The good news is that Canada is making big investments in its national parks ahead of the country’s 150th anniversary in 2017. The bad news is that infrastructure projects will require closures at Waterton Lakes National Park this spring and summer.
Three of the park’s scenic roads will be affected throughout the year, with the 16-kilometer Akamina Parkway and Cameron Lake Day Use Area closed all summer, from April 30 until November. Parks Canada is pursuing a complimentary shuttle service to ensure continued access to trails along the Akamina Parkway, including Carthew-Alderson and Summit Lake. However, the Lakeshore Trail at Cameron Lake will not be accessible during construction.
The Red Rock Parkway will reopen on weekends starting May 6 as road work and the replacement of culverts is finalized. Visitors can drive the road from 2 p.m. Fridays to 4 p.m. Sundays, with an extension to 4 p.m. Monday, May 23, for the holiday weekend. The parkway is expected to be open seven days a week on June 17. The parkway could be closed for up to three weeks in the fall to finalize any road work not completed in the spring.
Repairs along Chief Mountain Highway will continue from May 1 until July 31. Work will resume on the north end of the road and progress south. The highway will remain open for public use, but 20-minute delays may occur during the project, so allow extra time for travel.
Subject to confirmation, the viewing platforms at Blakiston Falls will be closed for replacement until June, and the Blakiston Falls Trail will be temporarily closed for one week to repair a portion of the path. During that time, access to the Tamarack Trail will be available through the Snowshoe Trail. Timing for this work is dependent on a number of factors, including weather. Confirmed dates will be communicated once available.
In addition, some streets in Waterton townsite will have temporary closures for upgrade projects, though access to Cameron Falls will remain open. Longer term, the park is planning a new visitor center to be opened in central Waterton in 2019.
Updates will be posted on the Waterton Lakes website as information is confirmed or changes.
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