In order to limit the spread of COVID-19, Parks Canada is asking anyone considering a visit to a Parks Canada location to cancel their plans. All visitor services and facilities remain closed and all motor vehicle access by visitors is suspended until further notice.
For people living in Jasper National Park, this means:
Town
- Access to national park residents’ homes and Jasper remains unchanged.
- Critical services in Jasper continue to be accessible to residents and through traffic.
- The Jasper Transfer Station is open with regular hours of operation. Please comply with the Jasper Transfer Station guidelines.
- Residents of the national park can continue to enjoy the outdoors while closely following the direction and advice of health authorities to keep physical distance and limit non-essential travel.
Roads
- Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) remain open. Check www.511.alberta.ca for the most up-to-date road information.
- Many washrooms are closed. There is a reduced number of washrooms being cleaned regularly along Highway 16 and Highway 93.
- Maligne Lake Road, beyond Maligne Canyon, is closed to all access (including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians) until further notice.
- Other secondary roads are open at this time but are under review.
- The gate to Lake Annette and Lake Edith day-use areas is now closed.
Trails
- Trails remain open. Residents are expected to practice physical distancing and are strongly encouraged to limit their use of the park at this time.
- If you encounter a crowded parking lot, trailhead, or overlook, please go elsewhere.
- Grooming of cross-country ski trails is finished for the season and Whirlpool Winter Hub is closed.
- Trail conditions are no longer being monitored and the trail report is no longer being updated.
- Bears are making their way out of hibernation. If you're out on the trails, make sure to stay alert, make noise, and carry your bear spray.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Backcountry
- Parks Canada strongly discourages all backcountry activities. Parks Canada will no longer be issuing public avalanche bulletins for the remainder of the 2020 spring season.
- Please stay home to help limit the spread of COVID-19, and to minimize demands placed on emergency response teams and the health care system.
"These actions are intended to significantly reduce visitation and respect the advice of public health experts to stay home and avoid public gatherings," said Parks Canada spokesman Steve Young.
"The health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and Parks Canada team members is of the utmost importance to the agency."
Parks Canada is continuing critical services the community of Jasper including highway maintenance and snow removal, fire response, search and rescue, and avalanche control.
