Sometimes know before you go applies to parking rules and backcountry permitting—here’s a Rogers Pass primer. Photo: Alex Lee
Here’s a known known—there’s generally fine touring in Canada, and Rogers Pass’s permitting and parking requirements have a learning curve. Here’s a Rogers Pass bureaucratic primer.
Roughly every 24 hours, coastal regions around the globe experience two tide cycles. That’s right, two low tides and two high tides. Each low tide has a corresponding upside; approximately six hours later, it will be high tide again. Wait a bit of time, and high tide inevitably comes along.
Sadly, that’s not how it plays out for powder snow seekers. Low tide can last days. Low tide can last weeks. I’m not mentioning the next logical time increment—which poses existential problems for some of us.
Low tide, meaning low snow totals, is the talk of the town in many parts of the lower 48. For those less patient, there’s Canada. Considering the cyclic tidal ebb and flow, Canadian tides in the mountains might look relatively ample, sufficient, and even bountiful. But, even there, low tide happens. Check your snow totals.
On more than one occasion—it’s come up often enough that this article is warranted, Rogers Pass as a touring destination seems to be on the mind of some suffering a prolonged low tide. Parks Canada administers Rogers Pass. As such, there are some regulations to navigate. Be warned: Plan ahead and be familiar with those regulations. Familiarize yourself with the local snow conditions, avalanche forecasts, and observations.
The stuff we’re presenting here is more on the plan-ahead matrix to alleviate bureaucratic hassles. And yes, have a valid passport. Gone are the days of a driver’s license as a legit-ID gateway to the Great North.
Reading the Glacier National Park/Rogers Pass Interactive Map
Parks Canada uses a nifty color-coded map to communicate open and closed zones. It’s best, and crucial, to know the color code:
Red: Closed due to active avalanche mitigation to keep the road and railways open. Think this: explosives in use.
Yellow: Zones are not under an active warning for explosives. Tourers can enter these zones with a winter permit (free) and a National Park Pass ( not free).
Green: Zones not lying within the highway control program. You’ll need a National Park Pass to enter these zones. Have a pass, and feel informed, then go tour.
A screenshot of opened and closed areas on the Rogers Pass Interactive Map.
Securing an Annual Winter Permit
This is free; you’ll need it to enter any yellow zone. Each person in your party must have a winter permit while touring. A digital copy of the permit will suffice. You can secure a permit online (it can take an hour to take the online test). No messing around here; you’ll also need 100% proficiency to pass a basic know-how test to secure the permit. Parks Canada asks folks to plan in advance and secure their permit before arriving at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre.
You’ll also need a valid license plate when signing up to secure your parking permit.
Note, if you are planning at the last minute and still need to secure a Winter Permit, you’ll need to secure a day-use winter permit at the Discovery Centre. In other words, try to plan, as Parks Canada warns that during high-volume periods, it can take upwards of seven days to issue an online permit. Otherwise, no planning ahead means you might be waiting in line at the Discovery Centre at 7 AM—why do that when you could be fueling up at the Golden Tim Horton’s before sun up with a winter permit and sour cream glazed doughnut already in hand.
National Parks Pass
This is required. Also known as a Discovery Pass, you can secure this online or onsite at Rogers Pass or Revelstoke. The annual pass costs $145.25 for a family/group (max seven people/vehicle), $72.25/adult, or $61.75/senior over 65. According to the pass website, it will cost $4.00 for U.S. shipping and $15.75 for express shipping.
Again, if you are last-minute planning, you can secure a day pass at the Discovery Centre or in Revelstoke.
Day Parking
Parking can be an issue. If asked to display a permit on your dash—please do so. Here’s the clear message, “All parking lots, except the Illecillewaet Valley Trailhead and the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre require a Parking Permit.”
Color coding for parking is also applied to digital maps. On any given day, a red “P” crossed out is a no parking zone, whereas a green “P” means good to go and park. You can secure a free parking permit with your winter permit.
Day Parking Rules
- Parking at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre is limited to day use, between the hours of 4:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
- No parking longer than 30 minutes at the Rogers Pass washroom building.
- No parking along the service road by the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre. This space is essential for safe traffic management during avalanche control closures Violators may be ticketed or towed.
“Most parking lots in Rogers Pass require a Winter Parking Permit and open or close daily depending on avalanche control. The Winter Parking Permit comes with your Winter Permit. All restricted parking areas are closed at midnight. It is illegal to enter or park in these areas until they are open. Restricted area status is updated at approximately 7:00 AM. Pacific Time.”
A zoomed in screenshot detailing parking areas on the Rogers Pass Interactive Map.
Overnight Parking
This becomes more complex if you are headed into backcountry. But, clearly stated on the Rogers Pass backcountry access info page is this disclaimer:
“Overnight parking permits can only be obtained at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre or by phone at 250-837-7500. You will need your license plate number and ACC hut reservation number or backcountry permit number. Specific exit routes will be explained to you at the time. We cannot guarantee same day service. Plan ahead to avoid disappointment.”
Scroll to the bottom of the info page, but know that overnight parking is restricted to specific locations and for folks backcountry camping or staying at a hut.
If you have heard horror stories regarding parking at Rogers Pass, you’ve likely known someone who has botched their overnight parking requirements. If you plan to spend the night out, understanding the overnight parking regs is vital. For you #vanlifers out there, there’s no front country sleeping in your four-wheeled domicile. It’s not even fine print, but big and bold: “There is no winter frontcountry camping in Glacier National Park and sleeping in vehicles overnight in parking areas is prohibited.”
More Resources
Parks Canada Rogers Pass Backcountry Access: at this link, you can find real-time parking information, the relevant color code for specific zones (is your desired zone open or not?), the avalanche bulletin, and relevant webcams. And if you want to see some of the information introduced above in video format, check out the Parks Canada video.
