The increase in traffic in frustrating national parks many Canadians

National parks crowded with visitors. Traffic jams in parking. Camping sites that display complete. The summer season has been well occupied since the entry into force of the pass “a strong Canada” to the chagrin of many Canadians.

Lorne and Riza McVicar were looking forward to being able to enjoy it this summer. The Halifax couple tried to organize a campsite trip in July to Fundy National Park, New Brunswick, or at Gros-Morne National Park, in Newfoundland and Labrador, but discovered that all the sites were already reserved for the full month.

I expected the passing of the demand for camping sites, but not at that point. Any full poster.

He was finally able to find places by regularly checking the Parks Canada site to see if there were cancellations. But the five-day trip to New Brunswick did not go smoothly: the couple had to change the campsite site every day and was even transferred to another national park located about two hours by road.

Lorne McVicar wonders why the federal government has extended these offers to foreign travelers, which he said, which has helped increase caulk in the parks. It should have been reserved for taxpayershe said.

Parks Canada claims that he has not yet collected data on parks attendance, in particular to determine if the free entry offered to foreign travelers has led to significant increases. It is possible that the traffic is a little higher because there are many visitorssays Julia Grcevic, spokesperson for Parks Canada for Southwest Ontario.

We have always invited everyone around the world to enjoy our iconic destinationsshe adds.

Ottawa did not explain why the eligibility for discounts and free entries was extended to foreign travelers. Our government will examine the success of the pass this summer to assess the impactreplied by email Hermine Landry, press secretary of the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

Traffic jams

In several national parks, the increase in traffic also leads to traffic traffic jams and concerns for the environment.

At the beginning of the month, the Lacs-Waterton National Park in Alberta had to close access to vehicles for more than two hours because it had reached its capacity. The team made the decision very difficult to divert trafficexplains Christy Gustvison, manager of the experience of visitors to the park.

We recognize that this has a real impact on visitors and is a very difficult situation for all those concernedshe said.

The city of Banff, on the other hand, saw its congestion threshold of 24,000 vehicles exceeded every day in July and so far in August, a situation also observed last year. We are delighted that people can enjoy their national parks. But we will not be able to manage such a volume of long -term vehiclesunderlines the mayor Corrie Sunday.

At the Mauricie National Park in Quebec, the Federal Agency says it has hosted 15,122 visitors from July 7 to 13, an increase of 19 % compared to the same week last year. As for camping sites, the occupancy rate increased by 10 % in one year.

In order to optimize the circulation of visitors and avoid unpleasant surprises, some national parks have established a parking space reservation system. This is the case, among other things, at the Peninsula-Bruce and Pointe-Pélée parks in Ontario, said Julia Grcevic de Parcs Canada.

The Prince Edward Island National Park, for its part, says it has experienced a record number of visitors and traffic jams in a publication on social networks. The park – very popular with islanders and tourists – had to refuse visitors several times this summer because its parking lots were full.

This year, with free access, the park is really crowded with visitorssays Mike Kelly, who lives near the National Park and the visit frequently.

The resident says he is concerned about the crowds he sees walking on the sand dunes, a fragile ecosystem. I see a lot of people dig into the dunes, I saw caves dighe said.

It’s really discouraging.

Disturbing the dunes weakens their role as a natural barrier against erosion and storms. Destabilizing the sand can also destroy the habitat of fauna and flora. In the long term, this increases the vulnerability of coastal areas in the face of climate change and the rise of the sea.

It’s a beautiful place and we hate to see damagesays Doug Campbell, guard of the Prince Edward Island National Park.

A surcharge in the United States in 2026

While Americans can access the Canadian national parks for free this summer, Washington will impose surcharge on foreign tourists who visit American parks next year.

On July 3, President Donald Trump signed a decree stipulating that his administration would prioritize Americans by increasing the entry prices in national parks for foreign visitors and making them more affordable For American citizens.

The Americans will also be a priority when booking their visits, specifies the decree. The revenues generated will be used to improve the infrastructure of the vast network of national parks in the United States.

It’s a nose to Canadianslance Lorne McVicar. While Americans can take advantage of Canadian parks for free, the Trump administration has decided to overload Canadians to access American parks.

Neither the Interior Department of the United States nor its national parks service (NPS) no longer provides details on this increase in prices to come. In a joint declaration, they say they are committed to exploring various avenues in order to to ensure the sustainability of our parks and our public landswhich includes in particular adjustments to entry fees.

A document from NPS presenting its budgetary plans for 2026 indicates that it will establish a surcharge for foreign visitors, which should generate more than $ 90 million to preserve the beauty of national parks.

With information from Sophia Harris, CBC.