What Does the Orange Block on BC Parks’ Booking System Mean?

If you’ve ever received an alert for an open campsite on the BC Parks booking site, only to find nothing available, you’re not alone. Sometimes, campsites really do get snatched up that quickly. But in other cases, the site is available—it’s just hidden behind a booking restriction.

In this post, we’ll explain what that orange block with the exclamation mark means, why it appears, and how to adjust your search to reveal bookable campsites.

What Is the Orange Block?

When you search for a campsite on BC Parks’ reservation system, you’re using a platform called Camis—a booking tool also used for many provincial and national parks across Canada and the U.S.

While the system works well overall, it does have some quirks. One of the most confusing? The orange block with an exclamation mark that shows up in the calendar view—or an orange circle overlay in the map view.

This symbol doesn’t mean the campsite is unavailable. Instead, it indicates that a restriction is preventing the campsite from appearing in your search results.

Why Am I Seeing an Orange Block?

Here are the most common reasons a campsite appears restricted:

1. Equipment or Site Type Mismatch

The campsite may be available, but your search parameters don’t match the site’s features. For example:

• You selected an RV, but the site only supports tents.
• You requested power, but the site is non-electric.
• Your rig is longer than the site can accommodate.

Try adjusting your equipment type, length, or other filters and recheck availability.

2. Long Weekend Booking Rules

BC Parks applies special booking conditions for long weekends, including:

• Minimum stay requirements (usually 3 nights)
• Fixed arrival or departure dates
• No online booking within 48 hours of arrival

If your search doesn’t meet these criteria, the system will restrict access to the site—even if it’s technically available. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to book a last-minute cancellation.

3. Backcountry vs. Frontcountry Listings

Some sites (like those at Lake O’Hara) appear under the Frontcountry tab but are only bookable as backcountry campsites.

If you’re not seeing expected availability, try switching to the Backcountry tab and searching again.

How to Troubleshoot an Orange Block

If you encounter an orange block, click / tap on that date. The system will show you the restriction that’s preventing you from booking.

Once you understand the issue, adjust your filters or booking criteria. Often, a small change, like switching your equipment type or choosing a different date, will turn the orange block green, meaning the campsite is now available to reserve.

And that’s always a beautiful thing. 😍

Final Tip

Even when sites appear unavailable, there’s often more going on behind the scenes. If you’re flexible with your filters, and understand how BC Parks handles long weekends, you’ll have a much better chance of finding that perfect site.

Happy camping!

Related posts:

• Book more campsites with the 15-minute trick
• Reasons why the campsite is booked by the time you click through
• Understanding Camping Reservation Policies
• Campsite Booking Tips and Secrets

Thanks to Kevin Mueller for the lovely photo up top.

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