The Government of Yukon enhances protection and user experience at Yukon parks with new regulation

Press Release

March 28, 2025

The Government of Yukon is introducing a new Parks General Regulation under the Parks and Land Certainty Act, aimed at enhancing park management and improving the overall user experience. This modernized Regulation is designed to better protect the natural beauty, cultural and historical values of Yukon parks, while fostering a welcoming and peaceful environment for all users. The Regulation also aims to promote safety, enjoyment and sustainability for everyone who enjoys camping, hiking and outdoor activities.

The new Regulation, which comes into effect on April 1, 2025, applies to all areas within park boundaries, including campgrounds, day-use areas and recreational sites as well as the backcountry.

Key updates include:

• Formalizing quiet hours at campgrounds from 11 pm to 7 am to help ensure restful nights for all visitors.
• Regulating drone usage to ensure safety and privacy.
• Prioritizing the use of accessible campsites.
• Formalizing policies for responsible firewood use.
• Identifying which activities do not require a park permit and providing further clarity to those that do.
• Strengthening regulations that address concerns about campsite occupancy, ensuring fair access to Yukon campgrounds.
• Formalizing land use zones in regulation to support implementing of park management plans that have been collaboratively developed with Indigenous partners.
• Requiring pets to be leashed not only in campgrounds and day-use areas, but also on park trails to ensure the safety of both pets and wildlife and to promote the overall enjoyment of all users.
• Clarifying designated areas for off-road vehicles and snowmobiles.

These changes provide clear, simple rules that support both enjoyment and sustainability, enhancing the long-term health of Yukon parks and ensuring they are conserved for future generations. The implementation of these regulatory changes is a key step in advancing the broader strategic goals of the Yukon Parks Strategy, which aims to improve park management, enhance user experiences and ensure the preservation of the territory’s natural and cultural heritage.

Our government is committed to enhancing the protection and accessibility of Yukon parks, ensuring their sustainability for future generations. The modernized Parks General Regulation is a key step in achieving the goals of the Yukon Parks Strategy. These efforts improve park management in collaboration with Indigenous partners, promote responsible behaviour and enhance the park user experience. We remain committed to shaping a park system that reflects the values of Yukoners and respects the natural beauty of the territory.

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke

Quick facts

• The Parks General Regulation replaces the Campground Regulation.
• The modernized Regulation provides tools to manage activities on 100 per cent of lands and waters designated as Yukon territorial parks.
• The Regulation updates primarily include refinements and clarifications to existing regulations and policies.
• The new Regulation has renamed the online daily/annual campground permit to the nightly/annual camping voucher. This change is a terminology update and does not affect users’ access, use or benefits of their camping experience.

Backgrounder

• Modernizing park regulations was a short-term priority in the Yukon Parks Strategy, aimed at improving park management and user experiences.
• The Government of Yukon engaged the public and Indigenous partners in 2022 to help shape the new regulation. Read more about the engagement here.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Mara De La Rosa
Communications, Environment
867-456-5565
mara.delarosa@yukon.ca

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