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:
In certain circumstances, select groups may be eligible for day-use pass exemptions.
To learn more about the purpose of day-use passes, see why day-use passes?, below.
Joffre Lakes
Day-use trail passes are required starting May 17, 2025 for visitors to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park. Temporary park closures are anticipated through the summer, and we will announce these as dates are confirmed. Check Joffre Lakes Park advisories for closure details. The end date for the day-use pass season will also be confirmed at a later date.
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 be managed to accommodate 500 visitors per day. Limiting the number of visitors allows the park to rest and recover from years of overuse. The limit also helps improve the visitor experience, providing solitude and enjoyment for hikers and campers.
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, screenshot, 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 at Garibaldi Park for summer 2025 at three trailheads.
Passes are required at Diamond Head and Rubble Creek trailheads Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holidays from June 13 to October 13, 2025. Passes for these trailheads are valid for arrival and departure any time of day.
Passes are required at Cheakamus Lake trailhead every day from June 13 to September 1. From September 2 October 13, they are required Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only. You can book a maximum of one pass per time slot, per day. Choose from two available time slots:
- AM pass, valid for arrival and departure before 1 pm
- PM pass, valid for arrival and departure after 1 pm
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).
The number of passes available each day is based on parking lot capacity, and is managed to accommodate both campers and day-use visitors. There is designated space for 50 vehicles at Cheakamus, 55 vehicles at Diamond Head, and 200 vehicles at Rubble Creek. Roadside parking is also used to accommodate additional vehicles at Rubble Creek.
To learn more about changes to day-use passes in 2025, read our blog post, 'When do I need a day-use pass for Garibaldi Park 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, screenshot, 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 at Golden Ears Park Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holidays from May 16 to September 1, 2025. Passes are required for all parking lots past the Spirea trailhead:
- Alouette Lake boat launch
- Alouette Lake South Beach day-use area
- Gold Creek trailhead
- 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 you throughout your stay.
Each vehicle requires a day-use pass. Each vehicle can have a maximum of 12 people (adults and children).
Passes are valid for arrival at any time of day. Passes are not required after 3:30 pm.
The number of passes available each day is based on parking lot capacity, and is managed to accommodate day-use visitors and backcountry campers. There is designated space for 100 boat launch vehicles and 800 regular vehicles at Alouette Lake boat launch and South Beach day-use area. There is designated space for 110 vehicles at Gold Creek trailhead and 55 vehicles at West Canyon trailhead.
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, screenshot, 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
Passes are not required at this time.
Day-use vehicle passes are required during the peak winter season for visitors to Mount Seymour Park parking in lots P1 and Lower P5. For parking lot locations, see the Mount Seymour parking lots map [PDF].
Passes are required:
- daily from December 12, 2024 to January 5, 2025
- weekends and holidays only from January 6 to March 31, 2025
Visitors camping in the backcountry must park in lot P1 and need a day-use pass for their day of arrival only. Group camping reservation holders do not require a day-use pass, but must carry proof of their reservation.
Mt Seymour Resort pass holders do not require a day-use pass. Visitors arriving by Mt 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 12 pm
- PM pass, valid for arrival and departure between 12 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, screenshot, 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!
Day-use pass exemptions
Some groups or individuals may be permitted to enter day-use pass parks without a pass. These include:
- BC Parks volunteers
- Some educational groups
- Essential services
- First Nations whose traditional territories overlaps the park
- Authorized park-use permit holders
- Authorized researchers
For full details and criteria, visit the day-use pass exemptions page.
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