Canadian national park reservations?

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bluespruce

Active Member
Jul 6, 2011
152
I’m trying to plan a trip this summer from Michigan to the Canadian Rockies. Banff, Jasper, Yoho

trying to figure out the reservation system. From what I’ve found there is no “rolling” reservation window. It just mentions that reservation window will open and then the reservations can be made for the whole season. I get that but when does the window actually open? 3 months before the campground opens? All on a specified day regardless of when the campground opens?

im ready with dates and flexoble on locations. But I don’t want to check the website every day for the next 5 months at 8 am local park time.

maybe I’m just not looking on the right place on the website? I thought I saw somewhere 90 days before the campground season opens. But now I can’t find it anywhere.

thanks
 
M

MNTCamper

Super Active Member
Jun 14, 2014
1,395
MN
Get an account, I think it is either six months or sometime in the spring. I can highly recommend kicking horse in yoho, you can see all of Banff from there too and it is away from crowds. Several good ones to choose from in Jasper. If you like hiking, look into the lake O'Hare drawing.
 
Dave2514g

Dave2514g

Active Member
Sep 2, 2019
305
Ontario, Canada
The last time I visited a national park was 10 yrs ago on our trip out west and friends booked it for me. There are only 37 national parks in Canada, and six total in my province. There are 340 provincial parks in my province alone, and I have a handful of favourites. I really enjoy fishing and the national parks are considered federal and therefore my $20 a year provincial fishing license is not valid and it costs $25 to get a temp license for fishing in a national park for the week. That being said, I'm not trying to discourage you from national parks, as they are some of the most beautiful areas you will ever experience. To make a long story longer, these are just the reasons why I'm not aware of their booking process.

I did, however, take a look on the national parks website to see what I could find for you. They make mention that they are revamping their reservation process. There is a phone number on the site:
1-877-RESERVE
Their hours are listed as 8AM to 6PM local time to the park you select.
I would start with that and hopefully someone can get you setup.
I hope you enjoy your trip while you are up here and feel welcomed.
Cheers
 
B

bluespruce

Active Member
Jul 6, 2011
152
MNTCamper said:
Get an account, I think it is either six months or sometime in the spring. I can highly recommend kicking horse in yoho, you can see all of Banff from there too and it is away from crowds. Several good ones to choose from in Jasper. If you like hiking, look into the lake O'Hare drawing.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip on kicking horse. I’ll check that one out.
 
Z

Zirakzigil

New Member
Jul 16, 2020
5
They just announced that Banff National Park reservations will open March 3rd. After that its a rolling 90 day window to book. Best to book ASAP because they fill up almost instantly. Book on your 1st night at the 90 day mark. You can then book past the 90 days and get all the nights you want if they are consecutive and at the same site.
 
p

p

Super Active Member
Jun 9, 2014
852
Alberta
I have tried (successfully and unsuccessfully) to book Pacific Rim (Tofino) on the second the bookings have opened for a spot anytime in July and Aug. In approx 8 seconds, the entire summer (92 ish camping spots) were booked.

Just saying.
 
D

DerekCamperDad

Member
Jan 26, 2018
63
Calgary, AB. Canada
Parks Canada is updating their system this year. You'll need to make an account early March even if you have one already. Then you'll need to check www.pc.gc.ca to see when the park you want opens for reservations, they don't do them all at once. Last year the didn't have a 90 day window but they opened up the entire season, we got lucky and got several nice spots in Banff from May until when the close late September. You should be able to get something if you get online the right away when they open up the system for reservations.
 
R

recon9

Member
Feb 20, 2021
12
I also live in Alberta.

For provincial campgrounds through Alberta Parks, it is a rolling 90 day reservation window.

For national parks through Parks Canada, they open up the whole summer on one day. This is applicable to the parks you mentioned (banff, jasper, yoho)

As others have mentioned, Parks Canada is upgrading their reservation system. It sounds like it will be similar to one used in California?

From Parks Canada website these are the dates I have found:

The new system will be up on March 3, you will have to make a new account at that time.

Banff: Reservations open March 23, 2023 at 8AM mountain time.
Jasper: Reservations open March 16, 2023 at 8AM mountain time.
Yoho: Reservations open March 29, 2023 at 8AM mountain time.

My personal experience for booking Banff with the old system is I have been unsuccessful in booking Two Jack Lakeside for the last couple of years. That one is very popular and the whole summer gets booked in minutes. Tunnel Mountain Village 1 has been quite easy to get a site, especially during the week.

Hope this helps.
 
B

bluespruce

Active Member
Jul 6, 2011
152
i was able to book sites in both jasper and banff on launch days.

jasper was first. Got in a half hour before open and random draw placed me at number 8,457 in line. about 20 minutes later I was allowed in and had a pretty good pick of sites at whistler.

banff was today. Same thing but this time I was 47,371 In line! My heart sank and I nearly gave up hope. But the line moved fast and about 90 minutes later I was in. Two jack lakeside was gone. I went to tunnel mountain 1 hoping for a site on the outside of the loop. No such luck. Got a site, looks decent from the pictures and honestly, it’s camping in a beautiful place. A parking lot would be fine.

I have to say, I think the way canada national parks handles reservations is good. Maybe I’d say different if I didn’t get a site but I just checked tonight and there are still a few sites available In prime July/august when we are going. So the bots didn’t get all the sites.

family is very much looking forward to the trip.
 
C

CheyenneCanada

Member
Sep 25, 2021
81
bluespruce said:
i was able to book sites in both jasper and banff on launch days.

jasper was first. Got in a half hour before open and random draw placed me at number 8,457 in line. about 20 minutes later I was allowed in and had a pretty good pick of sites at whistler.

banff was today. Same thing but this time I was 47,371 In line! My heart sank and I nearly gave up hope. But the line moved fast and about 90 minutes later I was in. Two jack lakeside was gone. I went to tunnel mountain 1 hoping for a site on the outside of the loop. No such luck. Got a site, looks decent from the pictures and honestly, it’s camping in a beautiful place. A parking lot would be fine.

I have to say, I think the way canada national parks handles reservations is good. Maybe I’d say different if I didn’t get a site but I just checked tonight and there are still a few sites available In prime July/august when we are going. So the bots didn’t get all the sites.

family is very much looking forward to the trip.
Click to expand...
Great news! I hope your trip is everything you hope it will be and that you have a wonderful time in my home province of Alberta :)
 
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