Saskatchewan parks reservation system set to launch Monday

Reservations for Saskatchewan provincial parks will open on Monday.

Starting at 7 a.m. CST, campers will be able to reserve sites at Blackstrap and Pike Lake. Reservations for the province's other parks will take place over the next week and a half.

To avoid swamping the online system, a queuingsystem may be brought in. If too many people log on at the same time, they will be assigned a random number, and moved into a virtual line to enter the reservation site.

Here's the timetable for reservation opening dates:

• Monday, Mar. 2: Blackstrap, Pike Lake
• Tuesday, Mar. 3: Buffalo Pound, Danielson, Douglas
• Wednesday, Mar. 4: Echo Valley, Rowan's Ravine
• Thursday, Mar. 5: Duck Mountain, Good Spirit Lake, Greenwater Lake
• Friday, Mar. 6: Crooked Lake, Moose Mountain
• Saturday, Mar. 7: Cypress Hills
• Sunday, Mar. 8: The Battlefords, Saskatchewan Landing
• Monday, Mar. 9: Meadow Lake
• Tuesday, Mar. 10: Bronson Forest, Chitek Lake, Lac La Ronge, Makwa Lake
• Wednesday, Mar 11: Candle Lake, Great Blue Heron, Narrow Hills.

Saskatchewan campers will not get first dibs on spots in provincial parks this summer.

The idea wasfloated by Premier Brad Wall after the government's online booking website was overwhelmed last year. However, after throwing the question out on social media, the majority of people voted against a Saskatchewan-first policy.

The provincial parks website can be found at saskparks.goingtocamp.com.