Major expansions planned for 2 Yukon campgrounds

Expansions and upgrades are planned for two Yukon campgrounds, Snafu Lake Campground in the Southern Lakes region and Tatchun Lake Campground in the Klondike region.

According to project summaries posted to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board website, Snafu Lake Campground will receive 36 new campsites – six walk-in and 30 drive-in.

If approved and completed, these new sites would constitute a considerable capacity upgrade to the campground at Snafu Lake, which currently boasts just nine sites.

According to Katie Moen, a project manager with the Department of Environment, 10 of the new campsites at Snafu Lake will be located where there are currently unsanctioned camping spots.

“There’s been some concerns over wildfire risk and issues with garbage and human waste (at the unsanctioned campsites). So, we’re hoping to put some infrastructure up there to help with those issues,” Moen said, adding that Snafu’s unsanctioned campsites are “quite popular.”

Meanwhile, Tatchun Lake could see the construction of an additional 41 campsites – 35 vehicle sites and six walk-in sites. The campground there currently has 20 campsites.

The campsite expansions in both campgrounds will also involve the installation of fire pits, picnic tables and tent pads.

Additional planned upgrades include new roads and trails, new outhouses and garbage bins, new information kiosks, new playgrounds and new docks.

The construction at both campgrounds is anticipated to take place over a 10-year period. Moen noted that the hope is to do most of the work at the Tatchun and Snafu campgrounds during the spring and late fall to avoid disruptions for campers.

“We’ll do our best to make sure as the work is happening, and if any work is happening, that there’s a notice posted on our website as well as on social media. And then we also always have signage posted in the campgrounds to let people know what’s going on,” Moen said.

When asked why the projects are expected to take a decade to complete, Moen said construction and upgrades will happen in stages and that the timeline is lengthy to ensure “we get this right.”

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