August 2021 Trail and Road Conditions

• CLOSURE – Mount Robson Provincial Park: The Berg Lake Trail is closed from Kinney Lake to Robson Pass for the remainder of the 2021 season due to continuing flood conditions causing washed out bridges, flooded campgrounds and unsafe trails. All campground reservations will be cancelled and fully refunded automatically. Mount Robson Visitor Centre has temporarily suspended its resupply package service and it is not expected to resume this summer. The Moose River Trail reopened August 1, giving GDT Hikers 4 options to use as the GDT northern terminus other than the Berg Lake Trail:
     1. Jasper Townsite
     2. Moose River (recently cleared)
     3. Blueberry
     4. Kakwa
• COVID-19: We encourage everyone who spends time on the GDT this year to do so safely and continue to do your part to limit the spread of COVID-19. At this time, the GDTA supports single-day hikes or horseback rides on the GDT and longer (weekend or multi-day) trips where trails and trailheads are open. Some facilities and services along the GDT may be closed or limited due to the pandemic. Hikers with plans on the GDT this summer should pay close attention to provincial and local health restrictions as they evolve and be prepared to make changes to your plans in order to comply with these restrictions. 
• FIRES: Cooler temperatures and rain/snowfall have reduced fire danger levels in the Rockies and campfire bans have been lifted. If you must have a campfire in the backcountry, ensure you follow the rules.
• BEARS: It’s berry season! Berry bushes border trails, roads and campgrounds on the GDT, and black bears and grizzly bears are feeding on berries right now. It is easy to surprise a bear that is focused on feeding, so be extra bear aware on the trails: stay alert, make noise and carry bear spray. 
  • CLOSURE – Waterton Lakes National Park: Twin Lakes and Snowshoe campgrounds are closed due to a black bear frequenting the area. The bear has not been aggressive, but has approached people and attempted to obtain food.

• The new High Rock Trail is open so check it out!
• Turbine Canyon campground in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is closed all summer for construction.
• Egypt Lake and Bryant Creek shelters are closed until further notice.
• Cairnes Creek (d9): A new temporary bridge has been installed 150 metres upstream of the old bridge. The access route is flagged on both sides of the creek.  
• Trail 7 near Jasper is closed to hikers due to grizzly and black bears frequenting the area so the GDT has been permanently re-routed here. At Soggy Dog Lake (e33), the new route follows Trail 4g to Edith Lake where it connects with Trail 18. Follow Trail 18 to Trefoil Lakes where you briefly follow Trail 4b past Mildred Lake to reconnect with Trail 7 next to the Athabasca River, which leads to Old Fort Point trailhead (e34).
• Chown Creek bridge (g2) has been damaged by extreme flooding and only a portion of the bridge remains. Recent reports indicate that the creek is fordable 50 metres upstream of the bridge, allowing access to the campground on the north side of the creek. If the creek is impassable, NOBO hikers can bushwhack in the forest on the south bank of Chown Creek and reconnect to the GDT about 3 km upstream. SOBO hikers should not ford Chown Creek.

ACCESS: 

• Highway 6 is closed at the Belly River crossing 17 km past the turnoff to Waterton Lakes National Park, to the Alberta-Montana border due to the closed International Border.
• Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for all vehicles visiting Kananaskis Country and provincial sites in the Bow Valley Corridor starting June 1, 2021. The pass is not required for people arriving without a vehicle on foot, horseback or bicycle.
• Sunshine Road is open but Sunshine Village will be closed for the entire 2021 season, including the shuttle and gondola.
• Highway 1 road construction 4 km east of Golden, resulting in weekday nighttime closures (10pm-7am) and single lane traffic until September 2, 2021. If necessary, detour via Highway 93S and Highway 95.
• Walker Creek FSR is open to Bastille Creek trailhead. It is a very rough and muddy dirt road so a 4WD vehicle with high clearance is strongly recommended.
• For more information, check out Alberta 511 and Drive BC.

National and Provincial Park Trail Conditions:

Banff National Park
Jasper National Park
Kootenay National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Yoho National Park

Akamina‐Kishinena Provincial Park
Castle Wildland Provincial Park
Castle Provincial Park
Elk Lakes Provincial Park
Height of the Rockies Provincial Park
Kakwa Provincial Park
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
Mount Robson Provincial Park
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park