51°µÍø

All Parks Canada camping, group activities and events have been cancelled until at least May 31 to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

In Jasper, the closed visitor facilities are Wapiti, Wabasso, Pocahontas, Overflow, Snaring, Kerkeslin, Honeymoon Lake, Jonas, and Icefields Centre RV campgrounds; Miette Hot Springs; Jasper Information Centre; Columbia Icefield information desk; and Jasper Administration Office.

Seasonal roads which will also remain closed in Jasper until at least June are: Lake Annette, Highway 93A between Whirlpool group camping and Geraldine Lakes Road, Geraldine Lakes Road, Moab Lake Road, Pyramid Beach Road, and Celestine Lake Road.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks Canada is continuing to provide critical services to Jasper including highway maintenance and snow removal, fire response, search and rescue, avalanche control, and law enforcement.

Reminders

Spring avalanche conditions

• The spring melt has started along the Icefields Parkway. With the warmer temperatures, there is potential for increased avalanche hazards and avalanche control work, which may result in sudden and temporary road closures from now until the beginning of May.

Highways and Parkway

• Maligne Lake Road, beyond Maligne Canyon, is closed to all access, by a restricted activity order, until further notice. This includes vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
• Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) remain open. Check  for the most up-to-date road information.
• Only a small number of washrooms are being maintained regularly on roadways in the park. Hand sanitizer has been temporarily removed due to continued theft of this limited commodity, so please bring your own.

Physical distancing

• Limit the spread of COVID-19 by respecting the advice of public health experts to stay home and avoid public gatherings.
• If you must leave your home, always keep your distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, for reasons like:
  • Shopping for what you need, including food, medications, fuel and supplies
  • Working or study if you can’t do it at home
  • Exercising close to home
  • Your own health care

Dogs, wildlife and people

• Keep yourself and your pet safe from wildlife by keeping your dog on a leash at all times. This is the best way to avoid a potentially dangerous situation between dogs and bears, wolves, coyotes, and elk that are in and around the townsite.
• Loose dog have a negative impact on others’ park experience - keep your dog on a leash.
• Bears, wolves, coyotes and elk are in and around the townsite and they can be aggressive towards dogs in particular.
• Open grassy areas like the Jasper Airfield and Buffalo Prairie are key ground-nesting areas for birds - stick to the trails and keep your dog on a leash.
• Wolves have started denning at this time of year and they need space to raise healthy cubs. Wolves will attack dogs that are near their den.

Dispatch services

• Please do not call Parks Canada’s Emergency Dispatch Centre for questions about what Parks Canada is doing in response to the pandemic - this line assists in emergency services, in the management of safety, wildlife, or wildfire incidents. In case of an emergency, call 911.