunity to make this camping season a safe and memorable one. Our park staff have been working hard to prepare for visitors and are looking forward to seeing campers soon,” he said in a press release.

Some tips on finding a campsite

Mike Clancy, the author of “A User’s Guide to Saskatchewan Parks,” joined Gormley to share some tips on how you should choose a campsite.

He had two straight-up recommendations for some of his favourite parks.

Pine Cree Regional Park is in the southwest of the province, near Eastend. He likes to call it a “hidden gem.”

“You’re essentially hiking in the Cypress Hills all by yourself… and you’re close to top quality museums over in Eastend, top quality restaurants. Lots of hiking in that area, and there’s even fish in that creek, although I’ve never caught one,” he explained.

For a park in the central area, he highly recommends Herbert Ferry Regional Park. It’s located about 40 kilometers north of Herbert along Lake Diefenbaker. It can be accessed from either Regina or Saskatoon in about two hours.

It’s another place he had high praise for.

“The bay where the campground is situated is a great boat-launch,” he said.

“For kids, it’s glorious…. there are lumps of clay right on the bay’s sand, so you can get that and use that for sand castle building. Plus, you’re right in the Bearpaw Shale formation, so there are all kinds of fossils for kids to pick up right there on the beach.”

However, he believes it’s important to choose a park based on your personal tastes.

“Really, it depends on what you want to do.”

Regional parks tend to be more specialized, and can offer lower prices in some areas than provincial or federal parks.

“Because they don’t have the resources to appeal to everyone for all reasons, they tend to specialize on what they felt they needed. It might be a golf course, it might be swimming … and they do that very well,” he explained.

Provincial and federal parks, on the other hand, have a wider variety of activities available.