• When: June 28, 2022 up to and including July 5th
• Where: 5 backcountry campgrounds in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Spray Lakes Provincial Park
  • Lillian Lake
  • Ribbon Lake
  • Aster Lake
  • Three Isle Lake
  • Turbine

• Why: We are experiencing significant lingering snowpack in higher elevations throughout Kananaskis Country and this is impacting the functionality of several of our backcountry campgrounds which is having the following impacts
  • Toilets are inaccessible creating issues for human waste
  • Tent pads are completely buried and difficult to locate or are extremely muddy and unsuitable for camping leading to infrastructure damage or last minute un-booked overuse of other lower elevation campgrounds.
  • Designated and marked trails are extremely difficult to navigate making for unsafe travel conditions relative to what would be expected for this time of year.

Based on these identified conditions and associated infrastructure, environmental, user experience and public safety issues, we are going to have to extend (and initiate) closures of the following backcountry campgrounds up to and including July 5, 2022.

• Effective Date: June 23, 2022 until further notice
• Where: Backcountry areas in Kananaskis Country
• Why: Snowpack melt in Kananaskis is approximately four weeks behind typical melt this year. It may be summer, but snowy trail conditions and avalanches continue to be present. Many of the backcountry locations accessed from this trailhead cross and/or travel through avalanche terrain.

If you are travelling on these trails:

• Expect difficult conditions and more snow on trails than usual. Proper footwear and equipment are essential.
• Check trail conditions ahead of time. https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/
• Snow can make even easy to moderate trails difficult. Know your limits and hike within them.
• Your group should have the skills, knowledge and training to travel in avalanche terrain.
• You should carry an emergency communications device and be aware that cellular service not available in this area.
• Leave the details of your plan with a responsible person.

Attention hikers with backcountry campground reservations:

• You must camp on designated tent pads. Consider bringing a snow shovel.

• Effective Date: June 23, 2022, until further notice
  
• Where: Highwood Pass area, Highwood Meadows, Pocaterra Cirque, Ptarmigan Cirque & Arethusa Cirque.
• Why: To reduce environmental degradation during wet/snowy conditions and protect the fragile alpine environment.

• Effective Date: June 19, 2022 until further notice
• Where: Interlakes and Lower Lake Campground
• Why: Female grizzly bear with two cubs and a solo grizzly bear frequenting the campgrounds

• Effective Date: June 15, 2022 (or immediately upon the Hwy 40 winter gate opening) to November, 2022 
• Where: Please be advised that Alberta Environment and Parks is closing the area encompassing Elbow Pass Day Use Area, Little Highwood Pass Day Use Area, Elbow Pass trail from Elbow Pass Day Use Area to Elbow Lake, Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground and surrounding areas. Construction crews will be on site upgrading parking lots, trails and the backcountry campground.
• Why:

- To reduce danger to hikers equestrian users and climbers as contractors work in the area falling trees, moving heavy equipment around and hauling asphalt for paving.

- There is no alternative for safe parking and trail access. 

- It is more time and cost effective. The contractor needs to be able to work efficiently without keeping track of the public in the area. Environment and Parks wants to complete the project as efficiently as possible.

Conservation Officers will enforce the area closure under the Provincial Parks Act. Do not cross construction barriers and follow all signage.

Visitors looking for alternatives can call the Kananaskis Information Line at (403) 678-0760 or stop by a Kananaskis Information Centre.

• Effective Date: Seasonal closure until further notice
• Where: Valleyview Road from Elpoca Day Use Area to HWY 40 (South) near Little Highwood Day Use Area, including Valleyview Day Use Areas.
• Why: Frequent bear activity in this area