Current status

Glacier National Park

Significant highway and infrastructure improvement projects are currently underway in Rogers Pass National Historic Site in Glacier National Park.

Abatement and demolition of former lodge and service station buildings, as well as remediation of contaminated soils at the site was completed in 2018, with funding from the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan. Remediation work addressed soil contamination that resulted from operation of the two facilities as well as historic railway operations.

Parks Canada is planning for the future of the Rogers Pass area, in order to meet the needs of park visitors and through-travelers, improve motorist safety, and address environmental concerns. Consultations with Indigenous partners on the future of Rogers Pass are on-going. Thank you to everyone who shared their vision for this special place with us during the public comment period.

The area around Rogers Pass is an integral part of Canada’s national transportation corridor, and offers access to world class hiking, backcountry skiing and breathtaking scenery for any traveller. Glacier Park Lodge was a valuable part of these experiences for many years and Parks Canada is pleased to be able to now plan the long term future of this site.

Rogers Pass future

New washroom building exterior
New washroom building interior

Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world, and Rogers Pass is among these treasures. Parks Canada looks forward to sharing this iconic part of Canada with visitors as a place to experience the outdoors and learn about our history for generations to come.

Through Parks Canada’s unprecedented investments in infrastructure work in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas, important upgrades in Rogers Pass are underway. Completed projects at the summit include:

  • A 24-hour public washroom building, with barrier free access throughout. This facility is the second gender-inclusive washroom to open in a national park after Snowforest Campground in Mount Revelstoke National Park.
  • A new short term parking lot.
  • A new day use area.

Information on other infrastructure investments in Glacier and Mount Revelstoke national parks.

Glacier Park Lodge and service station

 
Glacier Park Lodge and service station demolition

The physical condition of the service station and Glacier Park Lodge facilities had deteriorated considerably since their closing in 2009 and 2012. Due to structural deficiencies, soil contamination and the advanced state of building deterioration, the hotel and gas station buildings were deemed unsafe and required demolition.

The integrity of both buildings was compromised for several winters. Snow, rain and wind had easy access to the interior of the buildings through the roofs and other openings. These elements accelerated the deterioration of the structures in recent years.

The soil contamination at the site is a result of the transportation history of the area. Beginning with the construction and operation of the railway through Rogers Pass, the area where the hotel is now located was used as an industrial area. There is significant hydrocarbon contamination at the site, some of which has been addressed in the past. Now that Parks Canada has access to the site for the first time since the building of the TransCanada Highway, the mitigation and remediation of that contamination has been brought up to current environmental standards.

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