Parks Canada is bringing back free admission and cheaper camping to Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site this summer, giving locals and visitors a break on exploring one of the country’s most important fur trade landmarks. Starting June 19 and running through September 7, 2026, no entry fee is needed to visit the site 6 km west of Rocky Mountain House on Highway 11A, and camping stays are 25 per cent off.
The deal is part of the federal government’s Canada Strong Pass, which applies to national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas across the country. There is no physical pass needed—people just show up at the gate. The promotion runs through the heart of summer, lining up with most of the camping season, which began May 15 and ends September 30.
Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site sits along the North Saskatchewan River and marks the spot where the North West Company and Hudson’s Bay Company competed in the fur trade starting in 1799. For 76 years, traders and Indigenous peoples gathered here, with eight First Nations and the Métis bringing furs and pemmican to exchange. Today, visitors can walk through interactive exhibits, check out a play fort, and see plains bison grazing in a 24-hectare fenced pasture.
The campground offers trailer and RV sites, walk-in tenting, and special heritage stays like tipis, Métis Trapper Tents, and Trapline Cabins. The 25 per cent discount applies to all these options during the promotion, though reservation fees still apply. The visitor centre is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As one of the sites where map maker David Thompson planned his Rocky Mountain expeditions, the historic place also includes walking and biking trails across the grounds. More information is available on the Parks Canada website or by calling the site at (403) 845-2412.
