Province introduces free day-use pass pilot program at 6 B.C. Parks to prevent overcrowding

“People in B.C. love the outdoors, but some of our most popular parks are experiencing a high number of visitors, resulting in crowded facilities, packed parking lots and safety issues, such as parking along the highway.”—George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

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“This pilot program acknowledges that frequent park users have an important role to play in protecting these important natural spaces and the species that depend upon them,” added Heyman.

The Province says that while parks are wide open spaces, visitors are usually confined to trails that can become busy and crowded. The passes can be obtained on the Discover Camping website and will be released daily at 6 a.m. for same-day bookings. The number of passes available each day will depend on the park and ranges from vehicle passes for the Berg Lake Trail and Golden Ears Park to individual trail passes in the other parks for morning, afternoon or full day.

“With many people staying home this summer, the demand for outdoor recreation continues to surge, putting more pressure on our park system. We welcome solutions that will help manage overcrowding in certain areas and strengthen our opportunity to protect vital ecosystems.”—Bruce Passmore, executive director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, B.C. chapter

Backcountry campers with camping permits are not required to reserve a day-use pass, but should carry proof of their camping permit if they are using one of the select trails that require a pass. Park operator staff will be checking passes upon arrival. Visitors can download the pass onto their mobile device or print it to show at the park.