Skiing Rogers Pass This Winter? Here’s What’s Changing.

Backcountry skiers heading to Rogers Pass this winter will have a later morning update on which restricted areas are open, along with a new option for visitors under 19 travelling with a parent or guardian.

Parks Canada announced the changes ahead of Glacier National Park’s winter permit season, which begins November 15. The annual permit quiz and application form open October 15.

For those unfamiliar with the system, backcountry visitors need a winter permit, which requires completing a quiz, along with a national park pass. Parks Canada uses the system to keep visitors away from artillery fire and avalanches triggered to protect the highway and railway.

A Later Morning Update

This winter, Parks Canada will announce which restricted areas are open for skiing each day at 7:30 a.m. Summit Station, where visitors pick up daily permits, will also open at 7:30 a.m. and close half an hour later than last season.

The agency attributes the shift to Glacier National Park no longer turning its clocks back in November. On the shortest days of the year, sunrise will be close to 9 a.m.

For skiers planning an early start, the new schedule is worth factoring into the trip. An annual permit allows visitors to enter open restricted areas without stopping at Summit Station each morning, but they must still check the Rogers Pass Backcountry Access map before entering.

A New Option For Younger Skiers

Visitors under 19 may now go without their own winter permit if they are travelling with a parent or guardian who holds a valid permit.

Parks Canada still strongly encourages younger visitors to complete the quiz and obtain their own permit, saying the process helps them understand the system and its safety requirements. Applicants under 19 need written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Apply Before The Snow Arrives

Parks Canada recommends applying online for an annual permit well before a planned trip. Processing can take a week or more, depending on application volume, and the October 15 launch gives skiers time to get their paperwork ready before the season begins.

Those using a daily permit must complete the daily quiz and collect their permit at Summit Station on the day they plan to ski or snowboard. The quiz can be completed beforehand, but daily permits are available only in person and are valid only for that day.

Permit holders must carry their winter permit and government-issued photo identification. Digital winter permits are accepted, but the accompanying winter parking permit must be printed, displayed legibly on the dashboard and match the vehicle’s licence plate.

Dogs and other pets remain prohibited in the winter backcountry, defined as areas beyond parking lots along the Trans-Canada Highway, from November 15 until the avalanche-control program ends. Exceptions apply to properly identified avalanche rescue and search-and-rescue dogs during training or rescue operations.

An area being open under the permit system does not mean its slopes are safe from avalanches. Parks Canada’s control work protects the transportation corridor; visitors remain responsible for assessing backcountry conditions, checking the avalanche bulletin and carrying a transceiver, shovel and probe for each member of their group.

The annual permit quiz and application will be available October 15 at parks.canada.ca/skirogerspass.