Get your permits, Stick to your permits.
IMPORTANT: We know that permits are the least pleasant part of the GDT experience. However, permits are necessary, and getting and keeping to your permits is important. Each hiker is an ambassador for the trail, and our actions make it easier or harder for next year’s hikers. So please, try to book permits for an itinerary you are likely to be able to keep to, and build in buffers to help you stick to it. Remember, the GDT exists only because of the goodwill of partners and the actions of those that hike it!
Before you Start
GDT Hikers must stay in designated campgrounds in most National and Provincial Parks so it is recommended that you arrange for all park permits in advance. The resources below will be instrumental in helping you plan.
National Park Campground Reservations
Parks Canada Discovery Pass*: Covers access to National Parks, campground fees are not included. Go to the Parks Canada website for more information. *NOTE the Parks Canada Discovery Pass will not be required from June 19, 2026 to September 7, 2026, replaced by the FREE Canada Strong Pass.
Annual Adult Discovery Pass $75.25 or One Day Discovery Pass $11.00 (reduced rate for seniors and youth 17 and under are free)
National Park Backcountry Permit: Covers backcountry camping in National Parks – $13.50 per night
National Park Backcountry Permits require a reservation for all National Park backcountry campgrounds to be used on your trip, and are subject to campground availability. National Park backcountry campground online reservations, modifications and cancellations cost $11.50 (in addition to Backcountry Permit fees). Reservations, modifications and cancellations by phone cost $13.50.
Click here for detailed instructions on how to use the Parks Canada Online Reservation Service.
All national parks along the GDT accept online reservations (reservation.pc.gc.ca). Thru-hikers planning a long-distance trek through multiple national parks are recommended to reserve campgrounds online where available and then if necessary, call each applicable national park office to complete other required campground reservations, including random camping locations, and attempt to get any duplicate reservation fees reimbursed.
Random camping is allowed in the following sections of the GDT within National Parks but a Backcountry Permit (random camping permit) is still required: Amiskwi Valley in Yoho; Howse Pass Trail in Banff; Miette River Trail, Colonel Pass, and Calumet in Jasper. You must call a national park visitor centre directly in order to obtain a random camping permit as they are not available online.
Reservation changes during your trek can be made online, but it is recommended to contact or visit a national park visitor centre en route to revise your Backcountry Permit.
Banff:
- Online reservations for Banff National Park’s backcountry camping open on January 26, 2026 at 8:00am MT.
- Telephone: 403-762-1550
- Email: banffinfo@pc.gc.ca; or lakelouiseinfo-infolakelouise@pc.gc.ca
- In person at a Banff National Park Visitor Centre
Jasper:
- Online reservations for Jasper National Park’s backcountry camping open on January 28, 2026 at 8:00am MT.
- Telephone: 780-852-6177; ext. 2 (not 1)
- Email: sentiersjasper-jaspertrails@pc.gc.ca
- In person at Jasper National Park Visitor Centre
Kootenay:
- Online reservations for Kootenay National Park’s backcountry camping open on January 26, 2026 at 8:00am MT.
- Telephone: 250-347-9505 (seasonal May-October); or Lake Louise Visitor Centre at 403-522-3833 (year-round)
- Email: kootenayinfo-infokootenay@pc.gc.ca; or lakelouiseinfo-infolakelouise@pc.gc.ca
- In person at Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre
Waterton Lakes:
- Online reservations for Waterton Lakes National Park’s backcountry camping open on January 21, 2026 at 8:00am MT.
- Telephone: 403-859-5133
- Email: waterton.info@pc.gc.ca
- In person at Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
Yoho:
- Online reservations for Yoho National Park’s backcountry camping open on January 26, 2026 at 8:00am MT.
- Telephone: 250-343-6783 (seasonal May-October); or Lake Louise Visitor Centre at 403-522-3833 (year-round)
- Email: yoho.info@pc.gc.ca; or lakelouiseinfo-infolakelouise@pc.gc.ca
- In person at Yoho National Park Visitor Centre
Provincial Park Campground Reservations
Three Provincial Parks require backcountry campground reservations. Hikers planning a long-distance trek through multiple parks will have to make all required campground reservations separately.
Peter Lougheed:
- Campground reservations (frontcountry and backcountry) are available up to 90 days in advance online, or in person at the Peter Lougheed Visitor Information Centre.
- Backcountry – $12 per person/night + $12 reservation fee
- Frontcountry – $31 (no service) – $47 (fully serviced) + $12 reservation fee
- Telephone: 1-877-537-2757
Mount Assiniboine:
- Reservations in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park are required from June 21 to September 30 for all overnight stays at Magog Lake, Og Lake, and Porcupine campgrounds.
- Reservations can be made up to 4 months in advance of your arrival date via the BC Parks Camping Reservation Service – $10 per person/night + $6 reservation fee.
Mount Robson:
- All backcountry campgrounds on the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park are 100% reservable from May 26 to September 29. Reservations for the full summer 2026 season on the Berg Lake Trail open on December 2, 2025 at 7:00am PST.
- Online reservations only – $10 per person/night + $6 reservation fee.
- Permits and reservations are not required for backcountry camping on the Moose River Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park.
All other Provincial Park backcountry campgrounds do not take reservations and have first-come first-served self-registration ranging from free to $10 per person/night. BC Parks Backcountry Registration System allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit in advance for Akamina Creek campground and Lower Elk Lake campground. Although the system does not reserve a campsite, the system provides visitors the convenience of prepaying for their trip and not having to carry cash.
Other Required Permits
The Alberta Public Lands Camping Pass is required to random camp on public land along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta from north of Waterton Lakes National Park to Willmore Wilderness Park. The pass does not apply in Kananaskis area, national parks, provincial parks, wildland provincial parks, provincial recreation areas, wilderness areas and natural areas, which limits the pass’s applicability on the GDT to the southern half of Section B, Michele Lakes to Pinto Lake (Section E), and Willmore Wilderness Park (Section G).
- A Public Lands Camping Pass is required for all campers 18 years and older. Passes are $20 per person for a 3-day pass or $30 per person for an annual pass (plus $3.25 system-processing fee + GST per transaction) and can be purchased online on the AlbertaRELM site
Frequently Asked Questions about Permits
You will need at least an Alberta Public Lands Camping Pass (which is easy to get) to hike Section B and Section G north of Blueberry lake. Sections D, F and G require backcountry random camping permits from Parks Canada, but these permits are normally easy to get.
You cannot “just show up and hike” the entire trail if you do not have permits. You can however do some sections of the trail with no, or few permits, such as Section B (you will still need an Alberta Public Lands Camping Pass). There are other sections that are also possible with just a Public Lands Camping Pass, and easy to book random camping permits, such as Section D, F, and G.
Yes, GDT Hikers must stay in designated campgrounds in most National and Provincial Parks so it is imperative that you arrange for all park permits and reservations in advance. Many permits book up completely on opening day, so make sure you plan ahead. Our Permits and Itineraries pages can help you with these.
Making all campground reservations in advance of a thru-hike can create obvious challenges trying to stay on a defined schedule when hiking several months later. The best advice is to create a realistic itinerary, include flexibility in your schedule, and if you get ahead or behind schedule while hiking, talk to the visitor centres or a Park warden about revising your permit.
Everyone over the age of 18 needs their own Public Lands Camping Pass (with a few exceptions, such as for First Nations, or people receiving specific benefits).
We have! You can read about our efforts towards a single permit system. If you would like to help the GDTA make accessing permits easier for thru-hikers, please become a member. These metrics really help when we negotiate with land managers for easier access.
Most Provincial Park backcountry campgrounds do not take reservations and have first-come first-served self-registration. The exceptions are in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park and on the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park where backcountry campgrounds reservations are required. For more detailed information on how to reserve a provincial park campground including links, telephone numbers and email addresses, check out our Permit page.
The Alberta Public Lands Camping Pass is required to random camp on public land along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta from north of Waterton Lakes National Park to Willmore Wilderness Park. The pass does not apply in Kananaskis area, national parks, provincial parks, wildland provincial parks, provincial recreation areas, wilderness areas and natural areas, which limits the pass’s applicability on the GDT to the southern half of Section B, Michele Lakes to Pinto Lake (Section E), and Willmore Wilderness Park (Section G).
Parks Canada only allows one tent per tent pad. Tent pads are generally small and will not fit more than one tent anyway.
Random camping permits can also be obtained via email. You can find email addresses for each Park Office on our Permit page.
It is not okay to camp if you do not have a permit to camp on that date.
If you find yourself behind on the trail and unable to catch up by hiking more miles or skipping zeros, check upcoming alternates. Many alternates are significantly harder than the official trail, but there are a few shortcuts and easier routes too. If this isn’t an option, you should skip ahead to a section of trail where you still have permits. You may be able to get your dates changed by working with the park offices, though you will need to be flexible to wait for openings.
You are responsible for sticking to your permits. The easiest way to do this is to plan ahead, make sure your daily mileage is doable, and build in extra zeros to help you catch up if you get behind.
Parks Canada only allows a single tent per tent pad. If you bring two tents, you will need two permits. Up to four people can be on a single permit as long as they use one tent.
You need to get all of your required permits before you hike. If you missed out on one or two, there’s a few things you can do:
- Check nearby campgrounds. It might not be your first choice, and might mean a longer or shorter day, but it can help fill gaps in your itinerary.
- Keep checking. Reservations often become available. Parks Canada allows you to sign up for notifications (instructions at the bottom of this page), or you can use a service like Schnerp.
- Hike an alternate route. For example, go through the Amiskwi valley if you can’t get camp spots along the Iceline Trail in Yoho.
- If you really get stuck, you can always skip ahead. There may be more availability later in the season, so you can flip back and hike your missing section after you’ve completed most of your hike.
You are responsible for sticking to your permits. The easiest way to do this is to plan ahead, make sure your daily mileage is doable, and build in extra zeros to help you catch up if you get behind.
If you find yourself behind on the trail and unable to catch up by hiking more miles or skipping zeros, check upcoming alternates. Many alternates are significantly harder than the official trail, but there are a few shortcuts and easier routes too. If this isn’t an option, you should skip ahead to a section of trail where you still have permits.
GDT hikers should contact Parks Canada staff for the following reasons:
- Obtaining Parks Canada Discovery Passes and Wilderness Passes (mandatory for any overnight stay on the GDT in a National Park);
- Making or changing campground reservations in National Parks;
- Inquiring about trail conditions or backcountry safety in National Parks;
- Reporting problem trail conditions or closures in National Parks;
- Emergencies while hiking in a National Park;
- Reporting wildlife sightings or incidents within National Parks.
All other questions about the GDT can be directed to the GDTA.
You can find more FAQs on each of the pages, or on our Frequently Asked Questions Page