Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass in 2017

Canada is celebrating its big 150th birthday next year and in honour of this milestone, you can order a FREE 2017 Parks Canada Discover Pass. From coast to coast, to coast, your free pass will include admission to all national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada and more!

Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass in 2017

Passes will be available to order online throughout the whole year. And as in the past, Discovery passes will also be available at Parks Canada places starting January 1, 2017, and through Parks Canada partners.

Parks Canada manages a network of 46 national parks, 171 national historic sites, four national marine conservation areas, one national urban park and eight historic canals that make up the rich tapestry of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage. Here are locations in BC where you can use your free Discover Pass in 2017:

National Parks in BC

• Glacier National Park of Canada
  British Columbia’s lush interior rainforest and permanent glaciers. 
• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada
  An exceptional coastal island landscape in the southern Strait of Georgia. 
• Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site
  Haïda culture and coastal rainforest on Haida Gwaii. 
• Kootenay National Park of Canada
  UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the famous Radium Hot Springs. 
• Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada
  Rainforest of 1,000-year-old cedars and spectacular mountains. 
• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada
  Pacific Coast Mountains make up this marine and forest environment. 
• Yoho National Park of Canada
  UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rockies. 

National Heritage Sites in BC

• Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site of Canada
  Transportation route to Klondike gold fields 
  Chilkoot, British Columbia
• Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada
  First permanent lighthouse on Canada’s West Coast, 1859-60 
  Colwood, British Columbia
• Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada
  Early 19th-century Hudson’s Bay Company post 
  Langley, British Columbia
• Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site of Canada
  Late 19th-century fort to defend Victoria-Esquimalt fortifications 
  Colwood, British Columbia
• Fort St. James National Historic Site of Canada
  Fur trade post founded by Simon Fraser, 1806; Hudson’s Bay Company 
  Fort St. James, British Columbia
• Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site of Canada
  18th-century Gitwangak hilltop fortification surrounding five longhouses, Tawdzep 
  Gitwangak, British Columbia
• Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site of Canada
  Outstanding West Coast fish processing complex, 1894 
  Richmond, British Columbia
• Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site of Canada
  Traversed by Palliser expedition, 1857-60; adopted by Canadian Pacific Railway as their new route through the Rockies, 1881 
  Yoho National Park, British Columbia
• Kootenae House National Historic Site of Canada
  Site of North West Company post, 1807-12 
  Invermere, British Columbia
• Nan Sdins National Historic Site of Canada
  Remains of Haïda longhouses and totem poles 
  Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of Canada , British Columbia
• Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada
  Canadian Pacific Railway route through Selkirk Mountains 
  Glacier National Park of Canada , British Columbia
• Stanley Park National Historic Site of Canada
  Outstanding large urban park, 1890s 
  Vancouver, British Columbia
• Twin Falls Tea House National Historic Site of Canada
  Early rustic tea house in Yoho National Park, 1923-24 
  Yoho National Park, British Columbia

Quick Info

The Parks Canada campground reservation system launches in January. Visitors are encouraged to reserve early to ensure they have a space and find the perfect spot for their visit.

Free admission includes admission to all national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada (day use and front-country use), lockage at the canals administered by Parks Canada on historic waterways, and backcountry day use.

You only need to order one pass for your group or family if you are all travelling together. A 2017 Discovery Pass is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site.

Fees for recreational services and goods such as camping and firewood, enhanced interpretation programs or overnight backcountry use will remain in place as will mooring fees for boats.

As an added bonus, you can get 15% off your next purchase of Parks Canada Official Merchandise the Parks Canada Shop. Every purchase supports national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas.

Parks Canada manages a network of 46 national parks, 171 national historic sites, four national marine conservation areas, one national urban park and eight historic canals that make up the rich tapestry of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage. Follow Parks Canada throughout #Canada150 on Facebook.