Paid pass required for visiting K-Country

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Albertans will soon have to pay for a vehicle entry pass to enjoy the sights and trails of Kananaskis Country.

On April 27, the province announced it is implementing the vehicle entry pass, which will cost $15 per day or $90 per year. The pass, required as of June 1, will be tied to a vehicle’s license plate number, so unlike the Parks Canada Discovery Pass, it is not transferrable between vehicles.

According to the province, the change was necessary because of the large number of visitors to K-Country last year, which equalled around five million people. Increased visitors meant more litter, human-wildlife conflict, overcrowding, traffic and illegal parking. This placed a strain on services, such as maintenance, search and rescue operations, and enforcement.

The passes will be required in provincial parks, public land in Kananaskis, provincial campground and day use areas in the Bow Valley corridor. It will not be required in the McLean Creek day use area, a popular destination for off-road vehicle users.

All the estimated $15 million generated by these new fees will be used to improve visitor experiences, according to the government. It will pay for trail maintenance, search and rescue, visitor services and facility upkeep, and education and enforcement through the hiring of additional conservation efforts. The government is planning $11.5 million in funding for new projects and staff. It will also facilitate expansion of protected areas within Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta Chapter stated that implementing a user-pay mechanism could create barriers to access and enjoyment of parks and public lands, and might also displace visitors to other areas without appropriate infrastructure or management.