BC Parks Day Use Pass

Last Updated: Friday, May 17, 2024. BC Parks has announced that several of the Province’s most popular parks will require a free Day Use Pass to enter the park beginning for the 2024 hiking season. This year, there will be different dates that the Day-Use Passes will be required depending on which park you plan to visit.

BC Provincial Parks that will require the Day Use Pass are:

  • Garibaldi Park (Diamondhead, Rubble Creek, and Cheakamus trailheads): June 13 – September 2, 2024 and on weekends and holidays only from September 3 to October 14, 2024.
  • Golden Ears Park (Gold Creek, West Canyon, and Alouette Lake parking areas): May 3 – September 2, 2024.
  • Joffre Lakes – May 16 – October 31, 2024.

Joffre Lakes will be closed on the following dates:

  • April 30 to May 15
  • June 15 to June 23
  • September 3 to October 3

The Day Use Pass can only be reserved starting at 7:00am 2 Days Before your Planned Hike from the BC Parks’ website. The Day Use Pass is Free.

Visitors to these BC Parks will have to have a printed copy or downloaded copy of their Day Use Pass on their mobile device when they visit these parks. Keep in mind that cell service is unavailable in several areas of these Provincial Parks, so save or print a copy before you leave home.

For more information on the BC Parks Day Use Passes, visit: https://bcparks.ca/reservations/day-use-passes/

31 responses to “BC Parks Day Use Pass”

  1. Sarah says:

    Does anyone know what happens if you show up without a pass? Is there someone checking or does your vehicle get towed? I’m so frustrated with this system – I requested passes right when the website opened, got the passes I needed and by the time I entered the captcha there was no availability. I have family coming to stay and I’ve been hoping for weeks to get passes. I’m so disappointed.

  2. Torsten Lenk says:

    It seems impossible to get a pass for Joffre Lake. Was on the computer at 7:00am, selected 4 tickets for my group of people, had issue with captcha test (I vs l ) and it didn’t go through. I keep trying since then. Sometimes is opens again, but it never goes through. I even tried with less tickets. Really annoying when you have visitors from out of town coming. 🙁

  3. Mimi says:

    For the AM pass at the Gold Creek Parking at Alouette Lake it says “depart by 1pm”. What if I want to stay all day? There’s no option for an all day pass for that parking… So what happens if I do stay all day? Will I get a ticket for “overstaying”?

    • Dorina says:

      No, they don’t check. Morning pass people don’t leave on time and it creates a big hassle for those coming with afternoon passes as there is no place to park.

  4. Ming Yi Sung says:

    Do I need to do reservation to go to the Chief in Squamish?

    • Pissed off says:

      These incompetent idiots can’t make the answer to this clear.

      I see government sites saying you need a pass for the chief.

      But no way to book it unless you’re somehow supposed to know it comes under “diamond head” or “Cheakamus” or some unknown bloody way to book it.

  5. Marian says:

    Do you need a day use pass for Mount Robson still? Is it all trails or only Berg Lake Trail. Looking at June 29/22.

  6. Nadia says:

    Do I need a day pass for hiking at LINDEMAN LAKE? I can’t find where to get the pass. Thanks for helping.

    • Michael Chang says:

      @Nadia – No, you do not need a day use pass for hiking to Lindeman Lake. That could change in the summer but, so far, there has never been a requirement for a Day Use Pass to hike to Lindeman Lake.

  7. Garfunkel hikesalot says:

    Why do you have to reserve the day before? Ever heard of last minute planning??? Talk about a bunch of squares. Just let me hike on my days off. Change this

    • Majid Valad says:

      It’s mainly parking spots limitation forcing reservation.

      • Ming Yi Sung says:

        I find this booking system not practical at all. It creates a lot of issues for people. Not only having to wake up before 7:00am for the booking is a big issue for people who work until late but also without knowing if they will get the pass prevents people from having a good activity plan ahead of time. This system only works for people who don’t need to plan ahead. Both my husband and I tried to book a spot right at opening and after 1:00, it is full. I know for fact that many people book it just in case they want to go and never cancel it when they change their mind. Such system prevents the wonderful parks to be utilized at its max capacity.

  8. khalil Moetamed says:

    Hello,

    Summer is finished. Why we should get day pass for hiking?

    It is difficult get day pass for a group of hiking meet up.

    Thank you

    Thank you

  9. Karim says:

    I am trying to print a Day Pass that I obtained from DiscoverCamping.ca website but I just cannot print or download it. There is a hyperlink of “Reprint” but nothing happens. I cannot download it and I cannot print it. My worry is I cannot even contact them directly on phone although I have emailed them but no reply. If anyone can help me and tell me how I can print or download this, that would be great ! I need to go this weekend.

  10. Rex McLennan says:

    The Day-Use pass system is an outrageous intrusion into our rights to hike in our backyard ! The system is abused, useless, and I can NEVER get a pass. Instead of passes the Province should open and support more new trail systems to meet the increased demand and any pass system should at least favour BC residents over commercial operators and foreign tourists. Liberal Party – are you listening (the NDP are not)

  11. Anne says:

    Hello, could someone please tell me how do I get a day pass for the sea to summit trail? Under which provincial park do i reserve it under? There is no option for this part on the discover parks website and I am really confused because everywhere it says we need a day pass to go. Thanks a bunch for your help!

  12. Victoria says:

    DO you need a pass just for hiking? I am seeing that you are required a day pass for the rubble creek trail, however on the booking website, it is only giving me the option of camping and lodging.

    • Michael Chang says:

      Yes, you need a day-use pass for hiking from Rubble Creek. Even if you are not camping, you need a pass. If you are booking a campsite, your hiking pass is included.

  13. mo mo lin says:

    So does that mean you get the free pass, and reserve the time of arrival ?

  14. Morgane Maillet says:

    This a joke it’s impossible to get a pass. It’s the third weekend I wake up at 5:45 am to be ready. the minute it open it’s sold out.

  15. VanHiker says:

    The day use passes is just stupid. Impossible to get a pass. They all sell out within minutes and the website crashes.

  16. Kevin King says:

    I think June 1 most parks are opening to overnight use, not sure of backcountry use though, maybe in phase 8 lol.
    Just came back from friends in Castlegar today
    All provincial parks are still closed
    All Manning park shut tight, even the lodge area.
    Back country parking lots for monuments 78/83
    Stemwinder and Bromley rock
    Everything closed, just ridiculous
    More people at stores
    Great drive through hardly anyone on the roads. You can always jam into Canadian tire and dream about camping.

  17. Rob says:

    Anyone know which parks are open for overnight use ?

  18. Kevin King says:

    Seems that stupidity rules with the reopening of some of these places. Canadian tire and liquor stores have too many people in them, but you can’t hike on Mt Seymour in case you come too close to someone I guess!
    Buntzen Lake, no boating and one way trails. Will I get fined if I try to pass slow people? Ridiculous.

  19. Susan says:

    It’s important to check the BC Parks website, because some of this information is only partly true. Some parks are only opening some (not all) day use areas. Chilliwack Lake, for example. The Lindeman Lake trail is the only one open. Chilliwack Lake is closed and barricaded, making for some very awkward turn-arounds for trucks hauling boats.

  20. Michael Chang says:

    Yes, it is weird that BC Parks has not updated Golden Ears on their website. Alouette Parks is the park operator for Golden Ears and Rolley and they’ve posted that they will be opening Golden Ears for Day Use only on May 14th but there are limits.

    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAG9KhNDHLc/

    Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/AlouetteParks/status/1258926282672181253

  21. Jouie says:

    Please double check BC parkshttp://bcparks.ca/covid-19/parks-affected/ , Golden Ear Provincial Park won’t open on May 14, 2020

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