Where does the ‘Canada Strong Pass’ apply in B.C.?

Golden Larches stand in Yoho National Park (Parks Canada)

The federal government’s new “Canada Strong Pass” will provide Canadians and visitors with free entry and discounts at national parks and attractions this summer in a bid to boost domestic tourism amid strained relations with the U.S.

Perks include:

• Free admission to all Parks Canada national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas.
• A 25 per cent discount on Parks Canada camping fees, including tent and RV campsites, roofed accommodation like cabins and yurts, and overnight backcountry trips.

No actual pass is required, the initiative will see discounts automatically applied when someone registers or shows up for a visit.

Provincial and territorial museums and galleries also have the option of participating. That list will be available online once they are confirmed.

Here is a list of the federal sites in B.C. where people can take advantage of the federal program through Sept. 2.

Lower Mainland

Fort Langley National Historic Site, Fort Langley

The site is home to a 19th century fur trade fort on the banks of the Fraser River.

“Discover the rich and varied history of this Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post as you explore the rough-hewn timber buildings that recreate life in the 1800s,” according to the Parks Canada website.

Overnight camping is also available on the site.

Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, Steveston

A 4,000 square foot cannery in the historic fishing village.

“As one of British Columbia’s few restored canneries, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society honours this history by sharing stories of the fishing industry and its communities through exhibitions, collections, and programs, and events,” the Parks Canada website says.

Vancouver Island

Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, Colwood

This site is home to the first permanent lighthouse on the Pacific Coast of Canada, built by the British in 1860.

“Every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real 19th century lighthouse and capture some of the feeling of ships wrecked and lives saved,” according to the City of Colwood’s website.

“Inside the building are two floors of exhibits, dealing with shipwrecks, storms, far-flung lights and the everyday working equipment of the light keeper a century ago.”

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, Colwood

Built by the British in the 1890s to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base, Fort Rodd Hill was operational until 1956.

“Visitors come to explore the three-gun batteries, underground magazines, command posts, guardhouses, barracks and searchlight emplacements that are the vestiges of a bygone era,” the City of Colwood’s website says.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Located in Tofino on the traditional territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, the reserve has three separate “units” and roughly 100 campsites, according to Parks Canada.

“Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is your gateway to the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island. Activities range from interpretive walks to the hike of a lifetime along the legendary West Coast Trail,” the website says, adding that there are “kilometres of long sandy beaches” and “unspoiled temperate rainforests.”

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Spread across multiple islands in the Salish Sea – accessible from both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island – there are a “wide variety of camping experiences” in an environment where “sheltered, islet-dotted waters teem with seals, otters, orcas and porpoises,” the Parks Canada website says.

“Explore the rare eco-systems and unique Mediterranean-like climate,” the description continues.

Northern B.C.

Fort St. James National Historic Site, Fort St. James

A former fur trade post established in the 19th century on the southern tip of Stuart Lake.

“Tour Canada’s largest collection of wooden buildings faithfully restored to the fur trade era. Meet and talk to site interpretive staff in period costume. Take a self guided audio tour, dine at the Home Stretch Diner and don’t miss the chicken races!” the Parks Canada Website says.

Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site

The remnants of a fortified village of the Gitwangak people built in the mid 1700s, located on the Kitwanga River amid the Bulkley and Hazelton mountain ranges.

“Park at the viewpoint of Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site and survey the surrounding hills and Kitwanga River valley as the Gitwangak people did,” the Parks Canada website says.

“Take a short walk down a wooden staircase to the grassy mound where five cedar plank longhouses were once surrounded by a palisade, armed with massive spiked logs…At nearby Gitwangak Village, view a collection of age-old totem poles rich in First Nations history.”

The Kootenays

Kootenay National Park

Located along Highway 93 in Radium Hot Springs, the park is 1,406 square kilometres, with 200 kilometres of hiking trails and nearly 400 campsites.

“The park’s long narrow profile is packed full towering summits and hanging glaciers that meet narrow chasms, broad forested valleys, arid grasslands and colour-splashed mineral pools,” the Kootenay-Rockies tourism website says.

Kootenae House National Historic Site

Located in Kootenay National Park, the site is described by Parks Canada as “the historic spot where trade began between the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) people and European fur traders in 1807, forever changing the course of First Nations and Canadian history.”

Radium Hot Springs

The natural hot spring located within Kootenay National Park, one of the sites most popular attractions.

“This family-friendly facility offers plenty of space to relax and soak in the expansive hot pool or cool off with the kids in the swimming pool,” the Parks Canada website says.

“The mineral water of Radium Hot Springs is uniquely odourless and clear, making this hot springs perfect for a relaxing soak.”

Yoho National Park

Located in the Kootenays on the B.C. Alberta border and accessible by the Trans-Canada Highway, the parks spans nearly 1,500 square kilometres. There are just shy of 200 campsites in the park.

The town of Field, B.C., is located within its boundaries and is home to two national historical sites.

Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site

Located in Yoho National Park, the site is “legendary” because it “opened British Columbia to the rest of Canada by rail in the 19th century,” according to the Parks Canada website.

“From the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint, watch a Canadian engineering phenomenon in action as trains disappear into one Rocky Mountain tunnel and emerge from another at a different elevation on the steep slopes,” the description on the website continues.

Twin Falls Tea House National Historic Site

A log cabin built in 1908 located within Yoho National Park.

“When train whistles first blew through the Rocky Mountains in the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway built grand hotels, rustic lodges and backcountry chalets amid some of Canada’s most spectacular natural landscapes,” the Parks Canada website says.

“Stop at the historic log building while day-hiking to enjoy its rustic architecture and breathtaking views of the dual cascades of Twin Falls.”

Glacier National Park

Located in Revelstoke, the park spans nearly 1,400 square kilometres and has 80 campsites.

“With exceptional alpine scenery and deep valleys filled with ancient forests, Glacier National Park is a year-round paradise,” the description on the Parks Canada website says.

“Scale its heights following trails pioneered by legendary Swiss mountain guides, take a gentle stroll amid moss-draped old-growth cedars or hike through alpine meadows strewn with lichen-covered boulders.”

Rogers Pass National Historic Site

Described by Parks Canada as the “cultural heart” of Glacier National Park, the site has an abandoned railway line and “the stone ruins of a mountain resort once reached by horse-drawn carriage.” Old-growth cedars, back-country skiing, and wildlife watching are also listed as some of the draws.

“With rockwalls and waterfalls, Yoho is a pocket of dramatic wilderness that offers adventurous travellers the chance to connect with nature, understand its complexities and appreciate its wild beauty,” the Kootenay Rockies tourism website says.

Mount Revelstoke National Park

Bordering the city of Revelstoke, it spans roughly 260 square miles and has 62 campsites.

“Take a cool stroll through a lush rainforest on a hot summer day. Stand at the point of no return, where champions once launched themselves down a world-famous ski jump, and imagine the thrill of flight,” the Parks Canada description says.

“Climb the only mountain in the national park system that you can summit just a short walk from your car.”

Haida Gwaii

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site

A protected area on the southern half of Haida Gwaii, accessible only by boat or seaplane. Most visitors opt to use a licensed tour operator to plan their trips. There are no formal campsites but there are fees for visiting and people who travel independently are required to complete an orientation.

“Massive moss-draped cedar and Sitka spruce tower above the Haida people’s ancient carved poles and fallen longhouses on the lush rainforest islands of Gwaii Haanas,” the Parks Canada description says.

“Skies fill with bald eagles, bears scavenge salmon on wild beaches and the ocean teems with breaching whales, porpoises and sea lions. Experience a rich, remote landscape and seascape steeped in spirituality.”

SGang Gwaay Llnagaay (Nan Sdins)

On the southwest corner of Gwaii Haanas, there is an island that is home to a village that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“The Haida consider this place more than a village site, since the remains of so many ancestors and their spirits reside there. The Haida population was decimated by epidemics in the 19th century. Stay on the paths and as you walk around the site remember you are walking among these spirits,” the Parks Canada website says.