Great News! Access to Provincial Parks opens May 1

I don’t know if there’s any skiable snow left in the mountains, but you can find out tomorrow(Friday).

“Vehicle access to parking lots and staging areas in parks and on public lands will be opening on May 1.”

“No washrooms or garbage pickup will be available within provincial parks at this time. These services will be available as soon as Alberta Environment and Parks brings staff back.”

Physical distancing requirements of two metres will remain in place through all stages of relaunch and hygiene practices will continue to be required of businesses and individuals, along with instructions for Albertans to stay home when exhibiting symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, or sore throat.

Read more: Relaunch strategy from Alberta government

8 Comments:

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  1. Maybe some spring skiing options from high parking lots close to divide with AT gear, especially if BNP opens. Timing might make for some busy places in Kananaskis as the melt slowly peels open the dryer options. Significant potential for roll backs depending on use and users.

    • Looks like BNP won’t be open until at least end of may, unless they follow Alberta’s lead. Probably unlikely.

    • 511 Alberta shows Highway 40 closed at the highway 68 junction. Any idea if that will be opened. Has the Smith Dorian road been maintained?

      • A prime question. Probably plowed during closure for access to altalink facilities. But maybe not a spring regrading yet. Hoping we will see a report from that region???

      • Myself and another early adopter just got back from a day out there. At 7:30am Checkpoint Charlie at 68 was still up and manned. The nice gentlemen representing the authorities said that he had only heard an hour earlier that things were to be opened up to the public but that they were still requesting that people do not enter in the interest of staff safety. However, his feelings did not seem to be hurt when I said we had conservative goals and wanted to keep going. He let us through. Btw, he also mentioned that parking at the side of the road was not allowed.

        We were headed for the south end of the Smith-Dorrien. It was a mixed bag of trail heads taped off and barricaded and ones that weren’t. Our objective was near Sawmill and that lot was open. Road was in good shape up to that point.

        On the way out in mid-afternoon some of the trailhead barricades were gone and the checkpoint was in the ditch.

  2. Hi Bob, yes, such great news! If you go to the actual provincial website, it states May 1 for vehicle access to parks. It also states that “no washrooms or garbage pickup will be available within provincial parks at this time. These services will be available as soon as Alberta Environment and Parks brings staff back.” With hope, people will behave responsibly and leave no trace.
    https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70217037B8E9C-C319-32CC-240D33487895E4F7

    Thanks, Kinga. I’ve updated my story with the link you provided. -Bob

    • There is a note on the Kananaskis Trails Report page that the vault toilets are open, but to bring your own TP and hand santizer. Copied and pasted from their page:

      Notes:

      Vault Toilets are open, however visitors should plan to bring their own sanitary supplies, including paper and sanitizer.
      Be wildlife aware! Traveling in groups, making noise on trail, keeping pets on leash and carrying bear spray is highly recommended. See the Wildlife Safety page for more information.
      Tick season is here once again. Tuck your pant legs into your socks, and check yourself and your pets for ticks after leaving a grassy or wooded area where ticks may live.

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