Cannabis use at Parks Canada places
Provincial, territorial, and municipal cannabis legislation applies to national parks, historic sites, marine conservation areas, and Rouge National Urban Park. Some Parks Canada locations or townsites may have additional regulations or restrictions.
Understanding local laws on non-medical cannabis use is important when planning your trip.
Where cannabis can be used at Parks Canada places
Campgrounds in all provinces and territories
In Parks Canada campgrounds, non-medical cannabis consumption is limited to the visitor’s campsite.
Consumption is not permitted in campground common areas (such as playgrounds, kitchen shelters, washrooms, trails, or roads.)
Outside of campgrounds, public cannabis consumption rules differ between provinces and territories and also may differ between Parks Canada places. Find details below, and always check the official regulations for the province, territory, or municipality you will be visiting.
British Columbia
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed - No smoking or vaping within 6 metres of buildings
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed
- Trails: Allowed
- Playgrounds: No smoking or vaping within 6 metres of playgrounds
- Townsite of Field (Yoho National Park): Allowed in public areas within the town boundary
Alberta
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed - No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of buildings
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed
- Trails: Allowed
- Playgrounds: No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of playgrounds
Public use in townsites
- Town of Banff: Not allowed in public areas within the town boundary
- Lake Louise (Banff National Park): Allowed in public areas within the town boundary
- Municipality of Jasper: Not allowed in public areas within the town boundary
- Waterton Park (Waterton Lakes National Park): Allowed in public areas within the town boundary
Additional Parks Canada restrictions
Saskatchewan
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
- Townsite of Waskesiu Lake (Prince Albert National Park): Not allowed in public areas
Manitoba
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
- Townsite of Wasagaming (Riding Mountain National Park): Not allowed in public areas
Ontario
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed
- Trails: Allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed - no smoking or vaping within 20 meters of a playground
Quebec
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
New Brunswick
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
Nova Scotia
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed – No smoking or vaping on coastal beaches or within 4m of buildings
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed - No smoking/vaping on or within 9 metres of trails
- Trails: Not allowed - No smoking/vaping on or within 9 metres of trails
- Playgrounds: No smoking or vaping within 20 metres of playgrounds.
Additional Parks Canada restrictions
Prince Edward Island
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
Northwest Territories
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed - No smoking or vaping in kitchen shelters or other structures, even if they are unroofed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed
- Trails: Allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed - No smoking or vaping within 30 metres of playgrounds
Nunavut
- Public use (including day-use areas): Allowed - No smoking or vaping within 3 metres of buildings
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Allowed
- Trails: Allowed
- Playgrounds: No smoking or vaping – radius undetermined
Yukon
- Public use (including day-use areas): Not allowed
- Registered Parks Canada campsites: Allowed
- Campground common areas: Not allowed
- Backcountry: Not allowed
- Trails: Not allowed
- Playgrounds: Not allowed
The safety and well-being of our visitors is a top priority for Parks Canada and we will continue to provide quality services and experiences for all our visitors.
Parks Canada would like to ensure the best possible experience for all of our visitors. Please respect fellow visitors as well as the natural environment at all times.
Learn more about cannabis legalization in Canada.
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