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Rogers Pass

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Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park is a mecca for backcountry skiing and boarding. 

Golden is located close to Rogers Pass, famous for its incredible ski touring terrain and annual snowfall in excess of 10 metres, making Golden the perfect destination for the serious skier.

November 2021 Update - The Winter Permit System is now in effect. Plan ahead this winter – Parks Canada recently released the updates to the 2021-2022 Winter Permit System online, it is especially important this winter to know the system and to get your permit in advance! We encourage all users to obtain Annual Winter Permits this year as, due to COVID-19 health and safety measures, visitor services in Rogers Pass may be limited.

Changes to Winter Permit System areas

In the 2019/2020 season, the Winter Restricted Areas were combined. Learn more about these changes.

Parks Canada's Winter Permit System is in effect to manage winter backcountry access so that it doesn’t conflict with the highway avalanche control program.  You are responsible for your own safety in the backcountry. Anyone travelling into the backcountry must have avalanche training and appropriate safety equipment. It is critical that anyone venturing into the backcountry in Rogers Pass be aware of and comply with the area’s Winter Permit System, for your safety and everyone else playing or travelling through the pass. 

What is the Winter Permit System?

Learn it. Get your permit.

All of the mountain slopes that face the Trans-Canada Highway and railway corridor are part of the Winter Permit System. Much of this popular ski touring terrain may be closed daily for explosive avalanche control. You need to know where you can ski and ride to be safe from artillery fire.

The Winter Permit System divides Glacier National Park into three areas:
 

Winter Restricted Areas Winter Prohibited Areas Winter Unrestricted Areas

These areas are opened or closed daily depending on planned artillery fire.

To enter these areas:

 These areas are closed to visitors all winter and illegal to enter. They are not open for skiing at any time.

These areas are open to visitors all winter.

To enter these areas:

  • You must have a national park pass

 

Rogers Pass checklist

Before you ski Rogers Pass, you must:

  • Get your Winter Permit. For 2021-2022, Parks Canada strongly recommends that all backcountry users get an Annual Winter Permit as Daily Winter permits may be limited or unavailable. You must also:
    • Check which areas are open today on the Rogers Pass Backcountry Access interactive map.
    • Have a Winter Permit for every member of your group. Digital permits are accepted if you are unable to print a copy.
    • Display a legible printed Winter Parking Permit on the dashboard of the vehicle(s) you will be using.
  •  Get a national park pass for every member of your group. Available by phone at 250-837-7500, online, or at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre (limited services for winter 2020-2021).
  • Understand the risks of backcountry recreation, how to travel in avalanche terrain and how to practice self-rescue techniques.
  • Have an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe for every member of the group.
  • Check today's Avalanche Bulletin to determine the current conditions.
  • Carefully plan your route using online resources, maps, guidebooks and information from Parks Canada.
  • Know before you go. Check DriveBC.ca for highway conditions and updates.

How do I get a Winter Permit?

Annual Winter Permits are strongly encouraged. If you don’t have enough time to acquire an annual Winter Permit, options for skiing at Rogers Pass are:

  1. Ski an unrestricted area at Rogers Pass. You must be aware of area boundaries.
  2. Visit the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre to acquire a daily winter permit. Please note:
    • In accordance with public health authority orders, visitor services may be limited or unavailable.
    • You may need to wait in line.

Annual Winter Permit

This year, in order to minimize COVID health and safety risks, Annual Winter Permits will be available through a contactless permit process. Parks Canada strongly recommends backcountry users to plan ahead and get an Annual Winter Permit as visitor services in Rogers Pass will be limited.

An Annual Winter Permit allows you to access open Winter Permit System areas without visiting the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre each morning.

You can apply online for your Annual Winter Permit and will receive the permit by email. You will need to have a digital or print copy of the permit with you while you are skiing or snowboarding in Rogers Pass. You will also need a print copy of the corresponding Winter Parking Permit to display on the dashboard of the vehicle(s) parked at the trailhead.

Apply online for your free Annual Winter Permit

If you have any additional questions about the Annual Winter Permit process, please contact Parks Canada by email at pc.mrg.permit.permis@canada.ca or by phone at 250-837-7500.

Learn more about ski touring in Rogers Pass and the winter permit system including