Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Alberta Parks

Advisories

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A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle in Kananaskis and the Bow Valley.

  • Bear Warning - Commonwealth Creek Area

    Effective:  September 9, 2024

      • Effective Date: September 9, 2024 until further notice. 
      • Where: Commonwealth Creek area, including Mount Smuts, Mount Smutwood and Birdwood Lakes.
      • Why: A group of hikers encountered a grizzly bear that followed them. Bear spray was deployed and the bear retreated. 

    Although an advisory is in place for this area, bears can be encountered anywhere in the Kananaskis Region at any time. To avoid a surprise encounter with a bear:

    • Make plenty of noise and travel in groups.
    • Be aware of your surroundings. Look and listen for bears and their signs.
    • Keep your pet on a leash.
    • Carry bear spray. Make sure it’s easily accessible, and know how to use bear spray.
    • Learn more about bear safety on our webpage or at WildSmart.

    Please report all bear sightings immediately to 403-591-7755.

    Affected Areas

  • Construction Advisory - Pocaterra Warming Hut

    Effective:  August 20, 2024

      • Effective Date: August 20 to 30, 2024, or until further notice.
      • Where: Pocaterra Warming Hut.
      • Why: Concrete work will be taking place on the east and south side of the building. Park users must obey all construction signs and barricades put in place. Barricades and construction signs will remain in place until construction activities are complete.

  • Construction Closure - Highwood Meadows Day Use Area

    Effective:  June 26, 2024   Updated:  September 3, 2024

      • Effective Date: June 26, 2024, until further notice
      • Where: Highwood Meadows Day Use Area
      • Why: Please be advised that Alberta Parks is closing the area encompassing the new Highwood Meadows Day Use parking expansion area. To provide safety for construction workers, trail crews and the public, Parks will implement an area closure that encompasses the new parking area, Highwood Meadows Interpretive Trail and west routes such as Pocaterra Cirque, with intermittent closures at the existing Highwood Meadows parking area and Ptarmigan Cirque to accommodate some minor reconfiguration. Construction is scheduled to start at the beginning of July and may take until November 2025. The existing Highwood Meadows Day Use Area Parking Lot will have intermittent closures throughout the construction period to accommodate construction activities. Construction crews will be on site upgrading the parking lots.

        To support construction activities, Alberta Parks may have to intermittently close access to all or parts of the area for the following reasons:
        • To reduce danger to visitors as contractors work in the area moving heavy equipment, clearing vegetation, and hauling asphalt for paving.
        • There is no alternative trail access for Highwood Meadows Interpretative Trail.
        • 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. Alberta Parks wants to complete the project as efficiently as possible.

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

        Visitors looking for alternatives can call the Kananaskis Information Line at 1 403-678-0760 or stop by a Kananaskis Information Centre.

  • Construction Advisory - Canyon Day Use

    Effective:  June 3, 2024   Updated:  September 3, 2024

      • Effective Date: June 3, 2024, until further notice
      • Where: Canyon Day Use
      • Why: Intermittent lane closures and parking area closures to support work construction work in the area. Visitors might experience minor delays accessing the site while crews are working.

  • Closure - Elpoca Day Use Area and Valleyview Road

    Effective:  May 31, 2020   Updated:  September 3, 2024

      • 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

Safety Links

Know Before You Go
Trail Reports
Wildlife
Minimizing Impacts
Backcountry Safety

Provincial Sources for Advisories

Alberta 5-1-1 Road Reports
Alberta Emergency Alert
Fire Bans & Restrictions
Blue Green Algae Advisories
Streamflow Advisories
Weather Alerts for Alberta