February6th, 2012:
The Ribbon Creek/Skogan Trails Network:
A cougar warning is now in place on this trails network.
The warning extends from the Kananaskis River west to the Skogan Pass trail and south to Ribbon Creek Day Use area and Parking Lot.
The warning area specifically includes these trails: Stoney, Ruthies, Troll Falls, the lower reaches of Skogan Pass, Hay Meadow and Ribbon Creek, but caution is warranted on all trails in this region at this time.
McLean Creek Campground Water & Sani-Dump:
During the winter season water is not available at the McLean Creek Campground however the sani dump station is available for dry dumping only.
January 15th, 2012:
Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre: This Monday, January 16th, the Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre will be open 8:30 a.m. and closing at 3:15 p.m. rather than the usual 4:30 p.m. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
The centre will re-open Wednesday, January 18th, with the usual hours: Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 to 4:00 and Saturday through Monday from 8:30 to 4:30. The Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre currently is closed on Tuesdays. Should you need information this Monday afternoon or Tuesdays, please call the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre at 403-591-6322, open Friday to Tuesday from 9:30 to 4:00.
January 13th, 2012:
Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre: Will be closed on Sunday,
January 15th. For area information on this date, please contact the Barrier
Lake Visitor Information Centre, at (403)673-3985.
January 6th, 2012:
Spray Lakes Road:Avalanche control measures have concluded, and Spray Lakes Road
(Highway #742) has fully re-opened.
January 5th, 2012:
Spray Lakes Road – Avalanche Control: Tomorrow, January 6, 2012, starting at 10 am, the Spray Lakes Road will be
closed from the Grassi Lakes Day Use Area to the Goat Creek Day Use
area.
Public safety will be doing avalanche control.
It is estimated to be
closed for 1 hour.
December 31th, 2011:
Kananaskis Country Visitor Information Centres:
January 1st through March 31st, 2012, the Barrier Lake, Peter Lougheed
Provincial Park and Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centres will be open on
the following schedule:
Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre
403-673-3985
Jan 1 – Mar 31 Wed – Fri 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Sat – Mon 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Tues Closed
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre
403-591-6322
Jan 1 – Mar 31 Fri – Tues 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Wed and Thurs Closed
Note: Closed Jan 3rd and Jan 10th
Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre
403-949-4261
Jan 1 – Mar 31 Sat & Sun 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Mon – Fri Closed
Please note: Winter trail reports will not be updated on Tuesday, January 3rd
or Tuesday, January 10th.
December 29th, 2011:
Penstock Loop Snowshoe Trail: Penstock Loop Snowshoe Trail has re-opened for public use.
December 22nd, 2011:
Goat Creek Trail and vicinity: Repair work on the Spray River Bridge has been completed, and the Goat
Creek Trail has re-opened to the public.
December 21st, 2011:
Lodgepole Ski Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park:
The construction equipment on the large hill at the north end of the
Lodgepole Cross-Country Ski Trail has been removed and the trail is now
open, however conditions are very rough at this time and the trail is not yet
recommended for skiing.
December 18th, 2011:
Rummel Lake Winter Backcountry Campground: Rummel Lake Winter Backcountry Campground is now open for the season.
December 5th, 2011:
Rockwall Interpretive Trail and meadow adjacent to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre: The Bear Closure has been lifted for the Rockwall Interpretive Trail and the meadow adjacent to the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre.
November 25th, 2011:
Goat Creek Trail and vicinity: Commencing November 24th, 2011 TransAlta, in collaboration with Banff
National Park and Kananaskis Country, will be working on the Spray River
Bridge which was damaged by high water during the summer.
This work will involve heavy machinery and numerous helicopter flights in
the region. The goal is to have the bridge repaired to accommodate winter
use of this trail but until the work is complete, the trail remains closed.
November 18th, 2011:
Pocaterra Warming Hut in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park: The Pocaterra Warming Hut has opened for the season, and will be available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm daily.
November 17th, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre & Surrounding Area: The Bear Closure has been lifted for the parking lot and access road to the Visitor Information Centre.
Rockwall Interpretive Trail and the meadow adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre remain closed at this time.
November 7th, 2011:
Area east of Fortress Junction to Opal Ridge: The bear closure has been lifted for the area east of Fortress Junction from Highway 40 to the top of Opal Ridge.
November 1st, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre & Surrounding Area: A Bear Closure is in effect for the area surrounding Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre, including the visitor centre’s parking lots and pathways, and the entryway leading from Kananaskis Lakes Trail/Road.
All areas previously closed on October 18, 2011 remain closed. This includes Rockwall Interpretive Trail and meadow adjacent to the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre.
October 30th, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre: An autumn closure of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre will commence on Tuesday, November 1st and continue through Thursday, December 1st. The visitor centre will re-open on a daily basis – 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, December 2nd.
For area information during the closure contact Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre at 403-673-3985; operating hours are Thursday and Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday to Monday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Area east of Fortress Junction to Opal Ridge: A bear Closure has been posted for an area east of Fortress Junction from Highway 40 to Opal Ridge. The closed area extends directly upslope from Highway 40 to ridge top, from 1.75 kilometres north of Fortress Junction to 750 metres south of Fortress Junction.
October 24th, 2011:
Area east of Fortress Junction to Opal Ridge: The bear closure has been lifted for an area east of Fortress Junction from
Highway 40 to the top of Opal Ridge.
William Watson Lodge: The William Watson Lodge will be closed for maintenance from Sunday
November 13th through Thursday December 1st.
During this closure, the
phone reservation line 403-591-7227 will be monitored weekdays from 8:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 20th, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Snowshoe Trails: Penstock Loop Snowshoe Trail will be closed until further notice due to
TransAlta penstock construction traffic. This closure will be in effect until
mid-December.
Canyon Snowshoe Trail will remain open, though users may encounter
construction traffic on the trail.
October 18th, 2011:
Rockwall Interpretive Trail and meadow adjacent to the Peter
Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre: The Rockwall Interpretive Trail and meadow adjacent to the Peter Lougheed
Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre are CLOSED due to bear activity.
October 17th, 2011:
Mount Shark Day Use Area and trail system: The bear warning has been lifted at the Mt. Shark Day Use Area, helipad and trail system.
Spray Lake West Campground: The bear warning has been lifted at Spray Lake West Campground, which is now closed for the season.
October 16th, 2011:
Area east of Fortress Junction to Opal Ridge: A Bear Closure has been posted for an area east of Fortress Junction from
Highway 40 to Opal Ridge.
The closed area extends directly upslope from
Highway 40 to ridge top, from 1.75 kilometres north of Fortress Junction to
750 metres south of Fortress Junction.
Mount Shark Day Use Area and trail system: The bear warning has been lifted at the Mt. Shark Day Use Area, helipad and trail system.
October 14th, 2011:
Section of Mist Creek Trail: A Wildlife Closure due to presence of a horse carcass is posted on the north end of the Mist Creek Trail, from Rickert’s Pass to the Sheep Trail junction.
October 13th, 2011:
Ptarmigan Cirque Trail: The bear closure has been lifted for the Ptarmigan Cirque hiking trail and
basin.
McLean Creek Campground Sani-Dump Station: The sani-dump station at the McLean Creek campground is closed for
scheduled refurbishment until further notice.
Campers are advised to use
the sani-dump station at the Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre on
Highway 66, which is open for dry dumping only.
Potable water is available
in the McLean Creek campground at a standpipe in the “C” loop across from
site 125.
October 11th, 2011:
Section of path north of Canoe Meadows Day Use Area: The bear closure has been lifted on a section of the path which heads north from Canoe Meadows Day Use Area.
Area Northwest of the Bow Valley Pump House: The bear closure has been lifted on a small area northwest of the Bow Valley Pump House.
Champion Lakes and vicinity: The wildlife closure has been lifted at the Champion Lakes and vicinity.
October 7th, 2011:
Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground:
The bear warning has been lifted at the Elbow Lake backcountry campground and vicinity.
October 5th, 2011:
Black Prince Cirque Interpretive Trail and Mount Black Prince /
Warspite Lake basin:
The Bear Closure has been lifted on the Black Prince Cirque Interpretive
Trail and the Mount Black Prince / Warspite Lake basin.
October 2nd, 2011:
Paddy's Flat Campground:
The bear warning has been lifted at Paddy's Flat Campground.
Gooseberry Campground:
The bear warning has been lifted at Gooseberry Campground.
September 30th, 2011:
Fullerton Loop Trail:
The bear closure has been lifted on the Fullerton Loop Trail.
September 29th, 2011:
Bow Valley Campground:
The bear warning has been lifted at Bow Valley Campground.
Willow Rock Campground & Flowing Water Interpretive Trail:
All bear warnings and closures in Willow Rock campground and on the
Flowing Water Interpretive Trail have now been lifted.
September 27th, 2011:
Buller Creek Trail and vicinity:
As a result of the recently-completed prescribed fire in the Buller Creek
area, hikers may encounter smoke and open flame on the Buller Creek Trail
and in the immediate vicinity.
Caution is recommended. As crews continue
to monitor the area, it is not necessary to report smoke in the vicinity of
Buller Creek.
September 22nd, 2011:
Heart Creek Area: The Bear Warning has been lifted at both the Heart Creek Day Use Area
and on the Heart Creek Trail.
September 21st, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Facilities Zone: Please note that Fortis Alberta will be rebuilding the 12 kilometer section of
power line in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park between the Pocaterra and
Interlakes substations in order to improve reliability of electrical service in
the area. Brush clearing and removal, as well as construction materials and
heavy machinery, will be evident until work is completed in November.
The affected area runs mainly parallel to and within several metres of the
present power lines, with the exception of the south end of Lower
Kananaskis Lake.
If you visit this area, please be advised that interruptions to electrical service
may occur, and access to areas where construction is taking place may be
limited. Please exercise caution in these areas.
September 19th, 2011:
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park: The bear warning has been lifted at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial
Park.
Trail users are reminded to remain observant and avoid using
headphones, make plenty of noise, travel in groups, keep pets on leash at
all times, and carry bear spray.
September 18th, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Paved Trail: The bear closure has been lifted for the Paved Bike Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. All paved sections – Lodgepole, Wheeler and Lakeside – are now open.
September 17th, 2011:
Kananaskis Village Area: The bear warning has been lifted at Kananaskis Village, including the Village Rim Trail.
September 15th, 2011:
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Campground water availability: Water service is now limited in the area campgrounds.
Boulton Creek campground comfort station is currently open, as is the
campground’s frost free hydrant. The Boulton Creek dump station is closed for the season; RV and trailer users can obtain water at the Boulton Creek
comfort station as needed.
The Canyon dump station is open but only for
dry dumping.
Lower Lake and Elkwood campground hand pumps will operate until
September 19th, as will the Elkwood comfort station.
Interlakes campground
also has operating hand pumps.
September 13th, 2011:
Elbow Falls Day Use Area:
The bear closure has been lifted at the Elbow Falls Day Use area, including
the picnic area and interpretive trail.
September 12th, 2011:
Sheep River Falls Day Use Area:The bear warning has been lifted at the Sheep River Falls Day Use Area.
Bluerock Campground: The bear warning has been lifted at Bluerock Campground.
September 11th, 2011:
Chester Lake Trail: The bear closure of the Chester Lake Trail and the Chester basin has been
lifted.
September 9th, 2011:
Buller Creek Area:The closures related to the Buller Creek Prescribed Fire have now been
lifted. The Buller Creek Trail, North and South Buller Passes, and the
scramble routes to Mt. Buller and Mt. Engadine are now open.
September 4th, 2011:
Mount Kidd RV Park and vicinity:
The bear warning has been lifted at the Mount Kidd RV Park.
The bear closure has been lifted for the Mount Kidd interpretive trail and the
route around Picnic Island.
The bear closure has been lifted on the path which leads from ‘F’ loop at the Mt. Kidd RV Park to Highway 40.
September 2nd, 2011:
Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park, Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, Cataract Creek Forest Land Use Zone: Please note that the partial fire ban issued by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development has been lifted for the following areas within Kananaskis Country: the Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park, Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, the Cataract Creek Forest Land Use Zone, and all areas south of Carnarvon Creek and the Highwood River within Kananaskis Country.
August 28th, 2011:
Bill Milne Paved Bike Path:
The bear closure has been lifted for the Bill Milne paved bike path west of
Highway 40. The full length of the paved bike path is now open.
Elpoca Viewpoint Day Use Area:
The wildlife closure of Elpoca Viewpoint Day Use area has been lifted.
Note that the Valleyview Trail south to Little Highwood Pass Day Use area
remains closed.
Aster Lake Backcountry Campground and vicinity:
The bear warning has been lifted for the Aster Lake backcountry
campground and vicinity.
August 18th, 2011:
Area Northwest of the Bow Valley Pump House: A small area northwest of the Bow Valley Pump House, which is north
of the Bow Valley Information/Administration Centre, is Closed due to
bear activity.
August 15th, 2011:
Bow River Campground: The bear warning has been lifted at the Bow River Campground.
August 13th, 2011:
Trails west of Barrier Dam Day Use Area, including Stoney Trail, Jewell
Pass Trail and Jewell Bay Backcountry Campground: The bear closure has been lifted for trails on the west side of Barrier Lake, including Stoney Trail, Jewell Pass Trail and Jewell Bay backcountry campground. Regular trail access to the Prairie View viewpoint and Barrier fire lookout from the Barrier Dam is available.
Please note that bears are currently feeding on berries, which may be plentiful along several trails. Conservation Officers remind everyone to take all precautions to minimize the chance of a bear encounter; these include being observant, making lots of noise, travelling in groups, carrying bear spray and keeping dogs on leash at all times.
August 12th, 2011:
Evan-Thomas Creek Prescribed Fire: Please note that burning has been completed for the Evan-Thomas Creek
Prescribed Fire. Effective immediately, the area closure is lifted.
The
following have re-opened: the Evan-Thomas Day Use area; the western six
kilometres of the Evan-Thomas Fire Road; the Wedge Connector Trail (bear
warning posted); the edge Pond Trail; and the Old Baldy route. For safety,
trail users are advised to use existing trails only.
Please report any downed
trees across officially maintained trails. Note that fire crews remain in the
area, and trail users may encounter limited vehicle traffic on the western
section of the Evan-Thomas Fire Road.
August 7th, 2011:
The Prairie View viewpoint and Barrier fire lookout may be reached via the Quaite Valley Trail or Stoney Trail from the Rafter Six Ranch Resort access road.
August 5th, 2011:
Peninsula Day Use Area: Bear closure has been lifted at Peninsula Day use area.
Barrier Lake Day Use Area & Vicinity: The wildlife closure has been lifted at the Barrier Lake Day Use area. The
area, including the boat launch and the Barrier Lake Interpretive Trail, is
now open.
August 3rd, 2011:
Sandy McNabb Campgrounds: Please note that maintenance work will be taking place at the Sandy
McNabb Campground including the Equestrian Campground. Equipment may be onsite, and maintenance will take place weekdays between 8:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The campgrounds will remain open during the maintenance.
August 1st, 2011:
Barrier Dam Day Use Area and vicinity: The wildlife closure has been lifted at the Barrier Dam Day Use Area.
July 25th, 2011:
Goat Creek Trail and vicinity: Effective immediately, the Goat Creek Trail is closed from the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Road (Highway 742) to its junction with the Spray River Trail in Banff National Park. The closure is due to structural damage to the Spray River bridge which has resulted from abnormally high flows due to water diversion by TransAlta Utilities. For further information regarding water flows, please contact TransAlta at 1-877-547-3365.
July 20th, 2011:
Highline Trail, Canmore: The Highline Trail closure in south Canmore has been lifted. The trail is now open.
July 14th, 2011:
Kananaskis Country Lakes and Ponds: Please note that water levels are high and rising in lakes and ponds in Kananaskis Country. Recreationalists should be aware of the potential for increased hazards due to debris such as driftwood on the water's surface. Additionally, caution is advised as some trails and pathways near water bodies may experience flooding due to the higher water levels.
July 10th, 2011:
King Creek Day Use Area, Creek and Ridge Route:
- The bear closure has been lifted at the King Creek Day Use Area, the King
Creek route and King Creek Ridge route.
July 6th, 2011:
Larch Island in Canmore: The Larch Island area has
been re-opened for public access.
Elk still regularly use the area and users are reminded to maintain
a minimum distance of 30 metres or three full bus-lengths.
Grassi Lakes sport climbing area: The closure
on the sport climbing area at Grassi Lakes has been lifted.
Road maintenance has been completed.
Powerline east of Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park entrance:
The closure in this area
has been lifted. This includes
the area between the road access to Grassi Lakes Trail and the reservoir.
July 2nd, 2011:
Elpoca Day Use Area and Valleyview Trail: A Wildlife Closure has been posted at Elpoca Day Use Area and the full length of the Valleyview Trail.
July 1st, 2011:
Sandy McNabb Campground: Please note that all loops of the Sandy McNabb Campground are now open, including the equestrian campground. The comfort station is also in operation.
June 30th, 2011:
Galatea Creek Trail: The annual
seasonal closure of the Galatea Creek Trail from the Terrace
Trail junction to Lillian Lake and the Galatea Lakes is now
lifted. The trail is now open.
Please check trail conditions before heading into the backcountry.
June 13th, 2011:
Section of Meadowview and Rundle Trails, Canmore Nordic Centre:
The wildlife closure has been lifted for the sections of Meadowview
and Rundle trails between junctions #43 and #45 at the Canmore Nordic
Centre. These sections are now
open.
June 4th, 2011:
Paddy’s Flat Campground: Effective Monday,
June 6th, loops “D” and “E” of Paddy’s
Flat Campground will be temporarily closed
for culvert repair. The
remainder of the campground will remain open during the repairs.
June 2nd, 2011:
Interlakes Campground and Vicinity: Be advised the
bear warning has been lifted
for the Interlakes Campground and vicinity which included the southern-most
section of Lower Kananaskis Lake.
June 1st, 2011:
Lower Kananaskis Lake Cottage Area: Be advised the
bear warning has been lifted for
the Lower Kananaskis Cottage area and shoreline.
Etherington Creek Provincial Recreation Area: Please
be advised, prior to June 15th, the only access to Etherington Creek
is from the southeast: take Hwy. #22 to Longview, turn west into Kananaskis
on Hwy. 541 (also labelled Hwy. 40 on Google & other maps), go
35 km to Highwood Junction (intersection of Hwy. #40, #541 & #940),
turn onto Hwy. #940 & go 6 km to Etherington Creek. From June
15-Dec. 1, the campground can also be reached from the north over
Highwood Pass on Hwy. #40.
May 31st, 2011:
Goat Creek Dam, Goat Creek Trail, Goat Creek Day Use Area
and Vicinity: Be advised that TransAlta will be redirecting
water from Goat Pond Dam into the Goat Creek drainage as of Thursday,
June 2. This will significantly increase water flow in the area.
Until further notice, please use extreme caution
when in the Goat Creek drainage downstream of Goat Pond Dam.
Kananaskis Area Rivers And Creeks:
Alberta Environment has downgraded the previously posted river advisories.
The High Streamflow advisories for the following rivers have ended:
- Elbow River
- Sheep River
- Fish Creek
- Threepoint Creek
- Highwood River
Recreationalists are reminded to exercise caution at all stream crossings.
May 25th, 2011:
Provincial Fire Ban lifted: Precipitation in much
of Alberta has reduced the wildfire hazard in many areas. As a result,
the number of wildfires in Alberta has dropped, reducing some of the
pressure on provincial firefighting resources and allowing the Alberta
government to lift the province-wide fire ban. The fire ban in Kananaskis
Country is no longer in effect.
For further information on Alberta fire bans please visit www.albertafirebans.ca
For further information on fire bans affecting Alberta Parks, please
visit http://www.albertaparks.ca/firebans.aspx
May 22nd, 2011:
Hours of Operation at Kananaskis Country Visitor Information Centres:
| Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre |
| May 24 - June 16 |
Mon - Fri 9:30am - 4:00pm
Sat & Sun 8:30am - 5:00pm
Closed Wednesday May 25 |
| June 17 - Sept 5 |
Fri 8:30am - 6:00pm
Sat - Thur 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Sept 6 - Oct 10 |
Mon - Fri 9:30am - 4:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm |
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Visitor Information Centre |
| May 24 & 25 |
Closed |
| May 26 - June 16 |
Mon - Thur 9:30am - 4:00pm
Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm |
| June 17 - Sept 5 |
Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat - Thur 9:00am - 5:00pm |
| Sept 6 - Oct 10 |
Mon - Fri 9:30am - 4:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm |
| Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre |
| May 24 - May 31 |
Fri - Sun 8:30am - 4:30pm
Mon - Thur CLOSED |
| June 1 - 30 |
Daily 9:30am - 4:00pm |
| July 1 - Sept 5 |
Mon - Thur 9:30am - 4:00pm
Fri 9:30am -7:00pm
Sat & Sun 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Sept 6 - Oct 10 |
Mon - Fri 9:30am - 4:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm |
May 13th, 2011:
Creek levels in Kananaskis Country: Please note
that caution is advised near creeks as water levels change dramatically
at this time of year. In the morning creek levels will typically be
low, but as the sun melts snow at higher elevations creeks rise rapidly.
If travelling near streams, please keep an eye on water levels and
be prepared to depart quickly if required.
May 10th, 2011:
Panorama Day Use Area: Please note that the outhouse
at Panorama Day Use area is closed until further
notice due to structural damage.
April 15th, 2011:
Why are the trees red? The
answer is here.
March 15th, 2010:
Sheep River Provincial Park Office: Please note
that, effective immediately and until further notice,
the Sheep River Provincial Park Office
will no longer offer visitor information services on a regular basis.
For information, please contact the Barrier Lake Visitor Information
Centre, phone 403-673-3985, or Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor
Information Centre, phone 403-591-6322.
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