June 2020 Trail and Road Conditions

• Parks Canada re-opened all national parks along the GDT on June 1, allowing access to trails, day use areas, and green spaces. Starting June 22, all GDT backcountry campgrounds will open to people with existing reservations. New online reservations for backcountry campgrounds will open on June 24. All existing national park reservations prior to June 22 will be automatically cancelled and refunded in full. Existing reservations from international visitors, including visitors from the USA, will be cancelled and automatically refunded in full up to and including August 7, 2020.
• Alberta Parks re-opened all provincial parks on May 1. Campground reservations opened on May 14 for Alberta residents only for camping dates starting June 1. All backcountry campsites – both reserved and first-come, first-served – will allow 100% capacity by July 1.
• BC Parks re-opened all provincial parks along the GDT on May 14. Most provincial backcountry campgrounds along the GDT re-opened on June 1 for BC residents. Backcountry camping opportunities will remain available for non-BC residents accessing Elk Lakes, Height of the Rockies and Mount Assiniboine provincial parks on the Alberta/BC border through existing established trail routes. 

TRAIL CLOSURES:

• Waterton Lakes National Park: The Akamina Parkway is closed to vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles due to construction resulting in no access to Cameron Lake, Akamina Pass, Rowe Lakes or the Mount Rowe Alternate Route. As long as the Akamina Parkway remains closed to hikers, a detour can be followed from Waterton Townsite to reconnect with the GDT via the Crandell Lake Trail, Red Rock Parkway and Blakiston Valley Trail, a distance of about 26 km vs 43 km on the GDT.
• Numa Creek Trail (Rockwall access trail) remains closed due to the bridge out over the Vermilion River. The pedestrian bridge is being replaced this summer and access to the Rockwall from this location will be restored later this year.
• Trail 7 near Jasper is closed to hikers south of the junction with Trail 7e and north of the junction with Trail 7a due to grizzly and black bears frequenting the area. Detour by taking Trail 7e to Mildred Lake from where you can take several different trails to reach Old Fort Point trailhead. Equestrians can still use Trail 7 but are not to dismount.

TRAIL NOTICES:

It’s transition time on the GDT. Valley bottom trails at lower elevations vary from bare and dry to wet and muddy, while most trails at higher elevation are still snow covered. With warmer weather, trail conditions can change quickly so plan for varying conditions – boots, cleats and/or poles are recommended. 

• SNOW: Snow levels in the Rockies are above average for this time of year and avalanche conditions continue to exist. For up to date snow level data in BC, check out the Snow Survey Bulletins and Commentaries which include links to the Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin and map. In Alberta, check out the Alberta River Basins map (turn on the snow pillow layer). 
• CREEKS: Rapid snow melt during this time of year results in high water levels and potentially dangerous creek crossings, particularly later in the day. Attempt to ford larger creeks early in the day when water levels are lowest.
• ELK CALVING SEASON: May 15 to June 30. Protective mother elk will aggressively protect their newborns by kicking and charging at people. Stay at least 30 metres away from all elk during this time of year. Pay attention to trail closures in known elk calving areas.
• TICKS: It’s tick season. Long pants tucked into your socks are recommended. Be extra careful when in areas with a lot of underbrush and check yourself and your clothing after your hike.
• BEARS: With spring’s arrival, bears are leaving their dens in search of food. Be bear aware on the trails this spring, make noise and carry bear spray.
• FIRES: There are fire advisories in effect along most of the GDT including in all national parks. If you must have a campfire in the backcountry, ensure you follow the rules.
• The GDT is blocked by avalanche debris south of Tornado Pass (b16). Hikers can get around by traversing down slope.  
• Cairnes Creek (d9): Two fallen trees have provided a dry crossing for the past 4 years and have been reinforced in 2020 to provide a safe crossing for hikers in the absence of a bridge. If the fallen trees wash away, Cairnes Creek is glacial fed and a potentially challenging ford. It is recommended to ford the creek early in the morning when glacial melt is lowest.
• The David Thompson Heritage Trail was cleared from Cairnes Creek to Howse Pass in 2019. A new log bridge is in place across Lambe Creek. 
• Descending the north side of Howse Pass (d11), the main route of the GDT now follows Conway Creek and Howse River floodplains wherever possible, without crossing the main channel of the Howse River. The floodplain is wide and scenic. There are several shallow fords of smaller channels on the floodplain so hikers must be prepared to have wet feet while enjoying a significantly better hiking experience than the old overgrown trail strewn with hundreds of fallen trees. In June and early July, the Howse River may be in flood making some sections of the floodplain difficult or impassable in which case hikers should consider using the old trail (now marked as an alternate route). Conversely, in late August and September when the river is low, hikers may be able to ford the main river channel and completely avoid any bushwhacking along the river’s edge. See here for a more detailed route description.
• The Yates Torrent Bridge is out at the crossing of the Coleman Glacier outflow (near f16). Do not attempt to cross at the old bridge location. There are two options: (1) ford the Smoky River in the floodplain; or (2) ford Yates Torrent approximately 500m upstream (location was flagged in 2017). At both locations attempt to cross early in the morning when glacial melt is the lowest or be prepared for a fast and potentially dangerous creek ford.
• The bridges across Gendarme and Carcajou Creeks are out on the Jasper North Boundary Trail. These two creeks are smaller than the Smoky River, but can still be treacherous. Cross Gendarme at the horse crossing just below the old bridge (marked), and Carcajou about 100m below the trail.

ACCESS ROADS: 

• In Waterton Lakes National Park, the Akamina Parkway and the Red Rock Parkway are closed to vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.
• Sunshine Road will reopen June 21 but Sunshine Village will be closed for the entire 2020 season, including the shuttle and gondola.
• Highway 40 from junction Highway 742 to junction Highway 541 is closed for the winter until June 15, 2020.
• 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