Cypress Mountain Resort: New Parking Rules
Cypress Mountain Resort has added a new pay parking system for backcountry users who park near the downhill resort (and don’t park in Lot 3B). A flashing billboard warns about parking fees for backcountry users and a new wooden booth or shed has appeared at the west end of Lot 3B that appears to be for a Cypress MR employee.
Lot 3B is the first large parking lot you reach after the Nordic area turnoff about 1 km east of the Cypress Creek Lodge near the Cypress MR downhill area in Cypress Provincial Park. It is just outside of the “controlled recreation area” or CRA that Cypress MR has a park use permit to operate. There are three other parking lots in the downhill area: Lot 1 close to the new Cypress Creek Lodge which has had pay parking for a couple of years now. Lot 2 is the south lot closer to the old Black Mountain Lodge. Lot 3A is the second lot on the south side of the road as you approach the downhill area.
A sign in the booth at the northwest end of Lot 3B is shown below that explains partially the rules. The same sign is in the Black Mountain Lodge backcountry room.
If you don’t want to pay for parking, then park in Lot 3B and get a bit more exercise – ski, snowshoe or walk 1 km to the gate. On nice days all the other lots are usually full so you will save time by parking in Lot 3B and not searching for a spot. If you are going through the backcountry access corridor and want to park in Lot 2 or 3A, you have to go into the Backcountry room in the Black Mountain Lodge and pay $10 in the meter.
Backcountry users have free access to the park area beyond the downhill area. You just have to get a backcountry access pass or sticker that has a legal disclaimer on it. The pass is available in a room in the Black Mountain Lodge or from the new “shed” at the west end of Lot 3B. Now they want you to get a stamp from a Cypress MR employee to prove that you have parked in Lot 3B.
Parking at both Cypress and Seymour is complicated since they are public parks where the roads and parking lots were built and paid for by taxpayers. Also, the government provides funding for road maintenance, snow removal and de-icing on the highways up to the controlled recreation area boundary.
The government was considering using access reservations for backcountry users to control the numbers of cars that come up the mountain. However, there is lots of room for backcountry users in the provincial parks. There is more of an issue with capacity on the lifts.
The real issue is the limited parking that can’t be expanded much. On a sunny day or after a fresh snowfall all the parking lots are full by 8 or 9 am and that can cause traffic chaos. By the way there is a new Twitter account to check for parking updates: @Cypress_Park_PO
They say:
"We are reaching out today to share an update to our parking structure for the upcoming 24/25 Winter Season. Cypress Mountain will be introducing pay parking beginning on opening day 2024.
As a 24/25 Season Passholder, you will qualify for free parking. Prior to October 9, 2024, you will receive a link to sign into our Parking Management Portal to upload your license plate information. You will be eligible to register up to two license plates per Seasons Pass, only one can be used per day.
Our goal in launching pay parking is to improve the parking and arrival experience for our guests. During peak times, demand for parking exceeds the available spaces. People wait and circle lots, and heavy traffic volume causes long line ups on Cypress Bowl Road. In conjunction with pay parking, we will be rolling out a carpool app that will provide incentives for ridesharing to encourage our guests to drive together, ultimately creating less cars on the road and in the lots.
Pay parking will be in effect in all lots, with the exception of lot 3B and the Nordic Road from Cypress Bowl Road to the BC Parks Nordic Area Kiosk which will remain free and on a first come, first served basis. Finally, for the first time, we will operate our own shuttle bus that will pick up and drop off guests in lots 2, 3A, 3B and The Cypress Mountain Base Areas.
Again, as a 24/25 passholder you will receive free parking for the season. The link to register your license plates will be sent to you before October 9, 2024.
Should you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ’s page for any additional information: HERE. Or, contact our Guest Services Team for more information (info@cypressmountain.com)"
