Another season of ski touring the Selkirk and Purcell mountains backcountry is nearing for Parks Canada, which recently announced key dates and changes for the 2025-26 winter permit season at Rogers Pass.
In an email to past permit holders, the federal agency shared that the quiz and application form for its free annual winter permit, which is required to recreate in Glacier National Park during avalanche season, will become available Monday, Oct. 20.
The winter permit system for the park subsequently takes effect Nov. 15, to remain in place for the duration of Parks Canada’s avalanche control into April or May 2026.
New to the rules this year, however, is that all backcountry users – even those entering unrestricted winter areas in Glacier – must come equipped with a winter permit and parking pass to display.
Previously, skiers, snowboarders and other winter recreationists could freely enter and enjoy the Connaught Valley (via the Rogers Pass parking lot) and Illecillewaet Valley (via the Illecillewaet parking lot) with just a general national park pass, as those areas didn’t shut for avalanche control.
To increase awareness and compliance among park visitors this season, Rogers Pass will also require daily winter permit holders – not just annual winter permit holders – to complete the multiple-choice avalanche safety quiz before recreating.
“Backcountry users accessing Glacier National Park’s unrestricted areas from the highway will receive the education they need to avoid inadvertently accessing a restricted or prohibited area,” Parks Canada said, noting as well it will “ensure all winter backcountry users are informed about key safety considerations when planning to enter complex avalanche terrain.”
The agency also emphasized that dogs and other pets will once again be restricted from going anywhere in Glacier during the winter season besides parking lots off the Trans-Canada Highway, as they present added risks of triggering or getting caught in avalanches.
The sole exceptions are dogs certified by search and rescue providers or the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association that are involved in training or rescue missions.
“It is difficult to maintain a dog on leash while ski touring or snowboarding,” Parks Canada added. “It is not only illegal to have dogs off leash in the park, in avalanche terrain, it can also pose additional risk to the dog and people in the area.”
As for the Rogers Pass Centre itself, construction will continue until potentially as far out as summer 2027 to reinforce the aging roof, the agency confirmed. Since June, essential services have remained available through a new welcome kiosk and washroom facilities at Summit Station that will continue to operate during winter.
With more limited parking at Summit Station, though, Parks Canada encourages backcountry users to arrange an alternative meeting location, carpool from Revelstoke or Golden, and obtain an annual winter permit in advance, rather than wait in line at Rogers Pass for a day permit.
Annual winter permits — green in colour this season — can be obtained starting Monday at parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/glacier/visit/hiver-winter/ski/permis-permit-quiz.
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