Category: Trail Update

Trail Conditions Update – APRIL 17, 2015

Spring is transition time on the GDT. Hiking trails at lower elevations vary from bare and muddy to slushy and icy, while trails at higher elevation remain snowbound with potential avalanche risk. Trails can be icy in the morning but warm daytime temperatures are creating slushy and slippery conditions. Snowshoes, cleats and/or poles are recommended for hikers.

There has been some recent snowfall in April and avalanche conditions still exist, especially at higher elevations so always check the latest avalanche bulletins before setting out.

Tick season has started. Be extra careful when in areas with a lot of underbrush and check yourself and your clothing after your hike.

Access Roads Update:

• Annual Winter Closure of Forestry Trunk Road 940 from December 1 to April 30, from Cataract Creek Campground to the junction with the Plateau Mountain access road.
• Annual Winter Closure of Highway 40 from the Kananaskis Lakes Trail to the junction of Highway 541 between December 1 and June 15. Construction work continues from South of the winter gate to Junction Highway 541.
• Annual Winter Closure of Highway 532 from December 1 to April 30, west of the staging area of the Indian Graves Campground to the intersection of the Forestry Trunk Road 940.

Trail Conditions Update – NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Winter has arrived in the Rocky Mountains! Snow has fallen on all of the GDT with significant accumulation at higher elevations. Expect snowy, slippery, wet or muddy trail conditions. Snow cleats or snowshoes are recommended. Temperatures are below freezing so be prepared for all weather conditions when travelling into the backcountry.

Trail Closures and Notices:

• TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURE (November 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015) – Jasper National Park: The GDT is closed from Four Point Campground to Poboktan Creek to prevent trails from facilitating an unnatural level of predator access to threatened woodland caribou.
• TRAIL CLOSURE – Elk Lakes Provincial Park: Lower Elk Lakes trail beyond the campground (between Lower and Upper Lakes) and the trail from Upper Elk Lakes to West Elk Pass remain closed due to washed out bridges and sections of trail. DETOUR: Use Elkan Creek trail from the parking lot to Elk Pass (4km).
• ACCESS TRAIL CLOSURE – Kootenay National Park: Tumbling Creek Trail remains closed.
• NOTICES – Cairnes Creek: The bridge is washed out making this a potentially dangerous ford. It is recommended to cross early in the morning when glacial melt is lowest.
• The Lambe Creek bridge is badly damaged so it is recommended to ford the creek further downstream and avoid using the broken bridge.
• The Maligne Pass trail in Jasper National Park has been decommissioned and is in poor shape. The trail from Poboktan Creek to Maligne Lake (approx 42 km) is no longer being maintained by Parks Canada so expect deteriorating and overgrown trail conditions; long pants are recommended. The Maligne River bridge has been removed but the river can be easily forded (knee deep in mid-summer). Most other bridges are still in place.
• The Aldridge Creek Trail between Fording River Pass and the Kananaskis Power Line is in very poor shape. The upper part of the trail is very overgrown. The creek has washed away much of the lower section of trail but it is still passable by following the rocky banks of the creek.

Access Roads Update

Winter conditions exist on most mountain highways and roads. Roads can be snowy and icy so check for the latest conditions before you travel and carry chains and/or winter tires. For more information, check out Alberta 511 and Drive BC.

Alberta:

• Construction continues on the Forestry Trunk Road 940, from the Junction highway 532 to the Junction highway 541. Outdoor enthusiasts may still access the Forestry Trunk Road during construction but through traffic will not be permitted as the entire roadway must be excavated. Barricades will be placed at convenient turnaround spots.
• Highway 40 will be seasonally closed from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to Highwood House beginning December 1.
•  Forestry Trunk Road 940 will be seasonally closed south of Cataract Creek and northwest of Plateau Mountain Road beginning December 1.
• Road 532 between Highway 22 and Road 940 is not maintain during the winter.

BC:

• The Blaeberry FSR is closed to non-industrial traffic at 11.5 km and washed out completely at 19.1 km. From this point, you can still travel the additional 22 km on foot or bike to the David Thompson Heritage Trailhead (on the GDT) near the Cairnes Creek Recreation site, which is deteriorated and partially flooded.

Trail Conditions Update – OCTOBER 7, 2014

Fall colours are here! Fresh snow has fallen on most of the GDT and has begun accumulating at higher elevations. Expect slippery, wet and muddy trail conditions but most trails are still passable. Nighttime and early morning temperatures are below freezing so be prepared for all weather conditions when travelling into the backcountry.

Trail Closures and Notices:

• TRAIL CLOSURE – Elk Lakes Provincial Park: Lower Elk Lakes trail beyond the campground (between Lower and Upper Lakes) and the trail from Upper Elk Lakes to West Elk Pass remain closed due to washed out bridges and sections of trail. DETOUR: Use Elkan Creek trail from the parking lot to Elk Pass (4km).
• ACCESS TRAIL CLOSURE – Kootenay National Park: Tumbling Creek Trail remains closed.
• NOTICES – Cairnes Creek: The bridge is washed out making this a potentially dangerous ford. It is recommended to cross early in the morning when glacial melt is lowest.
• The Lambe Creek bridge is badly damaged so it is recommended to ford the creek further downstream and avoid using the broken bridge.
• The Maligne Pass trail in Jasper National Park has been decommissioned and is in poor shape. The trail from Pobokton Creek to Maligne Lake (approx 42 km) is no longer being maintained by Parks Canada so expect deteriorating and overgrown trail conditions; long pants are recommended. The Maligne River bridge has been removed but the river can be easily forded (knee deep in mid-summer). Most other bridges are still in place.
• The Aldridge Creek Trail between Fording River Pass and the Kananaskis Power Line is in very poor shape. The upper part of the trail is very overgrown. The creek has washed away much of the lower section of trail but it is still passable by following the rocky banks of the creek.

Access Roads Update

Alberta:

• Highway 40 is open from Highway 1 to Highway 541 but traffic is detoured or limited to one-lane in some areas due to construction work, in particular near Lineham Creek and Cat Creek where new bridges are being constructed. For more information, check out Alberta 511.
• Construction continues on the Forestry Trunk Road 940, from the Junction highway 532 to the Junction highway 541. The road is scheduled to be closed Sept. 30 – Oct. 9 for culvert replacements from 6.5km north of the Jct. of Hwy 532 to 10.5km. Outdoor enthusiasts may still access the Forestry Trunk Road on those dates but through traffic will not be permitted as the entire roadway must be excavated. Barricades will be placed at convenient turnaround spots.
• Highway 532 from junction of Forestry Trunk Road 940 to Highway 22 remains open during road repairs.
• The Oldman River Road is washed out approximately 10 kilometres from the junction with Forestry Trunk Road 940 with no timetable for repair/re-opening.

BC:

• The Blaeberry FSR is closed to non-industrial traffic at 11.5 km and washed out completely at 19.1 km. From this point, you can still travel the additional 22 km on foot or bike to the David Thompson Heritage Trailhead (on the GDT) near the Cairnes Creek Recreation site, which is deteriorated and partially flooded but there is still a reasonably dry, flat area for camping

Trail Conditions Update – SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Autumn is fast approaching, the leaves are changing and fresh snow has fallen on the southern portion of the GDT! Expect nighttime and early morning temperatures below freezing and fresh snowfall at higher elevations at anytime.

The elk rutting season has begun and will last until mid-October.  Warning signs that read “ATTENTION – Elk Mating” have been posted at areas where elk herds often gather. Be aware that bull elk become extremely aggressive during rutting season so keep at least 30 metres away from all elk and never get between a male and female elk.

As a result of last summer’s flood damage to the trail and bridges, some trails remain closed in 2014 (see below). It is recommended that anyone planning to hike the GDT this year research the status of any trails you wish to use and exercise additional caution and allow adequate time to route-find and safely navigate unforeseen obstacles.

Trail Closures and Notices:

• TRAIL CLOSURE – Elk Lakes Provincial Park: Lower Elk Lakes trail beyond the campground (between Lower and Upper Lakes) and the trail from Upper Elk Lakes to West Elk Pass remain closed due to washed out bridges and sections of trail. DETOUR: Use Elkan Creek trail from the parking lot to Elk Pass (4km).
• ACCESS TRAIL CLOSURE – Kootenay National Park: Tumbling Creek Trail remains closed.
• NOTICES – Cairnes Creek: The bridge is washed out making this a potentially dangerous ford. It is recommended to cross early in the morning when glacial melt is lowest.
• The Lambe Creek bridge is badly damaged so it is recommended to ford the creek further downstream and avoid using the broken bridge.
• The Maligne Pass trail in Jasper National Park has been decommissioned and is in poor shape. The trail from Pobokton Creek to Maligne Lake (approx 42 km) is no longer being maintained by Parks Canada so expect deteriorating and overgrown trail conditions; long pants are recommended. The Maligne River bridge has been removed but the river can be easily forded (knee deep in mid-summer). Most other bridges are still in place.

Access Roads Update

Alberta:

• Highway 40 is open from Highway 1 to Highway 541 but traffic is detoured or limited to one-lane in some areas due to construction work, in particular near Lineham Creek and Cat Creek where new bridges are being constructed. For more information, check out Alberta 511.
• Construction continues on Forestry Trunk Road 940 south of Cataract Creek to the Hwy 532 junction. The road will be open every Friday through Monday for recreational users but closed for construction activities from Tuesday to Thursday each week until further notice.
• Highway 532 eastbound and westbound from junction of Forestry Trunk Road 940 to Highway 22 remains open during road repairs.
• The Oldman River Road is washed out approximately 10 kilometres from the junction with Forestry Trunk Road 940 with no timetable for repair/re-opening.

BC:

• The Blaeberry FSR is closed to non-industrial traffic at 11.5 km and washed out completely at 19.1 km. From this point, you can still travel the additional 22 km on foot (or possibly bike) to the David Thompson Heritage Trailhead (on the GDT) near the Cairnes Creek Recreation site, which is deteriorated and partially flooded but there is still a reasonably dry, flat area for camping.