Effective Date: August 7, 2020 until further notice

Where: Yamnuska Day Use Area and Parking Lot, Yamnuksa Flats and Meadows, Yamnuska Ridge Trail, Yamnuska Traverse Trail, Yamnuska Climbers Route Trail, Yamnuska Climbing Routes, Yamnuska Bluffs and Big Choss Bouldering Area.

Why: Black Bear trying to take unsecured wildlife attractants.

• Users are reminded to not leave their packs unattended at any time, and to bag and remove all trash and place it in a bear-proof bin or take it with you if bins are full.

Please be advised that there will construction and BLASTING activities to support the Cougar Creek Flood Project. To ensure visitor safety around the construction site, Alberta Parks is closing the access to Cougar Creek canyon for all recreational uses. In addition, the Lady MacDonald Trail will be closed during blasting. 

The area closure will include:

• Cougar Creek Canyon from the junction of Montane Trail and Lady MacDonald Trail upstream for approximately 1 km.
• Lady MacDonald Trail is CLOSED.
• Montane Trail and Horseshoe Trail are OPEN.

Please follow direction on construction signage and fencing.

The closure will be effective: August 4, 2020 until further notice.

Project blasting may last 6 to 7 weeks.

Visitors looking for alternatives to Cougar Creek canyon may consider Ha Ling, Grassi Lakes, Heart Creek or Grotto Canyon.

Effective Date: July 17, 2020
Where: Baldy Pass, Heart Creek, Wasootch and Yamnuska parking lots.
Why: Vehicle Break-Ins

Although a warning is in place for these locations any location/vehicle could be a target. Ensure you:

• Remove all valuable from your vehicle
• Lock items you cannot take with you out of sight, or in the trunk
• Never leave keys, cell phones, wallets or purses in plain sight

*** REPORT VEHICLE BREAK-INS TO THE RCMP ***

• Effective Date: June 11, 2020 until further notice
• Where: Larch Island in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
• Why: Cow Elks calving.

Although a warning is in place for this area, elk can be encountered anywhere in Kananaskis Country and at any time. Minimize your chance of conflict with elk by:

• Being aware of your surroundings.
• Keeping your pet on a leash at all times.
• Keeping your distance. Stay at least 3 bus lengths away.
• Not approaching elk or their calves. Female elk can be especially aggressive during the May – June calving season.
• Leaving newborn calves alone. Newborns will spend much of their time alone in their early days and will appear lifeless in order to avoid detection by predators. Their mother is not far away.

Please report all aggressive elk encounters immediately to 403-591-7755.

Learn more about elk safety at www.wildsmart.ca

• Effective Date: June 10, 2020 until further notice
• Where: Heart Creek drainage, including informal parking for Heart Creek hikes in the Highway 1 ditch
• Why: Be advised that the Municipal District of Bighorn has begun construction of a flood mitigation project on Heart Creek upstream of Highway 1.

The informal parking in the Highway 1 ditch for access to Heart Creek is not available at this time. Recreational users accessing Heart Creek, Heart Mountain and the Quaite Valley connector trail must park in the Heart Creek Day Use Area.