Nova Scotia Provincial Parks see record number of campers in 2022

Nova Scotia Provincial Parks registered a record number of campers in 2022.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, 99,304 paid overnight stays were recorded. 

That's a nine per cent increase from 2021, which was also a record breaker with 91,262 overnight stays.

Around 63 per cent of campers this year were Nova Scotians, 27 per cent came from other parts of Canada, and 10 per cent from other countries.

About 1.5 million people visited camping and day-use parks this year, which is up by about 200,000 from last year.

“Nova Scotia has a world-class provincial parks system that continues to be discovered by our residents and visitors from around the globe,” said Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton in a news release. 

“It's wonderful to see yet another record-breaking year for our parks and that numbers were up despite park closures and cancelled reservations due to hurricane Fiona.”

Although provincial parks are officially closed for the season, people can still walk, snowshoe and cross-country ski at them in the off-season.

Just don't expect to be able to use facilities, like washrooms and garbage cans.

Visitors are asked to continue to follow park rules and pack out their waste.

Mira River, Amherst Shore, Caribou-Munroes Island, Five Islands, Arisaig, Rushtons Beach, Melmerby Beach and Salt Springs remain closed for post Fiona clean-up and Nova Scotians are being asked to stay away from these parks until further notice.