Egypt Lake Shelter: Closed for Repairs, and How to Camp at Egypt Lake

What Parks Canada says about the shelter

Parks Canada says it is working towards accessible designs and upgraded structures for the Egypt Lake and Bryant Creek shelters, and that the project timeframes remain fluid because of its scope, the remote site and the weather. Updates will be posted on the Banff backcountry page. Until then, plan on a tent.

Camping at Egypt Lake instead

Parks Canada lists Egypt Lake as a three-day trip: hike from the Sunshine Village ski area parking lot over Healy Pass to the Egypt Lake campground, and stay two nights if you can to explore the lakes around it. In summer the Sunshine Shuttle runs from Banff to the trailhead.

For a longer trip, Parks Canada's Sunshine to Vista Lake route is 41.5 km (25.8 mi): Egypt Lake (E13) on night one, Ball Pass Junction (Re21) on night two and Twin Lakes (Tw7) on night three. There is no public transport back from the Vista Lake trailhead.

Last year the launch was Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8 am MT, with a queue. Parks Canada has not set the 2027 day. Going by past launches, booking usually opens around January 26 to 29.

Rules at the campground

The longest stay at any campground is three consecutive nights. A reservation holds up to 10 people and 5 tents, with 4 people and 1 tent per pad. Store food, garbage, toiletries and cooking gear in the lockers or on the bear poles. Bring a stove, because fires are allowed only in the shared metal rings and not every campground allows them. Carry bear spray.

Random camping is a different permit. Banff allows it only in designated areas, at least 5 km from a trailhead or campground, and the permit is sold only in person at the Banff and Lake Louise visitor centres or by phone (403-762-1556 or 403-522-1264). Bear-resistant food containers are mandatory there from April 1 to November 15.

In Banff, Kootenay, Yoho and Jasper you do not register in person: your confirmation letter is your permit. Carry it, on paper or as a screenshot, and show it to Parks Canada staff when asked. A backcountry permit is valid in all four parks, and you also need a national park entry pass.

Fees and cancelling

The backcountry fee is CA$15.00 per person per night, and the reservation fee is CA$11.50 online or CA$13.50 by phone, once per stay and not refundable. Parks Canada's reservation terms: cancel at least 3 days before arrival and you get a full refund less the non-refundable reservation fee and a cancellation fee (CA$11.50 online, CA$13.50 by phone). Cancel later than that, but before 2 pm on arrival day, and you also lose the first night's camping fee. Changes can be made until 2 pm on arrival day for a CA$11.50 online fee, and delaying your arrival inside those 3 days costs the first night too.

What PermitSnag does here

Each permit page says whether you can set a PermitSnag alert for it, and links to the agency that sells it.

Questions