Parks Canada 2017

[Phil2008]

Greetings all
Just thought I would let you know that 2017 marks Canada's 150th anniversary. To celebrate this, Parks Canada is waiving the entrance fee to all national parks for 2017. Camping and activity fees will still apply. There is a pass you can apply for online ahead of time. It's free. Not sure if this is for all visitors or just residents of Canada. I'm sure if you contact them they could advise you accordingly.

[BuddyRay]

That's cool to know - thanks for the tip. Sadly, I won't be up that way till 2018 but I will look and see if they will sell us Yanks an annual pass.
Which begs the question, will the U.S. National Park service sell annual passes to Canadians Eh?
That should have been part of NAFTA :-).

(Please don't hijack this post into a political discussion - it's just a joke LOL).

[RPreeb]

Originally Posted by BuddyRay

That's cool to know - thanks for the tip. Sadly, I won't be up that way till 2018 but I will look and see if they will sell us Yanks an annual pass.
Which begs the question, will the U.S. National Park service sell annual passes to Canadians Eh?
That should have been part of NAFTA :-).

(Please don't hijack this post into a political discussion - it's just a joke LOL).

I think that Canadians can get the regular annual pass, but they are not eligible for the lifetime senior or access passes.

[taviking22]

Just ordered mine! We are heading to Alaska for the summer so this could come in handy. Thank you Canada!

Clickety

[bankr63]

I've ordered mine, and it looks like you 'mercuns are all invited too! We do know how to throw a good party.


Strangely enough there aren't a lot of Parks Canada sites around where I live in the nation's capital, but I think we'll hit a few spots on our summer adventures.

[Dagwood]

Note that the pass is only for Free National Park admissions. Camping is not included in the pass.

http://www.commandesparcs-parksorder...atalogId=53407

[BCK]

We ordered ours last week. Our national parks are incredible - we have camped in them every summer for the past 12 years.

[Desert RVers]

Thanks for the heads up Phil2008. I've ordered our pass and we hope to use it next summer in B.C.

[bansai]

Ordered mine, thanks for the heads up.

[Roaddane]

Ordered mine yesterday. So far the plan is to visit Pacific Rim NP and Japer/Banff/Waterton Lakes NP this summer.

[RSerendipity]

Thank you for the info, just ordered ours. Plan on the heading to Maine then PEI, and Newfoundland next year. Can't beat the price.

[Kim Gass]

We're crossing Canada ( again) in 2017 so this will be handy!

Jasper has Icefields campground . As it is managed by Yogi and family only RVs are allowed. Lots of the campgrounds are not reservable and not serviced..

Just plan your day well.

[cariboocreek]

The National Paks are great but a word of caution for big units. The Park system was designed many years ago and the campgrounds were designed around the camping realities of the 60's and 70's. 35 foot or longer units are going to have a hard time navigating many of the National Park campgrounds and even more difficulty getting into a site. Other than that they are good place to camp. Also be aware that our western (Alberta) parks are in the middle of real nature. Yogi is a real probability in Banff and Jasper.

[BCx213]

We have ordered ours and will check the parks out next year.

[SecretCoveDave]

Tried twice to order mine today but I think the Commodore 64 overheated!

[BCx213]

Mine arrived yesterday!! Banff is one place we want to check out....passed thru there but did not check it out. Going to take the grand kids to Fort Langley.

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by BCx213

Mine arrived yesterday!! Banff is one place we want to check out....passed thru there but did not check it out. Going to take the grand kids to Fort Langley.

We actually tented in the campground above Banff ( village) Tunnel Mt. It was quiet. Note that there are three Tunnel Mt campgrounds some serviced some not.

We were in a tent then.. We followed a motorhome all the way up the hill that was leaking red fluid.. Finally the driver stopped at the top. Was good they towed a little car.. Their brake line on the motorhome blew. I am sure it was an expensive little mess but there was an RV repair faclilty in Banff with towing.

[bansai]

Bumping this thread.

Did any of you guys that ordered the pass get it yet?

I haven't. I guess they are backlogged or something or is this just on 'Canada time'? i.e. it will get here when it gets here...

[North of 49°]

Originally Posted by bansai

Bumping this thread.

Did any of you guys that ordered the pass get it yet?

I haven't. I guess they are backlogged or something or is this just on 'Canada time'? i.e. it will get here when it gets here...

From the CBC's website:

Demand for free 2017 passes to Canada's national parks has swamped Parks Canada's website.
Users trying to get the passes on Friday said the website had crashed. Parks Canada then posted a message on the site encouraging people to come back and try to order again later in the day, citing a high volume of requests for the pass. The free passes became available on Dec. 1.
The free passes are part of an initiative brought in by the Liberal government to make park access free for all users in 2017 to mark Canada's 150th anniversary.
Parks Canada staff said earlier this year they anticipated overwhelming interest in the free passes. In Banff National Park in Alberta, park staff have already been advising people to book early and consider less popular times and places to visit in 2017 due to the expected growth in visitors.
Not limited
Parks Canada says it is "thrilled" at the wave of interest in the passes.
"We wish to remind those who are trying to order their pass online that this is not a limited time offer and that Discovery Passes will be available to order throughout 2017," spokeswoman Natalie Fay said in an email to CBC News.
"For those planning to visit a national park or national historic site soon, passes will be available at Parks Canada locations across the country starting January 1, 2017."
With files from CBC Calgary

[Kim Gass]

No not yet. Thanks for the reminder for us to book something now.