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FAQ Category: Permits

Questions about the various permits required

  • How are campground reservations made outside of national parks? 

    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).  

  • What should I contact Parks Canada about? 

    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. 

  • Do I need a permit?

    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. Some 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.