Frequently asked questions

• How do I book daily access online?
  • It’s possible to go online to book daily access for the targeted destination on the chosen day. A specific page with all the selected free days and a booking link are also at your disposal. As for all other days of the year, it’s recommended to book your daily access starting at midnight until 30 days before the chosen date.
• I’ve already purchased my daily access for one of the free days. Will I get my money back?
  • Sépaq will reimburse all those who had already booked daily access for a national park on the dates in question, including visitors on a stay. The Customer Relations Centre team will contact the customers concerned.
• Will access to all paid activities and equipment rentals also be free?
  • Only access to the national parks will be free of charge at certain times. Access fees for cross-country ski trails and dedicated fatbike trails, as well as fees for equipment rentals and other fee-based activities (e.g., discovery activities) will continue to apply.
• Why are you asking people to book access online instead of at the access booths?
  • Outdoor destinations have been very popular since the pandemic. Sépaq needs to manage visitor traffic flow in its establishments to avoid exceeding their capacity to protect the natural environment and the experience of visitors and employees. Online booking guarantees access to the national park. Without it, you risk traveling to the Sépaq establishment and being denied access because it has reached its maximum capacity.
• Are all of Québec’s national parks open in winter?
  • Yes, all national parks are accessible in winter. However, some parks offer few or no services during the winter season. You can find out about the different services offered in the Information section of each national park page.
• Is it mandatory for a person accessing a national park through a secondary entrance to carry their proof of access, even on a free day?
  • Yes, even though access is free, all visitors must be able to show proof of access upon request.
• Why are there no free days on weekends when it's the best time for people to visit the national parks?
  • The capacity of national parks is very often reached on weekends. They would not be able to accommodate the additional visitor traffic generated by an incentive of this nature. The goal of the measure is to encourage people to be more active, so a weekday incentive is also likely to add an outdoor experience for those who already enjoy such outings on weekends. The popularity of outdoor destinations in recent years has led to the need to maintain daily visitation restrictions so as to respect the capacity of the establishments. This protects both the natural environment and the visitor experience.
• Why not reimburse a portion of the annual or seasonal passes of those who have already paid for access on these days?
  • Annual and seasonal passes already offer an advantageous rate for frequent visitors to Sépaq establishments. Such passes provide unlimited access to targeted establishments during a given period, including special days (National Parks Day, Sépaq Winter Day), as well as several exclusive advantages reserved for cardholders. The government's measure aims to encourage more people to get out and be more active, not to compensate those already used to doing so.
• Which customers are targeted by the incentive?
  • The incentive is an invitation to set aside some time for your family, your friends, or yourself and to come and have fun outside while enjoying the beauty of the Québec winter. It’s aimed at retirees and pre-retirees who have free time during the week, grandparents who are looking for an idea for an outing with their grandchildren, and workers who want to use a day off to recharge their batteries at the heart of nature.

Free equipment rental and activities

• What equipment is available to rent free of charge?
  • Please consult the list of available equipment and the booking procedure by destination.
• What activities are at no cost?
  • Access to cross-country ski trails (Mont-Mégantic, Mont-Orford, Mont-Saint-Bruno, Mont-Tremblant, and Oka national parks) and fatbike trails (Mont-Orford and Yamaska national parks), as well as ice fishing activities (Oka and Yamaska national parks), are offered free of charge from February 27 to 29 and March 5 to 7, 2024.
• Am I guaranteed access to free equipment on these days?
  • No. Equipment is in limited supply at participating establishments. Some allow advance booking, while others offer free equipment on a first-come, first-served basis, at times that maximize access to outdoor equipment for different customers. See the list of available equipment and the booking procedure by destination for details.
• I've already bought my cross-country ski ticket or booked equipment for one of the free days. Will I get a refund?
  • Sépaq will reimburse all those who had already purchased a cross-country ski ticket or booked equipment on the dates in question, including visitors with a stay plan. The Customer Relations Centre team will contact the customers concerned.