Banff Park Pass Fees/Fines

[Clarkey]

How do they know that you aren't coming into Banff park from the B.C. side (where there aren't obvious pay booths)?

Do they actually ticket people for not having a pass? I think the park fees are 100% honor system from what I can see. Has anyone heard of someone getting fined?

[wooohooo]

Back in high school we were having a picnic and a park ranger came and asked us to see the pass. We didn't know we had to have one so we got a warning. That's about the most I've heard about that though...

[Frank MetaMusil]

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/v...s_e.asp?park=1

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

How do they know that you aren't coming into Banff park from the B.C. side (where there aren't obvious pay booths)?

Do they actually ticket people for not having a pass? I think the park fees are 100% honor system from what I can see. Has anyone heard of someone getting fined?

They do check and they do fine people - I've been checked and seen others get fined. You may not get caught, but then again, you might. Risk - reward. If you're coming into Banff from BC, you'll be entering from either Kootenay or Yoho National Parks, where you would have paid the fee to enter.

[fleuryisgod]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

How do they know that you aren't coming into Banff park from the B.C. side (where there aren't obvious pay booths)?

Do they actually ticket people for not having a pass? I think the park fees are 100% honor system from what I can see. Has anyone heard of someone getting fined?

I never get them when I go skiing. One time there was a check stop set-up and instead of a real fine, I had to buy a pass for the day at the normal rate. Other times I have seen tickets on vehicles after a day of skiing but I have never received one so I am not sure much they would be fined.

[Tron_fdc]

If you stop in the park, and a park ranger sees you don't have a pass, they can (and usually will) ticket you. This includes driving to Banff for a night of drinking....you need a pass.

I see them all the time at the ski hill turnoffs. If you don't have a pass they ticket you, and turn you around and make you go back and get one. It's a pain in the ass and it's happened to me more than once.

I went through Jasper last year, and they were forcing every car, regardless of destination, to buy a pass.

[FlamesKickAss]

I have never paid when going up for a night of drinking. Just pure luck I guess.

[old-fart]

You don't need a pass to drive through the park, but you do need one if you stop in the park (even for a coffee on your way through).

Don't be so cheap - you use the park, pay for it. One of the few government fees I don't mind all that much.

[Russic]

I've seen it set up checkstop style. Old-fart is correct, you don't have to pay to drive through but to stop you do. I've seen checkstops set up at the turn off to the ski hill and i've seen them ticket cars at the hill. Banff is such an incredible park to have as a neighbor I've always gladly paid the toll.

[firebug]

My experience has been that if you are on the Trans Canada or on the 93 (?) to Radium you will not need a pass.

If you leave those highways, even to stop in a rest area or take the Highway up to Jasper, you are required to have a pass.

~Firebug

[HammeR_]

i've been stopped check stop style at both lake louise and sunshine... they have never given me a ticket, they just make you turn around and go buy a pass.

[Hemi-Cuda]

what bugs me the most about driving through that area is the inexplicable drop to 90 km/h from 110. i could see the logic in that if there wasn't a massive fence running the entire length complete with animal crossings, but given that and seeing as how i've never even spotted so much as a deer on the road side of the fence in all of my many trips back to BC, it seems like a purely cash grab area for cops

[mrgreen]

I think if you're driving through a national park then buying a pass and trying to keep your speed down around the limit is just a matter of respecting the surroundings and having some class. Also wildlife still gets hit on the fenced part from time to time.

[username]

It annoys the heck out of me to hear about people NOT buying a pass. We are so fortunate to have BNP 60 minutes west of our city. The park maintains it natural beauty though government funds and these park fees. Don't be so darn cheap and pay the 10 bucks a day. It preserves the park and guarantees future generations will have the chance to enjoy as we do.

Think about how many millions of people around the world would love to have the opportunity to pay 10 bucks to enter a place as beautiful as BNP.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by username

It annoys the heck out of me to hear about people NOT buying a pass. We are so fortunate to have BNP 60 minutes west of our city. The park maintains it natural beauty though government funds and these park fees. Don't be so darn cheap and pay the 10 bucks a day. It preserves the park and guarantees future generations will have the chance to enjoy as we do.

Think about how many millions of people around the world would love to have the opportunity to pay 10 bucks to enter a place as beautiful as BNP.

Then they should move to Calgary. Or Hinton.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by firebug

My experience has been that if you are on the Trans Canada or on the 93 (?) to Radium you will not need a pass.

If you leave those highways, even to stop in a rest area or take the Highway up to Jasper, you are required to have a pass.

~Firebug

If you're not stopping you don't need a pass. However if you're 93 and stopping at Numa Falls or Kootney Crossing you better have a pass.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

what bugs me the most about driving through that area is the inexplicable drop to 90 km/h from 110. i could see the logic in that if there wasn't a massive fence running the entire length complete with animal crossings, but given that and seeing as how i've never even spotted so much as a deer on the road side of the fence in all of my many trips back to BC, it seems like a purely cash grab area for cops

Everyone does 110. If they made it 110, people would go 130. Not saying that there's anything wrong with that, just pointing it out.

Here's a question. The Radium Hot Springs are located just inside the park boundary. I pass by the gate everytime I go but I have never once considered buying a pass. Do you need a pass to go to the pools? I never see anyone at that booth.

[FurnaceFace]

Regarding the park pass I've been told you can get them in town at the park office. Not sure if that's true or not.

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

what bugs me the most about driving through that area is the inexplicable drop to 90 km/h from 110. i could see the logic in that if there wasn't a massive fence running the entire length complete with animal crossings, but given that and seeing as how i've never even spotted so much as a deer on the road side of the fence in all of my many trips back to BC, it seems like a purely cash grab area for cops

1) I think it's a federal speed limit set across the board for all parks.

2) There are animals who get around the fence. Once a few KMs after the park entrance, in a grassy area between the highway I saw a bear. You could almost see the dialog going on the bear's head (if it were to have dialog) "how the fata am I going to get out of here?!"

3) While there are a number of wildlife crossings which has decreased the number of accidents they aren't always used.

4) There are a lot of tourists on the road who are looking at the scenery and are likely going slower as a result.

5) That extra 5 minutes it takes to get from the park gate to the ski hills isn't going to kill you. Slow down and enjoy what you have in your own backyard.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

That extra 5 minutes it takes to get from the park gate to the ski hills isn't going to kill you. Slow down and enjoy what you have in your own backyard.

Dunno, these long trips through the parks are about the only time it makes sense to push the pedal down a little harder, seriously Calgary to Kelowna, drive at off peak times, use a little more pressure on the gas pedal and you can knock over a hour and a half off the trip. Is that worth it to you?

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Dunno, these long trips through the parks are about the only time it makes sense to push the pedal down a little harder, seriously Calgary to Kelowna, drive at off peak times, use a little more pressure on the gas pedal and you can knock over a hour and a half off the trip. Is that worth it to you?

I dunno dude. Some of those roads around Golden etc are kinda sketchy. I'd rather get there an hour later and you know, alive.