Water activity restriction zones

Waterton Lakes National Park

Rules and regulations are in place to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS are non-native plants, animals, and diseases. Many AIS are harmful to freshwater ecosystems. AIS reproduce quickly, rarely have natural predators and often out-compete native freshwater species. Preventing aquatic invasive species from entering waterways is a Parks Canada priority. Once AIS are established, removal is next to impossible.

Most requested

The Mountain National Parks (Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, and Waterton Lakes national parks) boast unparalleled film, photographic, and recreational possibilities. To care for these special places, all filming activities have guidelines to ensure that activities respect ecologically sensitive areas, wildlife, and the experience of all visitors.

If you wish to visit Parks Canada-administered places and undertake a film or photo shoot, you may require a film permit, business license, or need to register your project. What you are required to do will depend on the scale and nature of your project.

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 20 business days prior to your intended dates of filming. Choose your project category below for more information.

Parks Canada reserves the right to deny permits that do not align with visitor experience, visitor safety and/or park management goals. The type of licence required will be determined by Parks Canada based on the information in your application.

Film permits and small-scale film and video projects with a travel focus

Whether you are taking photos for a blog, videos for a reel that will be posted on a local business’ social media, or filming a documentary, a permit is required to work in the mountain national parks.

The answers you provide in the application below will determine if your project meets the criteria for a Small-Scale Registration or requires a Commercial Film Permit.

Banff National Park Film Permit Temporary Business Licence Application

Tips for registering your project:

  • Plan ahead - Our office receives hundreds of applications each year. Please submit your completed registration form at least 20 business days in advance to avoid project delays.
  • Learn about the park - Taking photos and filming in a protected area requires special considerations. Review the park regulations and Parks Canada’s A Guide to Film/Photo Shoots to ensure you are following the necessary rules and planning appropriately.
  • Reach out to partners - Depending on the location of your shoot, additional permission may be required from business or property owners, or the Towns of Banff or Jasper. Check your proposed filming locations to determine what permits and/or permissions you need and from whom.
  • Keep it tight – small crews, handheld equipment and no impact on the environment make it easier for your team to work within the busy national park.
  • Stick to less busy times – request off-season and/or weekday filming dates wherever possible.
  • Help spread the love – We know people love Canada’s national parks. Priority will be given to productions that help contribute to public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Canada’s national parks and how to visit safety.
Regulations

Full compliance with the Canada National Parks Act and National Park Regulations is required. These include, but are not limited to:

  1. No open firearms, use of firearms (includes discharging of blank ammunition or explosives), or hunting.
  2. No damaging, destruction, or removal of natural or cultural resources.
  3. No feeding, enticing (e.g. baiting, calling), touching, harassing, or disturbing park wildlife.
  4. No littering or leaving food or garbage where wildlife can access it (all food and garbage must be stored or disposed of in bear-proof containers and/or packed out).
  5. No off-roading anywhere in the park; no ATVs, skidoos, or jet-boats; no boats with any kind of motor in park waters (except on Lake Minnewanka).
  6. No fires outside of designated fire rings or stoves supplied at park campgrounds and day use areas (cigar/cigarette butts and matches are litter and must be fully extinguished and disposed of appropriately).
  7. No camping outside of designated campgrounds and campsites.
  8. No entering of closed areas.
  9. An ACMG accredited guide is required to accompany any film crews capturing footage of backcountry, glacier travel, mountaineering and/or ski touring activities (outside of ski area leaseholds) at all times.
  10. All aerial filming must comply with Canadian Aviation Regulations; the use of recreational drones/UAVs is not allowed and requires a Restricted Activity Permit in all other circumstances. See Drone/UAV section for details.
Fees associated with Film Permits
Production crew size Application fee (per project) Location fee (per day)
1 to 6 $177.25 $589.25
7 to 15 $442.00 $1,178.75
16 to 30 $844.00 $1,767.75
31 to 99 $2,946.00 $2,357.25
100 and more $3,535.00 $2,946.00
  • Other fees may be applicable.
  • Projects in the Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay Field Unit will be charged the non-refundable application fee upon receiving an application for a film licence.
Film permitting restrictions

Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay national parks have experienced an increase in commercial filming requests during busy visitation periods. To ensure visitor safety and prioritize visitor experience, commercial film projects will not beconsidered at the following locations between June 1 and September 30:

Banff National Park:

  • Lake Louise
  • Moraine Lake
  • Bow Lake
  • Peyto Lake
  • Morant’s Curve
  • Sunshine Meadows Trail
  • Lake Minnewanka parking area, Day Use Area, trails and lakeshore
  • Lake Minnewanka Loop
  • Johnson Lake parking area, Day Use Area, trails and lakeshore
  • Two Jack Lake parking area, Day Use Area, trails and lakeshore
  • Cascade Ponds parking area, Day Use Area, Trails and lakeshore
  • Johnston Canyon/ Ink Pots parking area, Day Use Area, trails
  • Tunnel Mountain bench and area parking areas, trails and Day Use Areas
  • Bow Valley Park Way all pullout locations and rest stops
  • Trans- Canada Highway all pull out locations and rest stops
  • Mt. Norquay rest stop
  • Sulphur Mountain area all pull outs, trails and Day Use Area
  • Vermillion Lakes all pull outs, trails and Day Use Areas
  • Cave and Basin National Historic Site
  • Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
  • Banff Upper Hot Springs

Yoho National Park:

  • Takakkaw Falls
  • Emerald Lake
  • Wapta Falls

Kootenay National Park:

  • Stanley Glacier
  • Marble Canyon
  • Radium Hot Springs Pools
Professional photography and videography (including weddings)

Photographers capturing images and footage during their visit to the Mountain National Parks with the intent to sell, require a business licence. Activities covered within this licence must not impede park use and enjoyment by other visitors, damage cultural or natural resources, or disturb wildlife.

Business licences apply to the following activities:

  • Wedding photography and videography
  • Wildlife, nature, and landscape photography
  • Stock photography
  • If you are hired to take, or plan to sell photos taken in the park

Visitors taking photos for personal use or as a hobby that are not for sale do not require a permit or license.

Parks Canada rules and regulations apply to all film/photography activities, including respecting wildlife, closed areas, and cultural resources. Styled shoots and project-based work may require a film permit; Parks Canada reserves the right to determine if projects are appropriate for a business license, or if a film permit application is required.

Please note that Parks Canada business licence service standards are 15 business days to review and process fully completed business licence applications. Please contact the appropriate Business Licensing department for additional information:

Jasper National Park: permiscommercialjasper-jasperbusinesslicence@pc.gc.ca

Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks: filmmrg@pc.gc.ca

Waterton Lakes National Park: permiscommercialwlfu-wlfubusinesslicence@pc.gc.ca

Yoho and Kootenay national parks: permiscommercialllyk-llykbusinesslicence@pc.gc.ca

Banff National Park:

Drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Drones/UAVs (including micro-drones <250g), are highly regulated in the National Parks to protect wildlife and preserve the experience of visitors, among other considerations. Drone/UAV use in a National Park requires both a Commercial Film Permit and a Restricted Activity Permit, regardless of drone size.

The use of drones/UAVs for commercial filming purposes will only be authorized for the purposes of:

  • Natural and cultural resource management
  • Public safety
  • Law enforcement
  • Park/site management purposes, including selective filming for outreach, education, and promotional purposes

Projects must fit one of the above purposes to be considered for approval, at the discretion of the Field Unit Superintendent. Anyone caught operating a drone within park boundaries without an approved permit may result in law enforcement action and a fine of up to $25,000. Recreational use of drones/UAVs at all Parks Canada places is prohibited.

To strengthen the protection for lakes and rivers in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Waterton Lakes national parks, Parks Canada is advancing the next phase of adaptive management in AIS prevention strategies. Preventing the spread or introduction of aquatic invasive species is a shared responsibility. Lakes and rivers in the mountain national parks have been classified into zones, each with specific activities permitted.

This ensures a coordinated, regionally consistent approach, strengthening long-term protection for lakes and rivers. It is founded on an evidence-based, adaptive management approach providing ecosystem protections and supporting positive visitor experiences. Working together across parks ensures Parks Canada can adapt and respond effectively as risks change over time. 

Lakes and rivers within Waterton Lakes National Park are now grouped into two zones, with different regulations for water activities in each zone.

It is your responsibility to know what activities are allowed in the places you plan to visit.

Preservation zone

Prioritized for protection of ecologically-sensitive lakes and rivers or areas with limited recreational use.

Waterbodies in this zone: Belly River and its tributaries

Allowed activities:

  • Swimming

Prohibited activities:

  • Fishing
  • Paddling and large inflatables
  • Playing with beach toys
  • Motorized boating

Special tactics zone

High-use lakes and rivers where site-specific measures apply. 

Waterbodies in this zone: Waterton lakes chain, Cameron Lake, all backcountry lakes

All watercraft are prohibited, with the exception of boats that remain within park boundaries and pass an inspection.

Allowed activities:

  • Swimming
  • Playing with beach toys
  • Snorkeling
  • Scuba diving
  • Fishing without felt-soled waders
  • Motorized boating (subject to the 90-day quarantine and sealing program)
  • Non-motorized boating (only boats that remain with park boundaries. Inspection, tag, and seasonal permit required.)

Prohibited activities:

  • Using watercraft from outside park boundaries
  • Fishing with felt-soled waders

Fishing gear, scuba equipment and other water-related items must be clean, drained, dry, and certified with a self-certification permit.

These permits are found at many convenient locations throughout Waterton Lakes National Park.

Water recreation zone

There are no areas within Waterton Lakes National Park designated as a Water Recreation Zone.

Zoning map

Map indicating water activity restriction zones in Waterton Lakes National Park
Text description of map This map identifies the areas within Waterton Lakes National Park classified into two distinct zones. Major roads and bodies of water within the boundaries of the park indicated on the map. The special tactics zone encompasses most of the park and popular water recreational areas. The water preservation zones include the Belly River and its tributaries in the southeast area of Waterton Lakes, and an area on the northern park boundary that includes waters such as Galwey Brook and Dungarvan Creek.

Note: The northern Water Preservation Zone indicated on the map belongs to a separate watershed. This area does not contain lakes or rivers that are suitable for recreational use.

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