Rogers Pass

The Most Dangerous Mountain Pass on the Trans-Canada

Rogers Pass is not just a mountain crossing. It is a 40-kilometre stretch of highway through the heart of Glacier National Park with 135 identified avalanche paths crossing or threatening the road. This is the location of the world's largest mobile avalanche control program, operated by Parks Canada in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces. When you drive through Rogers Pass in winter, you are driving through actively managed avalanche terrain.

The pass sits at 1,330 metres elevation in the Selkirk Mountains between Revelstoke and Golden. The Trans-Canada Highway was routed through here in 1962, replacing the CPR's original rail route which had been re-routed through the Connaught Tunnel decades earlier because the avalanche risk to trains was too great.

Winter Driving: What You Must Know

Between October 1 and March 31, winter tires are mandatory on the Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass. BC law requires either mountain snowflake (3PMSF) or M+S rated tires. Parks Canada recommends tires with the mountain snowflake symbol, as they provide significantly better traction than M+S alone.

Chains are not generally required for passenger vehicles on the Trans-Canada itself, but commercial vehicles (over 11,794 kg GVW) must carry chains and may be required to install them. If conditions deteriorate severely, chain requirements can be extended to all vehicles. Carry chains if you are driving an RV or towing a trailer through Rogers Pass in winter.

Highway Closures

Rogers Pass closes regularly in winter for avalanche control. Closures can last from one hour for routine control work to multiple days during severe storm cycles. In March 2026, a prolonged closure lasted four days due to extreme avalanche conditions. There is no alternative route. When Rogers Pass is closed, you wait.

Check DriveBC (www.drivebc.ca) before departing. Revelstoke, on the west side, and Golden, on the east side, are the waiting points. Both have hotels, fuel, and food.

The Avalanche Control Program

Parks Canada's avalanche program uses a combination of mobile 105mm howitzers, Gazex exploders (fixed gas-powered systems), and helicopter-dropped explosives to trigger controlled avalanches before they threaten the highway. The program has been running since the highway opened in 1962 and has an excellent safety record, but the scale of the operation is remarkable.

During active control, you may hear artillery fire from the road. This is normal. Snowsheds (concrete tunnels built over the highway) protect the road in the most frequently hit avalanche paths. You will drive through several of these; they look like tunnels but are actually avalanche shelters.

Rogers Pass Discovery Centre

At the summit, the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre is housed in a replica of a historic railway snowshed. The museum features exhibits on avalanches, wildlife, the railway, and the history of the pass. There is a theatre, interpretive displays, and knowledgeable staff. It is free with a Parks Canada pass and makes for a worthwhile 30 to 60 minute stop.

The summit area also has a monument to Major A.B. Rogers, who first surveyed the pass in 1882, and several short interpretive trails. The Abandoned Rails Trail follows the original CPR rail bed and gives you a sense of what early travellers faced.

Summer Driving

In summer, Rogers Pass is a spectacular drive. The highway winds through dense old-growth cedar and hemlock forests in the valley, then climbs through subalpine terrain to the summit. The mountains tower on both sides, and the avalanche paths are visible as dramatic treeless swaths cut through the forest. Several pullouts offer photo opportunities.

The Hemlock Grove Boardwalk, near the western end of the park, is a short and easy walk through an ancient inland rainforest of western red cedar and hemlock. It is wheelchair accessible and takes about 20 minutes.

For more serious hiking, the Abbott Ridge trail climbs above the tree line for panoramic views of the Illecillewaet Glacier and surrounding peaks. It is strenuous (about 10 km return) but one of the best day hikes in the BC interior.

Practical Information

There are no services at the Rogers Pass summit beyond the Discovery Centre (which has washrooms). No fuel, no food, no accommodation. The nearest services are in Revelstoke (72 km west) and Golden (80 km east). Fill your tank before entering the pass from either direction.

The Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass is a two-lane highway with passing lanes at intervals. It is well maintained but has steep grades (up to 8 percent) and sharp curves. Speed is typically 80-100 km/h depending on conditions. In winter, expect significantly slower travel times.

Cell service is available at the summit and in some portions of the pass, but drops out in the valleys between. Do not rely on your phone for navigation; download offline maps in advance.