Free Ontario Parks Pass Available July 19

Ontario is offering free one-day access to provincial parks on Friday.

The initiative, announced as part of Healthy Parks, Healthy People Day, will allow visitors to obtain daily entry permits into the provincial park system without paying an entrance fee. Fees typically range from $9 to $21 per vehicle.

“I encourage all Ontarians to take advantage of this free Ontario Parks pass, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the joy and wonder that comes from exploring the great outdoors,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, in a news release Monday. “Whether you’re looking to get some exercise or enjoy a fun and affordable day out with your family, I hope this free day will give more people the opportunity to explore all that their local provincial park has to offer.”

The ability to pre-book day-use permits at Ontario provincial parks was introduced during the pandemic to increase access to outdoor spaces. It was also intended to prevent people from driving to a park only to find it is full to capacity, the province said.

Residents can book day trips online up to five days in advance using the same reservation system as campsites. By 2024, the program included 76 of Ontario’s most popular provincial parks.

Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park in Durham Region opened to the public on Canada Day. It is the newest day-use park to be established under the Provincial Parks Act. The park is still in the early stages of development, the province said in June, and currently “no facilities or services are offered on site” and parking is limited. Visitors did, however, have access to an existing trail network across more than 1,300 acres of land.

In its release, the Ministry of Environment announced plans to build 300 new campgrounds in provincial parks. It also committed to providing electrical service to more than 800 existing sites.