WATERTON LAKES, AB – It’s a day many people have been waiting for.
Some outdoor locations in national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas are reopen for limited use as of Monday, including Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta.
At Waterton, here is what’s open as of Monday, June 1:
· Park gate – entrance fees are in effect; staffed hours of service may vary.
· Information kiosk – open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for inquiries by phone and email.
o Limited in-person services at the kiosk located on Fountain Avenue.
o Telephone: 403-859-5133
o Email: pc.watertoninfo.pc@canada.ca
· Roads that are open:
o Entrance Road
o Chief Mountain Highway as far as Belly River Bridge
§ Chief Mountain Border Crossing is closed until further notice.
o Red Rock Parkway is open for hiking and cycling (non-motorized use).
o Bison Paddock Overlook at Bellevue/Horseshoe trailhead
· Day use/picnic areas that are open:
o Cameron Falls; including washroom
o Cameron Bay; picnic tables only. Picnic shelters & washroom remain closed.
o Community Kitchen; picnic tables only. Picnic shelters & washroom remain closed.
o Lakeshore; picnic tables only. Picnic shelter & washroom remain closed.
o Emerald Bay; picnic tables only. Picnic shelter & washrooms remain closed.
o Driftwood Beach
o Lost Horse Creek (non-motorized access only)
o Red Rock Canyon (non-motorized access only)
o Hay Barn
o Linnet Lake
o Maskinonge; picnic tables & washroom only. Picnic shelter will remain closed.
o Pass Creek
· The Firehall washroom in the Waterton townsite is open.
· Hiking and trails:
o Many trails in the park are open for day use only.
o Crypt Lake trail can be accessed via Wishbone trail or non-motorized watercraft.
o A full list of trails can be seen here and a map can be viewed here.
· Water activities:
o Upper, Middle and Lower Waterton Lakes are accessible for non-motorized water recreation.
o National park fishing permits can be obtained by phoning or going to the Visitor Centre. Permits must be picked up in person.
· Commercial activities:
o More details on commercial activities and services in Waterton Lakes National Park can be found by contacting the Waterton Chamber of Commerce
Below is a list of what is closed, as of Monday:
· Roads:
o Akamina Parkway is closed to all traffic, including non-motorized use, for major reconstruction. An area closure is in effect. This closure is expected to be in effect into late 2020.
o Bison Paddock Loop Road
· Campgrounds:
o All camping facilities, including backcountry camping, remain closed until at least June 21, 2020, while Parks Canada assesses whether and how these services can resume.
o Townsite Campground is closed until further notice.
o Belly River Campground, including the group campground, is closed until further notice.
o Backcountry campgrounds are closed until further notice (Parks Canada is NOT issuing permits for backcountry camping until further notice).
o Pass Creek winter campground is closed for the season.
o Parks Canada will cease taking new reservations for camping, accommodation and activities until June 21, 2020.
o NOTE: Crandell Mountain Campground remains closed due to damage from the Kenow Wildfire in 2017. It is scheduled to reopen in 2022.
· Day use/picnic areas:
o Cameron Lake
o Little Prairie
o McNeely’s
o Coppermine Creek
o Knight’s Lake
· Hiking and trails:
o Bear’s Hump trail is closed for construction.
o The Lakeshore trail is closed at the U.S. border.
o All trails along the Akamina Parkway are closed, including:
§ Carthew-Alderson; closed between Carthew Summit and Cameron Lake
§ Crandell Lake, trailhead on Akamina Parkway is closed
§ Akamina Lake
§ Cameron Lakeshore
§ Rowe Lakes
§ Summit Lake
§ Lineham
§ Akamina Pass
· Interpretive programs and special events:
o In-person interpretive, group activities and events are suspended until further notice.
· Volunteering:
o The Waterton Lakes National Park volunteering program is suspended. Parks Canada says some individual activities may resume at a later date.
· Suspended visitor services:
o Park Administration building on Mount View Road
o Parks Canada Operations Compound on the Entrance Road, including:
§ The Operations Building
§ The Warden’s Office
READ MORE: 29 of Canada’s 48 national parks to reopen to day-use visitors June 1
A full list of national parks included in the June 1 reopening can be found here.
For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.
