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The Victoria Day long weekend brought cool and varied conditions this year, marking a slower opening for Saskatchewan provincial parks.
Despite a drop of roughly 25 per cent in visitors to provincial parks over the long weekend – likely due to cooler temperatures and weather conditions – Tanya Lawson, executive director of park operations with the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, said staff were excited to welcome visitors back to the parks after a long winter.
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Lawson said there were plenty of dedicated campers “still wanting to get out there and enjoy the parks, no matter the weather.”
But despite the excitement, she said provincial parks were still “a bit slower than normal” over the long weekend.
“It really can be weather dependent for folks as to whether they want to head out,” Lawson explained.
“Even with the later spring, bookings were still strong, and I think it just really speaks to how important our parks are to our visitors. People were just really excited to get back and connect with their favorite parks.”
Lawson did not have exact figures on park attendance due to the constantly changing conditions throughout the long weekend, but said some parks still reported “really high numbers, considering the weather.”
She said more typical spring conditions were felt in the south and central parts of Saskatchewan, while the east-central and northern areas were still experiencing wintery conditions.
Lawson said visitor numbers were likely higher in the south part of Saskatchewan, but lots of the parks experienced rain and some snow on the weekend.
“They were down a bit, but it was still a really good weekend,” Lawson said, crediting the parks staff and “dedicated campers” for persevering, despite Mother Nature’s long weekend showing.
Lawson said it was different-looking long weekend this year.
She said most southern parks had normal operating conditions with water on and sites ready, though a number of parks were under precautionary drinking water advisories going into the long weekend.
“That’s very commonplace,” she explained, “just because it takes time to get those systems up and running.”
Parks in east central Saskatchewan like Good Spirit saw much higher water levels. Wintry conditions persisted in parks like Greenwater, Duck Mountain and Porcupine Hills. Moving north, the snowpack accumulation was more significant, with ice still covering some lakes and snow on the ground in the campgrounds.
Those conditions meant some parks did not have water on or service centres available. Campers were notified ahead of the weekend if their reservations were affected, Lawson shared. Some reserved sites were simply unavailable, Lawson said, leading to campers at about five parks having to be moved due to the unfavourable conditions.
She said staff have been working to prepare sites and facilities in spite of poor conditions making a big job more difficult.
“As we’re opening, obviously, safety and visitor experience remain our top priority,” Lawson said.
Broken water pipes, she said, were not a significant concern this year. Leaks are common when resuming operations after the winter, and in places where snow and ice are still on the ground, Lawson said the restarting of those systems is being slowed in order to prevent potential damage.
Conditions remain wet and freezing in some areas, with Good Spirit remaining the most likely for damage due to high flows going into the lake.
“We’re seeing the day-use be impacted there, as well as the boat launch,” Lawson said, adding that some beach erosion has taken place. “It’s being addressed by the park, and we will look to remedy it once the water levels go down.”
In spite of it all, Lawson said campers who made the trip out to Saskatchewan parks were “happy to be there” despite the conditions.
“We saw snowmen having campfires with their families around the parks,” Lawson said.
“It’s not conditions that we see every spring, so I think, for some, that’s part of the adventure.”
