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Visiting national parks has become increasingly pricey in the United States for international tourists, with a $100 surcharge added for foreign non-resident visitors as of January 2026. The fee system also involves a new ID rule that could apply these higher entry costs to Americans as well. As a result, many nature-hungry travelers are rerouting their itineraries north to Canada’s national parks to avoid the now-expensive park prices in the U.S.
However, as Canadian residents in and around Canada’s popular national parks, especially Banff, grapple with the increase in traffic and a strain on local services, some are questioning the exceedingly welcoming Canada Strong Pass and how it works.
Currently, the Canada Strong Pass offers free national park admission to all visitors on select dates, including both Canadians and foreign tourists. But some Canadians are urging Parks Canada to take a different approach and follow America’s lead when it comes to foreign tourists. This could increase revenue for Canadian national parks overwhelmed with international tourist traffic, but it could make Canada less welcoming to those from across the border.
Should The Canada Strong Pass Only Apply To Canadians To Control Banff’s Tourism?
At the Canada Annual Forum, some questioned whether the Canada Strong Pass should apply to all visitors or only to Canadians in order to better control Banff’s overtourism problem. Bill Keeling of the Lake Louise Advisory Board was especially vocal about his opposition to the Canada Strong Pass.
“If it was free for just Canadians, it would be more understandable, but being completely free for everyone, which creates a boatload of more vehicle traffic, that’s a big problem,” Keeling told CTV News.
Many in the general public agree with Keeling’s sentiments. “I think it’s a great idea but I disagree that it should apply to foreign tourists as well. I think it should be for Canadians only,” a person noted in a Reddit thread about the pass.
In a report from CTV News (seen above on YouTube), the recent change to U.S. national park entrance fees was brought up, which could be a way to generate revenue for Canada’s parks while solving the overtourism issue for popular destinations such as Banff.
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High tourism in Banff is expected to continue, if not grow, in the coming years. “It’s not going away. People will want to continue to visit Banff National Park,” said Daniella Rubeling, Parks Canada Banff Field Unit Superintendent.
Canadian Tourism On The Rise: Can The Country Cope?
The Canada Strong Pass was first launched in the summer of 2025. Parks Canada sites saw a 13% increase in visits as a result. Yet again this year, Banff National Park is dealing with especially high traffic. Canada’s oldest National Park, Banff is located about 90 minutes from Calgary. Highlights include the Lake Louise lakeshore and Johnston Canyon waterfall.
“Now we have very high levels of visitation – the highest ever – and it’s starting to affect the quality of the experience of the park visitor as well as the experience of living here,” conservationist Harvey Locke told CBC News.
Locke explained that cars line up a kilometer away from Johnston Canyon, and the catwalk to the waterfall becomes so crowded that it experiences what feels like “rush hour.” If hikers were cars, they’d be in “bumper-to-bumper traffic,” he explained.
Overcrowding in Banff has been a topic of conversation for years, but the crush hasn’t dissuaded visitors. In fact, Banff National Park broke its record again in the 2025-26 fiscal year with 4.5 million visitors.
“It’s become overcrowded, and it’s impacting the quality of the experience for visitors and is also starting to put pressure on park resources because the town wants to expand parking facilities into a critical wildlife corridor,” Locke cautioned.
“Since the national parks are for the people of Canada, we need to make sure the number of visitors is within the comfortable tolerance for the people who created these parks for the world,” he added.
Locke didn’t suggest restrictions on the Canada Strong Pass, but did recommend that park officials limit the number of passes available for Banff National Park and turn away visitors once the area reaches capacity.
Free Entry For All: How The Canada Strong Pass Works
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The Canada Strong Pass is returning for the summer of 2026. It will allow free admission to places operated by Parks Canada from June 19 through September 7, 2026. This includes all of Parks Canada’s:
National marine conservation areas
Lockage at canals on historic waterways
The pass does not apply to any destination that’s not operated by Parks Canada. The free admission does not include parking, permits, camping, mooring, guided tours, programs, or fishing licenses. The Canada Strong Pass also excludes Radium, Miette, and Banff Upper Hot Springs.
Visitors don’t need to acquire a physical pass to get free admission. Parks Canada will simply stop charging visitors at the gate during the applicable period. This means that all visitors get in for free regardless of their citizenship.
There are no official indicators of a change to the Canada Strong Pass yet, but visitors should be aware of the high potential for overcrowding in popular spots like Banff. Planning ahead is essential to secure a room and plot an enjoyable visit for all those flocking to Canada this year.