Kananaskis Closed

[vantheman]

I've heard rumours that Kananaskis may be closed all summer. Does anyone know more about this? Please tell me it's not true :(

[Scott N]

I'd be surprised if it was closed for an extended length of time, but I could be wrong. Where did you hear this rumour?

[vantheman]

I overheard a group of cyclists talking matter-of-factly about it while I was out for lunch. I hope you're right.

[ericlin0122]

i hope not...

[alacringa]

I hope not, too...but if bridges are washed out, replacing them could take that long; as with other places. Makes me very sad that so many of the areas that I love to fish might remain inaccessible until next year. Hoping that some are at least open in time for the hunting season.

[Calgaryguy1977]

I can see the 66 being closed all summer......the bridge is completely gone there between mclean and allen bill. That said, I have a hard time believing kananaskis trail would be closed all summer. I dont know if there is even any real road damage there. I think part of it is they dont want people trying to go into canmore from the back way. Anyone know?

[vantheman]

I heard that part of the Smith-Dorrien Trail got washed away...

[rossi]

Reading on twitter the golf course is closed for season. No mention of the park being closed for the 2013 season. Looks like bridge just before mt kidd washed away also looks like area by Galetia washed away. Were suppose to be going to mt kidd tomorrow think I will change mind and head to Northern Sask. Have made several attempts to contact Mt Kidd RV Park and have had no luck so far.

[Pikecrazed]

Well worst case is we all get in shape and hike in for some unpressured fish

[vantheman]

Does anyone know if Spray Lakes Campground is open this year? What about Canyon, Elkwood, Boulton Creek etc.?

[Bigdad013]

www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=596609623706637

[vantheman]

Wow :(

[fedfred]

They are still assessing damage. You can check here for more info:

http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/

[Nakoda boater]

They are still assessing damage. You can check here for more info:

http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/

I wonder if one could come in through Longview to get to the lakes?...

[vantheman]

I have a feeling the damage on that side might be worse with the Highwood and all...

[Daceminnow]

I wonder if one could come in through Longview to get to the lakes?...

I have a feeling the damage on that side might be worse with the Highwood and all...


To my knowledge according to different emergency personnel working in the foothills area the first section of hwy 532 that no longer exists is at Sentinel which is located east of the Higwood House. This means no access to the FTR from the north end as well.

Dace

[fedfred]

Update on public access to Kananaskis Country

The following highways remain closed to public access:

Hwy. 40 in Kananaskis Country
Hwy. 66 west of the Elbow River
Hwy. 541 west of the Kananaskis Country boundary
Hwy. 940 south of the Highwood River
Hwy. 742 (Smith Dorrien Spray Trail)
Hwy. 546 west of Sandy McNabb campground
Hwy. 532 west of Hwy. 22
Hwy. 68 between Hwy. 40 & Powderface Trail
McLean Creek Trail
Powderface Trail
Work continues to establish temporary vehicle access over washouts & missing bridges so that people evacuated from Evan-Thomas campground, Kananaskis Village & areas in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park can return & gather their possessions.

For further information please call 403-678-5500 ext. 222.

FROM: http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/advisories-public-safety/advisories/southern-alberta-flooding-situation.aspx

[KWO]

My dad and some family members were choppered out on Sunday. They were told to expect a month before they would be allowed back into get their trucks, campers, etc.

[michaelmicallef]

That is really depressing. That area is one of my favourite areas to fish. It looks like trout fishing in the Calgary area in general is going to be sad this summer. Well the good thing is that the road has to be repaired so TransAlta and other maintenace crews can get around in that area. If recreation was the only reason for that road than I would suspect that it would be a long wait for the road to reopen. Could be worse though as I know people that have lost everything. Even there pets.

[Heavy K]

Highways 66, 68 and 40 are washed out in more places than you could ever count. On the south side, at Sentinel day use, the road is gone, replaced by the river. Couldn't get up into the Smith-Dorrien but I would expect it's no different there. Allen Bill pond has simply vanished. The only evidence of it's existence is the parking lot on the side of the road.

I suspect you won't be getting into K-country without a packraft and a mountain bike for much of this summer.

HK

[seahawkfisher]

the golf courses will be closed for at least 2 years. The sod looks like rolled up carpet, all the sand is gone, everything's gone

[buckman]

Good, the golf course should never have been built in the first place.I say leave it alone and let it go back to the wild it once was.

Just an abuse of amazing wild-land for the golfers,no use for anyone else.

And yes I do golf.

[Mark]

Not to cause controversy, but I DO NOT golf, but I think there's enough land for everybody, including one golf course in K-counrty. Besides it good for the economy and tourism.

Just me 2cents.

[kevinhits]

Not to cause controversy, but I DO NOT golf, but I think there's enough land for everybody, including one golf course in K-counrty. Besides it good for the economy and tourism.

Just me 2cents.

Totally agree...You need a golf course to attract some tourists to the area...Just like a Ski Hill as well

[fedfred]

I don't golf and I don't see a problem with having a course in nice scenery. Golf courses probably create far less destruction than ski hills anyway.

It's a bummer that we won't be able to get back into the Kananaskis for a while though. On the up side, the animals will have time to enjoy it without us pesky humans.

[vantheman]

Thanks everyone for all the information! Please continue to post here when you become aware of ANY updates. I'd really like to hit Spray this year!!!!

[ericlin0122]

it's really sad. The pictures are posted on kananaskis web site. http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country.aspx.
Scroll down the page to see the pictures inside google map.
It looks like months away before we can hit spray/upper/lower k lakes.

[seahawkfisher]

if it wasn't for the golf course / lodge they probably wouldn't fix anything down that road past the dam... that would make for a heck of a hike to some marginal fishing spots

[ironbutterfly]

To my knowledge according to different emergency personnel working in the foothills area the first section of hwy 532 that no longer exists is at Sentinel which is located east of the Higwood House. This means no access to the FTR from the north end as well.

Dace

mother****.

[MoFugger21]

FYI:
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/MoFugger21/kananaskisclosures_zpse716d6f6.png (http://s742.photobucket.com/user/MoFugger21/media/kananaskisclosures_zpse716d6f6.png.html)
(Taken from: http://albertaparks.ca/media/4093799/kc-facility-closure-status-map.pdf)

[Okotokian]

Anyone reconsidering their draw applications for 406??????????

[burbotman]

Anyone reconsidering their draw applications for 406??????????

Yup, was going to put in for antlered mule and elk. Sometimes procrastination pays off

Although for those that have the means there could be some great hunting

[jacenbeers]

Anyone reconsidering their draw applications for 406??????????

I put in for Antlered WT in the zone and I now wish I 999ed it.

[Okotokian]

I put in for Antlered WT in the zone and I now wish I 999ed it.
You still can. Today is last day to change it.

[32-40win]

I would expect there are no campgrounds left, along the Elbow or the Sheep or the Highwood drainages, unless they were on high ground. From some of the pics I've seen, there are lots of sections of missing roadways. Was reading tonite, they rescued 250 people from 43 campgrounds. I would expect that Fisher and Threepoint took out the Maclean road south to Millarville. Wondering what happened along the trunk road and a few others south of Hwy 40, Racehorse and Livingston, etc.

[Sean84]

I would expect there are no campgrounds left, along the Elbow or the Sheep or the Highwood drainages, unless they were on high ground. From some of the pics I've seen, there are lots of sections of missing roadways. Was reading tonite, they rescued 250 people from 43 campgrounds. I would expect that Fisher and Threepoint took out the Maclean road south to Millarville. Wondering what happened along the trunk road and a few others south of Hwy 40, Racehorse and Livingston, etc.

All campgrounds along those rivers are still there, im at gooseberry campground right now, directly beside the elbow. It did lose a few sites though. Sandy Mcnabb is full right now, blue rock is closed only due to some road damage. And the only reason anything above mclean creek is closed is because of the bridge being down.

[vantheman]

Does anyone have suggestions for alternative campgrounds? I usually do Spray/Canyon 5 times a year or so...

[Calgaryguy1977]

Does anyone have suggestions for alternative campgrounds? I usually do Spray/Canyon 5 times a year or so...

Id head to the Caroline area....a lot of great campgrounds and fishing!

[vantheman]

Thanks! I'll definitely check this area out!