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Mount Assiniboine Park reservations

Mount Assiniboine Park is a remote area on British Columbia’s border with Alberta, south of Banff and west of Calgary. It is famed for its spectacular natural beauty, including alpine meadows, lakes, glaciers, and peaks.

This is one of the province’s most popular backcountry camping destinations. Backcountry camping opportunities are provided by BC Parks and the Assiniboine Lodge. Demand for camping in Mount Assiniboine grows every year.

The term ‘backcountry’ refers to any area more than 1 km from any highway or park road. Backcountry campgrounds have limited facilities.

BC Parks now requires reservations for backcountry camping at Magog Lake, Og Lake, and Porcupine campgrounds. At Og Lake and Magog Lake campgrounds, you must make a reservation for any overnight stay at any time of the year. At Porcupine, we require reservations between June 21 and September 30, 2024.

In 2024, we began requiring peak-season reservations at Porcupine Campground for the first time. Now, you can arrive certain that a tent pad has been reserved for you. Reservations also help us minimize the environmental impact on this area’s sensitive ecosystems.

Mount Assiniboine Park visitors are expected to follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. For more information, see our backcountry guide.

Look on the current page for information on making a camping reservation for Magog Lake, Og Lake, or Porcupine Campground. See the sections below to learn all about:

Other areas in this park offer a mix of reservable and first come, first served accommodation. Reservations for these are available via the park operator, Assiniboine Lodge. For more information, see other accommodation options.

For full details of our reservation policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].

BC Parks reservations

Making a reservation 

  • Reservations are required year-round at Magog Lake and Og Lake campgrounds
  • In 2024, reservations are required at Porcupine Campground from June 21 to September 30
  • Anyone over 16 years of age can make a camping reservation via camping.bcparks.ca 
  • Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-689-9025 toll-free from Canada and the U.S. or 1-519-858-6161 internationally
  • A reservation can be booked in full up to four months before your desired arrival date
  • You can make your reservation starting at 7 am Pacific Time on the first day of this booking period

Example: If you want to arrive on July 25 and stay four nights, you can reserve all four nights starting at 7 am on March 25

  • You can make a reservation up until 5 pm Pacific Time on your scheduled arrival date, if places are available

Example: If you want to arrive on July 25 and stay for four nights, you can book all four nights up until 5 pm on July 25

  • Reservations cannot be transferred or sold to another party, and attempting to do so will lead to cancellation without refund
  • You cannot self-register or make a reservation at the park, and cash payments are not accepted at these campgrounds
  • When booking your reservation, you must specify the ‘named occupant’ who will be your official reservation holder
  • This named occupant can be yourself or another person, but they must be present when your party arrives and throughout your stay

If the named occupant cannot be present throughout your stay, your reservation must be rebooked with an occupant who can be present. The named occupant may be asked to show ID during your stay to keep your reservation valid.

Camping party sizes and rules

  • Camping within the Magog Lake, Og Lake, and Porcupine campgrounds is allowed only on designated tents pads
  • There are 40 tent pads available at Magog Lake Campground, 10 at Og Lake, and 10 at Porcupine
  • Tent pads are a maximum of three square-meters and hold up to two tents and four people in total
  • You can reserve up to three tent pads at one time, for a maximum total camping party of 12 people

For more information on relevant reservation policies, see the backcountry camping reservations page.

Fees

All fees must be paid in full when you make your reservation. There are two types of fees:

  • Camping fees, which pay for your campsite and other amenities
  • Transaction fees, which help us maintain the reservation service
Camping fees• $10 per night for each adult (16+)  
• $5 per night for each child (6-15)  
• Free for younger children (under 6)
Transaction fees• $6 per tent pad, per night     
• Maximum of $18, per tent pad

Tax is included in camping fees, but tax is added to transaction fees. If you change or cancel your reservation, there are additional charges (see changes and cancellations, below).

For more information on camping fees and transaction fees, see the camping fees page.

Changes and cancellations

  • You can change or cancel your reservation via camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally)
  • You can make changes to your reservation any time until noon on your scheduled arrival date
  • You cannot make changes to your reservation itinerary after you arrive at the park
  • You can cancel your reservation any time until 5 pm on your scheduled arrival date
  • There is a $6 transaction fee per tent pad for any cancellations or changes to your reservation 
  • If you cancel your reservation, eligible camping fees are refunded (subject to policies outlined on the cancellation and refunds page) 
  • If you cancel within seven days of your scheduled arrival date, one night’s camping fee is deducted from your refund
  • If you cancel on your scheduled arrival date, two nights’ camping fees are deducted from your refund
  • Unfortunately, we cannot refund transaction fees, including change and cancellation fees

For more information on getting a refund, see the cancellations and refunds page. For full details of our cancellation and refund policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].

Check-in

  • Making a reservation guarantees you a spot, but the reservation service does not assign you a specific tent pad
  • You select your tent pad or pads when you arrive at the campground, on a first come, first served basis
  • Check-in is after 1 pm on your arrival date and check-out is before noon on your departure date
  • Bring two copies of your confirmation email with you, keep one with you, and fix the other to your tent or campsite post
  • Your reservation is held until noon the day following your scheduled arrival, after which it is cancelled without refund

For more information on checking in at a backcountry campground, see the backcountry camping reservations page.

Other accommodation options

Several other backcountry areas in Mount Assiniboine Park offer reservable camping. Camping can be reserved through the park operator, Assiniboine Lodge. These areas include: 

  • Naiset Huts
  • Hind Hut
  • O’Brien Meadows Group Campground (minimum party of 15)

Camping reservations for these areas cannot be made through the BC Parks reservation service. To make a reservation, either:

In other areas, BC Parks offers year-round camping on a first come, first served basis, with no reservations or fees required. These include:

  • Surprise Creek Cabin and Campground
  • Rock Lake Campground
  • Mitchell Meadows Campground