Free admission to national parks on Canada Day

Hikers at Numa Pass, Kootenay National Park (Photo copyright 2011 S Morgan)

Parks Canada celebrates Canada Day with free admission to national parks and historic sites across Canada.

In a press release dated June 27, 2012, Parks Canada announced that Canada Day will be celebrated with free admission to Canada’s national parks, including Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.

Whether you want to shop, bike, hike or simply enjoy nature, there is no better way to celebrate Canada’s birthday than with a trip to the mountain national parks. Besides free admission, various locations are planning events, opportunities, giveaways, parades and/or activities such as songs, stories and even a geocaching adventure at Kicking Horse campground in Yoho where you will learn how to use a GPS unit and more.

Children aged 6 to 11 years are invited to bring their families to discover the parks through Parks Canada’s Xplorer Kids Program. Be sure to pick up a free Xplorers booklet at a Parks Canada visitor centre.

To ensure you have the best possible experience, Parks Canada suggests the following trip planning tips to avoid disappointments.

• Some popular destinations can get quite busy later in the day so it is best to arrive before 10 am or after 5 pm to avoid the crowds. Early birds do get the worm.

• After record-breaking winter snowfall, some higher elevation hikes are still snow-bound. Check trail conditions online or stop or call a Parks Canada visitor centre before you hit the trail.

• Are you planning to go camping? To avoid disappointments when checking in, consider booking your campsite online at http://www.pccamping.ca. Note only select campgrounds are available for online reservation, with the remainder available on a first come, first serve basis.

• Animals are out and about in the parks. Please keep a safe distance from wildlife. Read more about how to keep the ‘wild in wildlife’ here: http://goo.gl/PjRrw

• Traffic volume is expected to be higher than normal over the long-weekend. To help alleviate congestion and reduce wait times, visitors should travel outside peak traffic periods on Highway 1.

For more information about Canada’s National Parks, visit http://www.pc.gc.ca.