Go Back

Winter Permit System review, Glacier National Park

Thank you for your participation. A "what we heard" document will be posted soon.

Winter backcountry use in Glacier National Park has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. Maintaining the effectiveness of the Winter Permit System and achieving 100% user compliance is essential to continue to allow access. As part of the ongoing evolution and improvement of the system and to ensure its longevity, Parks Canada is conducting a full review of the program.

To address some identified challenges with the Winter Permit System, several actions have been proposed. Your input will help inform final decisions on changes to implement as early as next year (winter 2024-2025).

There are two ways you can participate:

  1. Comment form– Tell us what you think about the proposals.
  2. Idea Board – Share other ideas for ensuring WPS compliance.

Background

Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park is an important part of Canada’s national transportation corridor, taking both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway through the Columbia Mountains. Since 1961, Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces, under Operation PALACI, have partnered to operate the world’s largest mobile artillery avalanche control program in this area. The program is integral to keeping the Trans-Canada Highway and Canadian Pacific rail corridors open and safe from avalanche hazards during the winter months.

Due to the use of live artillery for avalanche control, all highway-facing slopes in Rogers Pass have been closed in winter to visitors since 1961. In 1995, the Winter Permit System (WPS) was piloted, a program developed through collaboration between Parks Canada and local stakeholders. The WPS is designed to allow access to backcountry areas in Rogers Pass without compromising the avalanche control program for the transportation corridor. The WPS has evolved over the years to improve access, awareness and compliance. Areas are open for winter recreation when and where artillery gunfire is not planned or anticipated.

The Winter Permit System

If you are new to the Winter Permit System in Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass National Historic Site, start here to learn more about it.

Winter backcountry use in Glacier National Park has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. Maintaining the effectiveness of the Winter Permit System and achieving 100% user compliance is essential to continue to allow access. As part of the ongoing evolution and improvement of the system and to ensure its longevity, Parks Canada is conducting a full review of the program.

To address some identified challenges with the Winter Permit System, several actions have been proposed. Your input will help inform final decisions on changes to implement as early as next year (winter 2024-2025).

There are two ways you can participate:

  1. Comment form– Tell us what you think about the proposals.
  2. Idea Board – Share other ideas for ensuring WPS compliance.

Background

Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park is an important part of Canada’s national transportation corridor, taking both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway through the Columbia Mountains. Since 1961, Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces, under Operation PALACI, have partnered to operate the world’s largest mobile artillery avalanche control program in this area. The program is integral to keeping the Trans-Canada Highway and Canadian Pacific rail corridors open and safe from avalanche hazards during the winter months.

Due to the use of live artillery for avalanche control, all highway-facing slopes in Rogers Pass have been closed in winter to visitors since 1961. In 1995, the Winter Permit System (WPS) was piloted, a program developed through collaboration between Parks Canada and local stakeholders. The WPS is designed to allow access to backcountry areas in Rogers Pass without compromising the avalanche control program for the transportation corridor. The WPS has evolved over the years to improve access, awareness and compliance. Areas are open for winter recreation when and where artillery gunfire is not planned or anticipated.

The Winter Permit System

If you are new to the Winter Permit System in Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass National Historic Site, start here to learn more about it.