Camping and Visitor Services at Parks Canada

The health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and employees is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. The Agency is following the advice of public health experts and is implementing measures to support Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning on June 1, 2020, Parks Canada began to gradually resume day use of some trails and outdoor spaces at national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas across the country. Starting on June 22, 2020, the Agency will begin to gradually offer camping at some national parks and national historic sites.

Camping

·    Camping will resume at these Parks Canada places on June 22, 2020, or shortly
     afterward (from East to West):

Newfoundland and Labrador:

o    Terra Nova National Park

o    Gros Morne National Park

Nova Scotia:

o    Cape Breton Highlands National Park

o    Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Prince Edward Island:

o    Prince Edward Island National Park

New Brunswick:

o    Kouchibouguac National Park

o    Fundy National Park

Quebec:

o    Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

o    Forillon National Park

o    La Mauricie National Park

Ontario:

o    Thousand Islands National Park

o    Bruce Peninsula National Park & Flowerpot Island (Fathom Five National Marine
      Park)

o    Point Pelee National Park

o    Pukaskwa National Park

Manitoba:

o    Riding Mountain National Park

Saskatchewan:

o    Prince Albert National Park

o    Grasslands National Park

Alberta:

o    Elk Island National Park

o    Waterton Lakes National Park

o    Banff National Park

§     Lake Louise

o    Jasper National Park

British Columbia:

o    Kootenay National Park

o    Yoho National Park

o    Glacier National Park

o    Mount Revelstoke National Park

o    Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

o    Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Northwest Territories:

o    Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve

o    Wood Buffalo National Park

o    Nahanni National Park Reserve

Yukon:

o    Kluane National Park and Reserve

·  Camping at a number of other Parks Canada places may resume at later dates.

Please visit pc.gc.ca for regular updates.

·  Initially, camping will be limited to visitors with existing reservations. Parks Canada will gradually start accepting new online reservations for some campgrounds over the coming weeks. Please visit pc.gc.ca for regular updates on campground openings and reservation windows on the Parks Canada online reservation system.

·  Visitors are required to have a reservation to camp at a Parks Canada place.

·  Given limitations on international travel, all existing reservations from international visitors, including residents of the United States of America, will be cancelled and refunded in full up to and including August 7, 2020. If you have a reservation and reside outside of Canada, your refund will be automatic and you do not have to do anything to cancel your reservation. Parks Canada will monitor international travel restrictions and may make adjustments to this date in the future. To learn more about international travel restrictions, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html.

·  Roofed accommodations such as oTENTiks, rustic cabins and yurts will only be available at select locations later in the season.

·  Events, group activities and interpretation activities remain suspended until further notice.

Planning to Visit a Parks Canada Place

·  Parks Canada places are found near hundreds of communities across the country. Explore one of our places that is close to your home this year.

·  Visitors must follow all applicable local and provincial or territorial travel restrictions, including requirements for self-isolation. Please make sure you are aware of any travel restrictions or requirements and plan well in advance. Many provinces and territories are limiting access to inbound visitors and some also require mandatory self-isolation upon arrival. It is not possible to self-isolate at Parks Canada campgrounds. Visitors must comply with and complete any provincial or territorial requirements for self-isolation before arriving to camp at a Parks Canada place.

·  Visitors should remember that local services in many communities may be limited and many services remain closed across the country as provinces/territories implement measured re-opening plans.

·  Download or print maps and other visitor information ahead of time and purchase a Parks Canada Discovery Pass online at pc.gc.ca.

·  Visitors should be prepared to be self-sufficient when they visit and pack extra hygiene supplies such as hand sanitizer, wipes and a table cloth, and bring their own water and food.

Reservations, Fees and Passes

·  All existing reservations set to take place prior to June 21, 2020, have been automatically cancelled and refunded in full.

·  Visitors who made reservations prior to Parks Canada’s suspension of visitor services in March will get a full refund of all associated fees should they cancel. Any new reservations made once the Parks Canada Reservation Service relaunches in the coming weeks are subject to the standard reservation, change and cancellation fees.

·  For visitors who hold a Discovery Pass which was valid in March 2020, Parks Canada will automatically extend the end date of these Discovery Passes by four months. This covers the three-month suspension of visitor services, plus the gradual resumption of visitor services during the month of June. 

Day Use Facilities

·  Visitors have access to some outdoor settings such as:

·  Some day-use trails, including some cycling access on designated trails and
   pathways;

·  Some day-use areas, including green spaces, picnic areas, and some beach areas;

·  Some grounds of national historic sites and heritage canals;

·  Some boat launches or access points to lakes and water-based recreation; and

·   Some locks, boat launches, access points and mooring areas on historic waterways.

·  Access and services will vary. Some public toilets and other visitor facilities may be open. Visitors should expect limited levels of service and limited access to visitor facilities compared to previous years.

·  Some parking lots will be open. However, some may remain closed or reduced in size for visitor safety reasons, conservation reasons, or to facilitate levels of visitation that allow for physical distancing or other health, safety, or conservation measures.

·  Some recreational boating and water access may be allowed, including lockage, docks, mooring and boat launches. In some places, fishing may be allowed.

The Parks Canada website provides detailed information on what locations are open, what visitors can expect, how to prepare for their visit and what services may be available. Visitors are asked to plan ahead by visiting pc.gc.ca before they travel.

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