Day-use passes are required to visit some of the most popular BC Parks during their busiest times. Passes are free, and you can get them online. This page has everything you need to know about getting a pass, and it explains why these passes are important.
Parks that require a day-use pass in the summer:
Parks that require a day-use pass in the winter:
To learn more about the purpose of day-use passes, see why day-use passes?, below.
Joffre Lakes
Day-use trail passes are required May 16 to October 31, 2024, for visitors to Joffre Lakes Park. There will be periodic park closures during this time.
The park will be closed:
- April 30 to May 15
- June 15 to June 23
- September 3 to October 3
If you have a valid reservation for overnight camping, you do not need a day-use pass. Simply carry your reservation details with you throughout your stay.
Each person requires a pass. You can book a maximum of four trail passes per transaction, per day. Passes are not required for visitors aged 12 or younger when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a valid pass.
Passes are valid for arrival and departure at any time of day.
The park will welcome a limit of 500 visitors per day. Limiting the number of visitors allows the park to rest and recover from years of overuse. It will also improve the visitor experience, providing solitude and enjoyment for hikers and campers.
To learn more about changes to day-use passes in 2024, read our blog post, Working in collaboration with Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua around Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park.
When to get a pass
Get your pass online two days before your visit, starting at 7 am. If there are no passes left, check back later. Passes might become available again if someone cancels.
Cell phone service is limited in the park, so get a pass before you arrive.
How to get a pass
Book passes through our day-use pass website. Passes cannot be booked through the camping reservations website or by phone.
Your pass will be emailed to you, and you will need to present it when you arrive. Cell phone service is limited at the park, so download or print your pass before you arrive.
Passes cannot be transferred to another date, time, location, or person. If you can no longer use your pass, cancel it to make space for other visitors.
How to use your pass
Check the weather and the Joffre Lakes Park page before heading out.
When you arrive, park staff will ask you to present your pass. You can show it on your mobile device or show a printed paper copy.
Enjoy your visit!
Garibaldi
Day-use vehicle passes are required daily from June 13 to September 2, 2024, and on weekends and holidays only from September 3 to October 14, 2024, for visitors to:
- Diamond Head trailhead
- Rubble Creek trailhead
- Cheakamus trailhead
If you have a valid reservation for overnight camping, you do not need a day-use pass. Simply carry your reservation details with you throughout your stay.
Each vehicle requires a pass. Each vehicle can have a maximum of 12 people (adults and children).
For Diamond Head and Rubble Creek, passes are valid for arrival and departure any time of day.
For Cheakamus trailhead, choose from two available time slots. You can book a maximum of one pass per time slot, per day:
- AM pass, valid for arrival and departure between 7 am and 1 pm
- PM pass, valid for arrival and departure after 1 pm
The number of passes available each day is based on parking lot capacity. There is space for 55 vehicles at Diamond Head, 220 at Rubble Creek, and 50 at Cheakamus.
When to get a pass
Get your pass online two days before your visit, starting at 7 am. If there are no passes left, check back later. Passes might become available again if someone cancels.
Cell phone service is limited in the park, so get a pass before you arrive.
How to get a pass
Book passes through our day-use pass website. Passes cannot be booked through the camping reservations website or by phone.
Your pass will be emailed to you, and you will need to present it when you arrive. Cell phone service is limited at the park, so download or print your pass before you arrive.
Passes cannot be transferred to another date, time, location, or person. If you can no longer use your pass, cancel it to make space for other visitors.
How to use your pass
Check the weather and the Garibaldi Park page before heading out.
When you arrive, park staff will ask you to present your pass. You can show it on your mobile device or show a printed paper copy.
Enjoy your visit!
Golden Ears
Day-use vehicle passes are required Friday through Monday from May 3 to September 2, 2024, for visitors to:
- Alouette Lake boat launch
- Alouette Lake South Beach day-use area
- Gold Creek trailhead (opens late June)
- West Canyon trailhead
For parking lot locations, see the Golden Ears parking map [PDF].
If you have a valid reservation for overnight camping, you do not need a day-use pass. Simply carry your reservation or backcountry permit details with throughout your stay.
Each vehicle requires a day-use pass. Each vehicle can have a maximum of 12 people (adults and children).
For Alouette Lake boat launch parking, passes are valid for arrival and departure any time of day.
For all other areas, choose from two available time slots. You can book a maximum of one pass per time slot, per day:
- AM pass, valid for arrival and departure between 7 am and 1 pm
- PM pass, valid for arrival after 1 pm (passes are not required after 4 pm)
The number of passes available each day at Golden Ears is based on parking lot capacity. There is space for 100 vehicles at Alouette Lake boat launch, 790 at Alouette Lake South Beach, 110 at Gold Creek, and 55 at West Canyon.
To learn more about changes to day-use passes in 2024, read our blog post, When do I need a day-use pass at Golden Ears this summer?
When to get a pass
Get your pass online two days before your visit, starting at 7 am. If there are no passes left, check back later. Passes might become available again if someone cancels.
Cell phone service is limited in the park, so get a pass before you arrive.
How to get a pass
Book passes through our day-use pass website. Passes cannot be booked through the camping reservations website or by phone.
Your pass will be emailed to you, and you will need to present it when you arrive. Cell phone service is limited at the park, so download or print your pass before you arrive.
Passes cannot be transferred to another date, time, location, or person. If you can no longer use your pass, cancel it to make space for other visitors.
How to use your pass
Check the weather and the Golden Ears Park page before heading out.
When you arrive, park staff will ask you to present your pass. You can show it on your mobile device or show a printed paper copy.
Enjoy your visit!
Mount Seymour
Day-use vehicle passes are required during the peak winter season for visitors to Mount Seymour Park.
BC Parks day-use passes are required only for vehicles parking in lots P1 and Lower P5. Visitors camping in the backcountry must park in lot P1 and need a day-use pass for their day of arrival only.
For parking lot locations, see the Mount Seymour parking lots map [PDF].
Mount Seymour Resort pass holders do not require a day-use pass. Visitors arriving by Mount Seymour Resort shuttle service, on foot, or by bicycle do not require a day-use pass.
Each vehicle using the parking lot requires a day-use pass. Each vehicle can have a maximum of 12 people (adults and children).
Choose from two available time slots. You can book a maximum of one pass per time slot, per day:
- AM pass, valid for arrival and departure between 7 am and 1 pm
- PM pass, valid for arrival and departure between 1 pm and 4 pm (passes are not required after 4 pm)
When to get a pass
Get your pass online two days before your visit, starting at 7 am. Cell phone service is limited in the park, so get a pass before you arrive.
How to get a pass
Book passes through our day-use pass website. Passes cannot be booked through the camping reservations website or by phone.
Your pass will be emailed to you, and you will need to present it when you arrive. Cell phone service is limited at the park, so download or print your pass and QR code before you arrive.
Passes cannot be transferred to another date, time, location, or person.
How to use your pass
Check the weather and the Mount Seymour Park page before heading out.
When you arrive, park staff will ask you to present your pass. You can show it on your mobile device or show a printed paper copy.
Enjoy your visit!
Why day-use passes?
Some of B.C.’s most popular parks welcome exceptionally large numbers of visitors. Increased visitor use can reduce the quality of recreational experiences, clash with conservation and cultural values, and affect the safety of both park visitors and staff.
Day-use passes address parking and other park capacity limitations to help improve experiences for both people and parks.
Day-use passes are just one example of visitor use management approaches and tools, which help to:
- Increase visitor awareness and knowledge of parks
- Provide a dependably safe, responsible, enjoyable visitor experience
- Reduce crowding
- Alleviate road and parking lot congestion
- Improve public safety and emergency response access
- Mitigate workload pressures on park rangers
- Support sustainable management of public and protected lands
- Act on BC Parks’ commitment to reconciliation and work collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples