KANANASKIS COUNTRY – The popular Grassi Lakes trail and day-use area will experience multiple closures throughout summer for erosion mitigation.
Temporary closures will take place May 21 to July 31 to allow workers to re-establish drainage ditches, up-size culverts and repair the trail surface.
“We recognize the construction and associated closures are inconvenient; however, they are necessary,” states an advisory from Alberta Parks.
From May 21 to June 2 and June 7 to July 31, hikers will still be able to access the lakes using the Grassi Lakes interpretive trail. The advisory warns the interpretive trail contains steep sections and stairs that hikers will be required to navigate both up and down.
A short-term closure from June 3 to 6 will close both the Upper Grassi Lakes trail, the interpretive trail, the main parking lot and the overflow parking lot.
Climbers will also have to obey the closure of three routes in the Graceland climbing area at Grassi Lakes.
The specific routes closed are: You Ain’t Nothing But a Hang Dog, Memphis and It’s Now or Never.
The closure is in place for an owl nesting site and is effective until further notice.
Roam transit recently launched its new Route 12 to Grassi Lakes, which runs Fridays to Sundays and on Holidays for the summer only. The bus offers public transit for people along Bow Valley Trail, Spring Creek Mountain Village and downtown Canmore to Quarry Lake, the Canmore Nordic Centre and Grassi Lakes. It is set to be a three-year pilot program.
In 2022, Grassi Lakes was closed for the entire summer to undergo upgrades for the trails, parking and public transit. The project also included Goat Creek day-use area and cost more than $4 million.
Line painting will take place as well in K-Country on Highway 40 and the Ghost Reservoir day-use area from May 27 until further notice.
Visitors looking for an alternative can seek guidance at the Kananaskis Information Centre in the Canmore Visitor Centre or by calling the information line at 403-678-0760.
