Canada just made its national parks free for the summer

Canada is waiving admission to every Parks Canada site this summer.

No pass. No registration. No fee. Every Parks Canada site opens its gates for free from 19 June to 7 September, and there’s nothing you need to do in advance except show up.

The initiative is called the Canada Strong Pass, and it’s the Canadian government’s way of encouraging people to travel around Canada, while making the country’s most spectacular landscapes more accessible to everyone. Admission is waived across all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada, and unlike some free initiatives, the benefit is available to all visitors regardless of nationality.

Every Parks Canada site opens its gates for free from 19 June to 7 September. (Credit: Ben Karpinski)

And not only that, but there will also be a discount for anyone planning an overnight trip. A flat 25 per cent reduction applies to all Parks Canada-operated accommodation – from tent and RV camping to oTENTiks, yurts, cabins, tipis and historic stays – for any nights between 19 June and 7 September. Reservations are still recommended for popular sites, and admin fees still apply, but the nightly rate drops across the board automatically.

Banff National Park is a fan favourite. (Credit: Benjamin Hayward)

Worth knowing what’s not included before you book: fees still apply for parking, the hot springs at Banff, Radium and Miette, guided tours, fishing licences and firewood. Provincial and territorial parks, including Sépaq parks in Québec, are entirely separate systems and continue to charge standard fees.

Visit Gros Morne National Park. (Credit: Krista Kankula)

The Parks Canada network spans more than 40 national parks and park reserves, 171 national historic sites, and five national marine conservation areas, so the options are vast. Banff is the obvious crowd-pleaser, but Gros Morne in Newfoundland and Fathom Five National Marine Park‘s shipwreck-filled waters in Ontario are all in play at no entry cost.

Flower Pot Island is in Fathom Five National Marine Park. (Credit: Hossain Khan)

The Canada Strong Pass also stretches beyond parks. Museums and galleries across the country are offering free admission for children 17 and under, and a 50 per cent discount for those aged 18 to 24. VIA Rail is also running free travel for children 17 and under accompanied by an adult, with 25 per cent off for passengers aged 18 to 24.

Popular campsites fill up well ahead of peak season, so if you’re planning an overnight trip, book sooner rather than later.