Nova Scotia’s provincial parks had a record number of visitors again this year.
The provincial park system welcomed 78,025 campsite bookings, an increase of 13 per cent over last year.
The number of campsite bookings in provincial campgrounds has steadily increased in recent years. Since 2014 the number of campsites booked rose by about 36 per cent. There are 20 provincial camping parks in Nova Scotia.
“Our provincial parks draw tourists and give people places to enjoy healthy outdoor recreation and get close to nature,” said Margaret Miller, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our great programs like Grade 4s Outdoors, Learn 2 Camp, and other unique park events brought in new visitors who we know will likely be returning to our parks for years to come.”
Three provincial parks extended their seasons by five weeks this year, allowing more time for camping later into the fall. Mira River Provincial Park in Cape Breton stayed open until Oct. 15, while Blomidon Provincial Park in Kings County and Ellenwood Lake Provincial Park in Yarmouth County stayed open until Oct. 9.
All provincial parks are now closed for camping for the season but people are encouraged to continue visiting parks to enjoy walking, cross-country skiing, and similar activities. While parks are closed, regular park services and facilities are not available and visitors must still follow park rules, including keeping dogs on leash. Visitors are reminded to use the pack-it-in, pack-it-out principle, and take their trash home with them.
To learn more about Nova Scotia’s provincial parks, visit https://parks.novascotia.ca/.
Source: Release