As Banff continues to grow in popularity, concerns about overcrowding persist, especially with the return of the Canada Strong Pass this summer.
The pass allows free entry to national parks across the country.
The pass was first announced last spring by Prime Minister Mark Carney and took effect on June 20, 2025, with the aim of boosting tourism and helping visitors manage rising economic costs.
The benefits
The prime minister’s website says the pass will be renewed this upcoming summer.
“It will empower Canadians by helping you get ahead, bringing down your costs, and making your life more affordable,” reads the website, promoting the Liberal Government’s efforts to lower costs amidst persistent concerns about affordability.
According to Made In CA, a website that features products and services made in Canada, Banff was the most visited national park in Canada in 2024/25, seeing over 4.2 million visitors. With the Canada Strong Pass in effect, Banff tourism rates will likely continue to see growth this upcoming summer.
“Banff is already facing record-breaking visitation,” said Christie Pashby, Director of Public Affairs for Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, in an email to the Calgary Journal. “We expect summer 2026 in Banff to be very popular.”
Pashby highlights some of the benefits of the pass and what it means for national parks.
“The Canada Strong Pass underscores just how important national parks are to all Canadians — as places for recreation, reflection, and learning – as well as connection to nature and to each other,” said Pashby.
The free pass means that more people may visit the national park this summer and have the opportunity to see beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and town culture.
The concerns
However, along with its benefits, the Canada Strong Pass also triggers concerns about overcrowding in an already highly visited area.
“Congestion due to rising visitation (31 per cent over the last decade) and changing ways visitors use the area have impacted the experience of visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake,” reads Parks Canada’s Visitor Use Management Plan for the Lake Louise Area.
According to the park service, increased visitation causes sold-out shuttles, crowded parking, and busy roadways. Along with this, more maintenance is needed in different facilities, roads and trails.
“Infrastructure was not built to handle the level of use that is currently occurring,” warns the Parks Canada report.
A Parks Canada survey conducted between June and July 2024 suggests that 62 per cent of respondents mentioned overcrowding as a barrier to enjoying their visit.
Some respondents suggested that shuttle improvements, such as increased frequency and a more diverse range of shuttle routes, could enhance the visitor experience.
“Crowding creates a complex dynamic for tourism-dependent communities like Banff,” said Canada Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) in an email statement to the Calgary Journal.
Not only do high visitation rates affect national park infrastructure, but they also influence nature and wildlife. CPAWS worries about the human impacts on the national park.
“Higher levels of human activity can disrupt wildlife movement and habitat use, particularly for sensitive species,” said CPAWS. “Heavy trail use can accelerate erosion, widen trail corridors, and create trail braiding, which affects surrounding vegetation and habitat.”
CPAWS also says that as traffic increases on highways, the risk of wildlife collisions increases.
“Programs like the Canada Strong Pass help reduce barriers for Canadians to experience national parks and public lands. At the same time, in places that already experience very high visitation, additional incentives to visit can increase pressure on the environment,” said CPAWS in an email to the Calgary Journal.