Changes to how British Columbians reserve campsites are now in effect, eliminating an opening day for reserving spots.

Instead, campsites can be reserved four months ahead of your desired date to camp. This means camping trips for May can booked now.

The changes were announced in November, following several crashes to the Discovery Camping reservation system last March.

Other differences include restrictions around altering arrival dates, where campers will have to cancel and risk re-booking if they book within seven days of their arrival date.

To address the reselling of reservations, campers will no longer be able to change the name on their reservation, and will be required to provide one or two permit holder names, with at least one of them being present during the stay.

And in Martha Creek (Revelstoke), Mount Fernie (Fernie), Porteau Cove (Vancouver), Loveland Bay (Campbell River) and Ellison (Vernon), the maximum stay is now seven days instead of the prior 14 during the peak season of June 15 to Labour Day.

“These campgrounds were selected because they have exceptionally high demand with a relatively limited number of campsites,” BC Parks website says.