JASPER – Although most of Jasper National Park has reopened since last summer’s wildfire, visitors won't be able to access three popular areas for now.
Cavell Road, Maligne Canyon and the Valley of the Five Lakes will remain closed until further notice as Parks Canada continues to work on and assess wildfire damage.
“Given the extent of damage following the wildfire and the scope of the rehabilitation work ahead, Parks Canada will maintain these closures until further notice,” the agency stated in a Thursday (June 26) update.
“We understand how special these areas are to our community and visitors and we’re committed to restoring safe access,” it added.
Because these closed areas have significant slopes and/or roadways, Parks Canada says slope stability and roadway safety standards must be met before these areas can be reopened.
The next steps will involve hazardous tree removal, detailed geotechnical analysis and infrastructure design, engineering and rebuild.
“Parks Canada is working with technical experts and will engage stakeholders as appropriate as we focus on restoring access, and ultimately, building for Jasper National Park’s future,” the agency added.
Maligne Canyon is one of the most iconic and accessible attractions in the park. The public can still access the nearby Maligne Lookout or travel further up Maligne Lake Road to visit Medicine Lake and the Maligne Lake area.
The Valley of the Five Lakes offers a scenic hike south of the townsite, while Cavell Road is the primary way to access Mount Edith Cavell and view Angel Glacier.
Before travelling to Jasper National Park, visitors are encouraged to check the for more details on which areas are open.
