More trails and facilities are being closed in Banff and Kootenay national parks as crews work to contain the Verdant Creek wildfire burning in the area.
The fire, which has doubled in size since last week to cover 11,000 hectares, continues to prove stubborn for firefighters working on the west side of the continental divide.
As of Thursday, Aug. 3, the following areas are closed:
- Kootenay National Park: Area northwest of Honeymoon Pass Trail including Hawk Creek Trail and Kootenay Park Lodge
- Banff National Park: Area to Ball Pass from Whistling Valley Trail junction
More closures are on the way, though, as Parks Canada works proactively to ensure the safety of visitors as well as to prevent more fires from starting.
Click here for the latest alerts related to the Verdant Creek wildfire and Banff National Park
As of Saturday, Aug. 5, the following areas will be closed:
- Kootenay National Park:
- Area northwest of Honeymoon Pass Trail including Hawk Creek Trail and Kootenay Park Lodge
- Portions of the Rockwall Trail – from Floe Lake trailhead on Highway 93 South to Tumbling Pass including Floe Lake and Numa Creek backcountry campgrounds
- Banff National Park:
- Ball Pass area from Whistling Pass Junction
- Sunshine Village and Sunshine Village Road
- All Egypt Lake area trails, including Healy Pass, Citadel Pass and Sunshine Meadows
- Brewster Creek area drainage
- Backcountry campgrounds Re16, E13, E5, Su8 and BW10
Shadow Lake Lodge and backcountry campgrounds Re6, Re14 and Re21 are still open.
A fire ban is also in place in Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national parks, as high temperatures and dry conditions have caused high fire danger.
Check albertafirebans.ca for the most up-to-date information or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (1-866-394-3473)
Sunshine Village mountain resort in Banff is once again being transformed into a staging area for Parks Canada crews working on the fire. It’s expected the 80 firefighters will be moving in at about 8 p.m. Thursday.
Highway 93 was closed in both directions for some time Wednesday due to the smoke from the wildfire, however it opened late that evening.
Parks Canada said the highway continues to be affected though, and drivers should keep an eye out for temporary closures. Officials advise the best time to travel the highway over the coming long weekend is between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. MT.
You can check Drive BC and Alberta 511 for the latest traffic information
Parks Canada said while the fire still isn’t posing a threat to any communities in the area, people should expect more smoke in the region due to the fire fighting efforts and the high temperatures.