B.C. Parks Changes Reservation System After Free Joffre Lakes Passes Resold Online

Sarah Desjardins

9/16/20262 min read

B.C. Parks is changing its reservation system in an effort to stop automated bots and scalpers from snapping up free day-use passes for popular provincial parks and reselling them online.

The Ministry of Environment and Parks announced Tuesday that beginning Sept. 22, people booking passes will be required to create an account through the B.C. Parks website and verify their identity.

The change follows complaints that passes for popular destinations such as Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park were being hoarded and then sold for money despite being issued for free.

In one reported case, a free pass was being offered for $40.

Province Previously Flagged Suspected Bot Activity

The ministry said earlier that it had identified irregular booking patterns suggesting automated bots may have been used to reserve more passes than individuals were permitted to obtain.

The new account requirement is intended to make large-scale automated bookings more difficult and give the province greater ability to identify suspicious reservation activity.

Under the updated system, users will be able to verify themselves through a B.C. Services Card account or create a B.C. Parks account using an email address and password.

Demand Remains Far Higher Than Supply

Hiker and parks advocate Steve Jones said the changes could help limit scalping but will not solve the underlying shortage of available passes.

He said demand for access to Joffre Lakes continues to significantly exceed the number of visitors allowed each day.

"It doesn't actually change the number of spaces that are available and it doesn't change the booking experience," Jones said.

B.C. Parks currently limits access to Joffre Lakes to approximately 500 visitors per day between May and October.

"It's still going to be a rat race to see who can click the fastest," Jones said.

Passes Released Two Days Before Visits

During peak season, day-use passes are required at several popular provincial parks, including Golden Ears, Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi and Mount Seymour.

The passes are free and become available online at 7 a.m. two days before a planned visit.

The province initially introduced mandatory free day-use passes for heavily visited parks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The system was later retained as a way to manage overcrowding, reduce environmental damage and limit congestion at popular destinations.

Outdoor Groups Welcome Change

Ryan Stuart, community engagement lead with the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C., said requiring accounts is a reasonable response to concerns about abuse of the reservation system.

"I think this is a smart way to try and control a problem we're starting to see that people are complaining about," Stuart said.

"It's nice to see the province react in a positive way that makes it fairly easy to get a reservation and get out in the parks."

Stuart said the policy change also highlights a broader problem: growing recreational demand and limited access to developed trails and park infrastructure.

"This is a great news piece for everybody," he said. "But there's also that broader implication of, 'Hey this is just more proof that we need more places to get out and play.'"

While the new account system may make it more difficult for scalpers and bots to dominate bookings, advocates say competition for a limited number of passes is likely to remain intense.

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