Last Week of Free Entry at Banff National Park

What’s Happening? The winter Canada Strong Pass is ending this week. Free admission to Banff National Park wraps up on January 15.

What’s Changing? Starting January 16, regular park entry fees apply again. If you’re visiting after that date, you’ll need to pay standard admission unless you hold a valid pass. Park operations will also shift back to normal. Gates will return to full staffing, and visitor centres will continue operating on their regular schedules.

Discovery Pass Holders, Here’s The Catch. If you already have a Discovery Pass, you’re not losing out. Any free Canada Strong Pass days are automatically added to your pass, extending its expiry date.

That said, figuring out the new expiry can be confusing. Even our own team had to check. Parks Canada has an official expiration calculator that tells you exactly how much extra time was added based on your original expiry date.

A quick reminder while you’re checking: Discovery Passes must be signed, are non-refundable, and cannot be transferred. The pass holder must be present when it’s used. If a pass is resold, it’s void.

Looking Ahead To Summer. The Canada Strong Pass returns from June 19 to September 7, covering the summer season.