Photo: BC Gov't

The provincial government has announced the addition of 431 new campsites across the province.

The announcement was made Saturday in honour of Canada’s Parks Day, and includes new sites in the Okanagan, although specific locations were not listed.

The new sites will be in areas of high demand, including the Okanagan, Kootenay Rockies, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, bringing the total across B.C. to almost 11,000.

The sites range from backcountry to group camping at BC Parks and forestry recreation sites.

Upgraded facilities also include road work, new water taps, power, dishwashing stations, accessible toilets, trails and a new large shower building at the Hampton campground in E.C. Manning Provincial Park. A new playground has been installed at Shuswap Lake.

“People are passionate about spending time in our beautiful provincial parks, and that has increased demand for camping opportunities,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “The additional campsites, combined with upgrades to existing facilities, will improve the overall experience of B.C.’s natural beauty and provide a range of camping opportunities for everyone to enjoy.”

B.C.’s provincial parks system is the third-largest in North America, behind only the U.S National Park Service and Parks Canada, receiving more than 21 million visits annually.