Day passes will continue to be required at 3 popular B.C. Parks

In order to manage the volume of visitors in three of B.C.'s most popular parks, the provincial government will continue to require visitors to book day-use passes.

Effective June 17, visitors will need to reserve free day passes for Golden Ears Park, Joffre Lakes Park, and three trailheads at Garibaldi Provincial Park during peak hours. The passes can be reserved at B.C. Parks online two days in advance.

Passes can also be cancelled online.

In a statement, the B.C. government said it is prolonging the day-use pass program "to maintain a balance between growing numbers of visitors and conserving the natural environment."

 "Overuse has become a growing challenge in these three parks. We need to ensure that, above all, we are protecting what makes these parks special through sustainable recreation," said B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman. 

Golden Ears Park and three of Garibaldi Park's trailheads will require vehicle passes, while Joffre Lakes Park will ask each person for an individual trail pass.

Discover Parks ambassadors will administer the program. The province says it continues to make improvements to the program and that it is an effective tool to reduce the impact of visitors on the environment and prevent congested parking lots, roads and trails. 

"An unmanaged increase in visitors can result in trail damage and vegetation trampling, wildlife displacement and impacts to Indigenous cultural values," said the province. 

B.C. Parks is investing $21.5 million for outdoor recreation, including adding campsites and upgrading facilities.