Category: COVID-19
Nightly Camping and Day-Use Access Starts Friday, June 11
June 7, 2021Campgrounds open with restrictions as Ontario enters Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen
Nightly camping and day-use access to Long Point Region Conservation Authority campgrounds begins on Friday, June 11, 2021. With the Province announcing that Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen begins on Friday, LPRCA will be opening Backus Heritage, Deer Creek, Haldimand, Norfolk and Waterford North Conservation Areas to nightly camping and day-use access.
Nightly Camping
Nightly camping, for both trailers and tents, can begin at LPRCA campgrounds starting June 11. Bathrooms, including showers, will be open and thoroughly cleaned often. Reservations for nightly camping can be made online at https://longpoint.goingtocamp.com/.
Pavilion and equipment rentals are not available at this time.
Day-Use Access
Day-use access to Backus Heritage, Deer Creek, Haldimand, Norfolk and Waterford North Conservation Areas begins at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 11. To help ensure physical distancing can be maintained, each Conservation Area will have a limit to how many visitors can be present at once; when all parking passes are in use, no additional visitors will be permitted to enter the Conservation Area. Parking passes are $15 per vehicle and can be obtained from the Conservation Area gatehouse or reserved up to seven days in advance by using the ‘Parking’ section of the online reservation system at https://longpoint.goingtocamp.com/.
Frequent visitors may be interested in a Season Pass that will permit them to reserve a parking space through the online system at no additional cost. Season Passes can be purchased for $95 at any of the Conservation Area gatehouses. Season Pass holders then reserve a parking space online using the code on their pass and make sure their pass is visible on the dashboard of their vehicle on the day of their visit.
Whether you’re staying overnight or just visiting for the day, please make sure to follow all applicable Provincial guidelines including physical distancing and group size limits.
Long Point Region Conservation Authority Camping Status Update
April 15, 2021
Seasonal Camping begins May 1, nightly camping and day-use access currently on hold
Long Point Region Conservation Authority’s camping season is approaching quickly but elements of the season are impacted by the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order enacted on April 8. Seasonal camping will begin as planned on May 1, 2021 but nightly camping and day-use access to LPRCA’s campgrounds is prohibited while the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order is in effect.
Seasonal Camping
The provincial restrictions currently in place permit camping on sites secured with a full season contract. Therefore, seasonal campers with LPRCA are permitted to access and use their seasonal sites beginning May 1. Please note that seasonal campers must have their paperwork and payments processed through the Administration Office before they may access their site, paperwork and payment will not be accepted at park gatehouses. Please contact the Administration Office at conservation@lprca.on.ca or 519-842-4242 if you have not yet completed your seasonal registration.
Nightly Camping
Nightly camping is not permitted under the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order. With the restrictions extending into the beginning of May, nightly campsite reservations for the start of our operating season are impacted. Reservation holders for this time period will be notified that their reservation has been cancelled and refunds will be issued automatically through the online reservation system.
Day-Use Access
Under the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home order, campgrounds must be closed to the public. This means LPRCA’s Conservation Areas with campgrounds – Backus Heritage, Deer Creek, Haldimand, Norfolk and Waterford North Conservation Areas – are fully closed to day-use.
Long Point Region Conservation Authority will continue to monitor and follow the latest information from the government and health authorities and will resume nightly camping and day-use access to our campgrounds when it is deemed safe to do so. Updates and changes to offered services will be posted to our website and social media accounts.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we work together to keep our communities safe.
Planning & Permitting Services Continue to be Available
January 14, 2021Long Point Region Conservation Authority’s Planning & Permitting Department is working remotely, providing service and support by phone and through email.
Health and safety is at the forefront of all of LPRCA’s work. In accordance with the provincial stay-at-home order and expert health advice. LPRCA staff in all departments are working remotely wherever possible with stringent safety protocols in place for essential work that cannot be done remotely.
The Planning & Permitting department is working remotely at full capacity, continuing to accept and review development applications and issue permits. While the province has designated only certain construction work essential, the planning and permitting process can continue for all projects, helping ensure permits are issued in an efficient and timely manner.
Submit planning applications and inquiries, by email, to planning@lprca.on.ca.
For information on planning and permits, including fees, forms and interactive mapping tools, visit the Planning & Permits section of the LPRCA website. The LPRCA Administration Office can be contacted by phone at 519-842-4242.
Day-Use Access Begins July 18, Reservations Now Open
July 17, 2020Day-use access to Deer Creek, Backus Heritage and Waterford North Conservation Areas begins on Saturday, July 18. Parking reservations are required for day-use and the reservation system is now live for booking up to seven days in advance.
Deer Creek Conservation Area, Backus Heritage Conservation Area and Waterford North Conservation area will be opening for day-use access on Saturday, July 18. Reservations made through the ‘Parking’ section on longpoint.goingtocamp.com are required.
Day-use access to the three parks will be available from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Day-use hours on long weekend Sundays will also be 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Parking pass reservations are made on a per-vehicle basis, at $14.00 a vehicle. When you select the park and date you plan on visiting, you will be assigned a numbered parking space that you will use on the day of your visit. Once registration is complete, please print the reservation so that it can be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle when you visit the park. The parking spot is yours for the day, and you can come and go as you please during day-use hours. When pre-registrations reach capacity, reservations for the at-capacity park on that
date will no longer be possible.
Please note that reservations are tied to a specific date and cannot be used on a different day, so be sure you plan to attend on the date you select. Day-use reservations are final sale. No refunds or changes are permitted.
On-site bathrooms will be available for day-use visitors and will be cleaned and sanitized regularly by staff.
While visiting LPRCA property, please be sure to follow the direction of all posted signage and the instructions of park staff. There will be no canoe or kayak rentals at this time, though visitors are welcome to bring their own canoes and kayaks for use. The Backus swimming pool and Conservation Education Centre will remain closed for the season. The Backhouse Historic Site will not be operating; visitors can walk through the historic village, but the buildings will not be open to the public.
Campgrounds Opening for Overnight Camping with Restrictions
July 8, 2020On Friday, July 10, overnight camping will return to two Long Point Region Conservation Authority campgrounds, for self-contained camping units with functioning washrooms only.
On Friday, July 10, Backus Heritage Conservation Area and Waterford North Conservation Area are opening for overnight camping to self-contained camping units that have functioning washrooms and water facilities. A limited number of campsites will be available for booking at each park and there will be no tent camping.
The Camis reservation system will open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 10 with sites available to be booked for dates between July 10 and October 14. The reservation system is accessed online at longpoint.goingtocamp.com or from the homepage of lprca.on.ca.
To reduce the possible spread of COVID-19 only a select number of sites will be available at each campground to ensure adequate spacing between visitors. Additionally, there will be no on-site washrooms available for campers, which is why both seasonal and overnight campers are required to use camping units with functional bathrooms and water facilities. Certain other amenities, such as park shower facilities, laundry units, pavilions and the Backus swimming pool will also remain closed for the season.
Overnight camping fees can be found on LPRCA’s website, and through the reservation system. Deer Creek Conservation area, Norfolk Conservation Area and Haldimand Conservation Area will not be opening for overnight camping this year.
LPRCA can also confirm that online reservations for day-use access to Deer Creek Conservation Area, Backus Heritage Conservation Area and Waterford North Conservation Area will also soon be available. Pre-registration will be required for day-use. More information, including the day-use access starting date, will be available shortly and will be shared in a media release as well as through LPRCA’s website and social media. Thank you for your patience as we work to adapt to an unconventional operating season, we look forward to seeing you soon.
Campgrounds Closed, Other Properties Opening for Day Use
May 15, 2020As of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, Long Point Region Conservation Authority properties without campgrounds will be open to the public for limited day use activities. Conservation Areas with campgrounds will remain closed to the public.
On Saturday, LPRCA is reestablishing public day-use access to Conservation Areas and forest tracts that do not have campgrounds. We are asking that visitors choose to visit the parks and trails closest to their communities to reduce travel distance.
While all LPRCA campgrounds will remain closed to the public for the time being, work is underway to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. In the near future, LPRCA will release details on the process for opening campgrounds.
If accessing any of the non-campground LPRCA properties that are now open, please do so responsibly and follow the guidelines of health authorities. Visitors to LPRCA Conservation Areas and forest tracts must maintain at least two metres of space between themselves and others. Gatherings involving more than five people are prohibited. Please ensure you take any litter or pet waste with you rather than leaving it behind on the land. All LPRCA properties must be vacated by 8 p.m.
To maintain the health and safety of staff and the public LPRCA administrative facilities and properties with campgrounds remain closed. The following facilities and conservation areas are NOT open to the public:
- Backus Heritage Conservation Area
- Deer Creek Conservation Area
- Haldimand Conservation Area
- Norfolk Conservation Area
- Waterford North Conservation Area
- LPRCA Administration Office
- Waterford Workshop
LPRCA closed public access to all LPRCA-owned properties following an April 3 order from the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit to close parks and trails. The reopening of some LPRCA land is in line with health authority recommendations as the Health Unit revoked the order to close trails and parks on May 1 and the Ontario government determined it safe to open to provincial parks for limited recreational use as of May 11.
Please note, LPRCA continues to follow the guidance of the government and health authorities and the status of property access and the camping season is subject to change based on their recommendations. Updates will continue to be posted to LPRCA’s website and social media feeds.
LPRCA Campgrounds: May 1 Opening Date Delayed
April 16, 2020Long Point Region Conservation Authority is delaying the May 1 opening date for all LPRCA campgrounds.
LPRCA is committed to the health and safety of the public and our staff. We are making the decision to delay the opening date to protect public health and are doing so as recommended by public health authorities. On April 3, 2020, the Ontario Government amended their list of essential workplaces and ordered seasonal trailer parks and recreational campgrounds closed as of 11:59 p.m. on April 4.
To help limit the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure that visitors to LPRCA campgrounds have the best possible experience when it is safe to reopen, LPRCA has made the decision to postpone the opening date. LPRCA will continue to monitor the public health emergency and determine a point when LPRCA properties can reopen. Further updates will be posted to the LRPCA website and social media accounts.
At this time, payment deadlines for seasonal campsites have been deferred. Campers with seasonal sites at LPRCA campgrounds are being contacted by email with further information. Those who have made overnight campsite bookings are also being contacted by email to be notified that their booking will be cancelled and a refund will be issued automatically. The overnight booking cancellations are currently operating on a rolling two-week schedule as we evaluate prospective opening dates. This means that overnight bookings scheduled for
later in the season are not being cancelled at this time and campers will be contacted directly as the situation progresses.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Brandon Good, Superintendent of Conservation Areas, at 519-586-2201 ext. 221 or bhca@lprca.on.ca.
All LPRCA Properties Closed for Public Access
April 6, 2020Effective immediately, all Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) properties will be closed until further notice.
LPRCA is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Ontario and taking steps to help prevent the spread of infection. The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and community is a top priority. LPRCA will continue to monitor the situation and follow governmental direction.
All LPRCA property located in the Municipality of Bayham, Town of Tillsonburg, Norfolk County, Haldimand County, County of Brant, Township of Malahide, Township of Norwich and Township of South West Oxford is closed.
On March 17, LPRCA closed facilities and CAs with campgrounds to the public, and closed additional properties on April 4 following recommendations for enhanced physical distancing measures. As the situation progresses, LPRCA will continue to issue updates to www.lprca.on.ca and LPRCA social media accounts.
Conservation Area Closures
April 4, 2020Effective immediately, additional Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) Conservation Areas (CAs) will be closed until further notice.
LPRCA continues to follow the recommendations of the Provincial Government and health experts. On April 3, the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit ordered enhanced social distancing measures, closing all recreational facilities including trails and trail systems. With continued emphasis on the crucial importance of physical distancing by public health authorities, LPRCA is adding the following Conservation Areas to the list of closed facilities:
- Black Creek CA
- Big Creek CA
- Brook CA
- Croton CA
- Fisher CA
- Hay Creek CA
- Lehman Dam CA
- Little Lake CA
- Norwich CA
- Rowan Mills CA
- Sutton CA
- Teeterville CA
- Tillsonburg CA
- Vern Ryerse Memorial CA
- Vittoria CA
- Waterford Trout Pond
- All Canoe Launch Sites
On March 17, LPRCA closed facilities and CAs with campgrounds to the public:
- Backus Heritage Conservation Area
- Deer Creek Conservation Area
- Haldimand Conservation Area
- Norfolk Conservation Area
- Waterford North Conservation Area
LPRCA asks that the closure of these CAs be respected and that no one accesses the land for the purposes of hiking, fishing or any other activity. Updates and changes to LPRCA services and facilities will be posted to www.lprca.on.ca and our social media accounts.
Conservation Areas Update – LPRCA monitoring COVID-19 situation, will assess Conservation Area opening date
March 27, 2020Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is following the evolving situation with COVID-19 closely. We take the health and safety of our customers and staff seriously. As the situation with COVID19 continues to unfold we will be evaluating the necessity to delay the opening of our Conservation Areas. Updates will be posted to the LPRCA website and social media feeds. Any delay will also be communicated to our seasonal campers through email and phone. If you are a seasonal camper with LPRCA please ensure we have up-to-date contact information. You can reach us at conservation@lprca.on.ca or by phone at 519-586-2201 ext. 221.
Haldimand County Campgrounds
On March 25, Haldimand County issued an order permitting seasonal trailer parks to open earlier than usual to accommodate residents returning to Haldimand after wintering abroad. These temporary measures are to provide self-isolation accommodations to those who use seasonal trailer parks as their primary Canadian residences. As LPRCA seasonal sites are not primary residences, LPRCA will not be opening the Haldimand Conservation Area campsite early.
At this time, LPRCA facilities including Backus Heritage Conservation Area, Deer Creek Conservation Area, Haldimand Conservation Area, Norfolk Conservation Area and Waterford North Conservation Area remain closed. We thank you for your patience during these difficult times.