Banff is planning to move ahead with its Canada Day Parade July 1 as the official kick-off to the summer tourist season, and Parks Canada has worked around the clock to get the Trans-Canada Highway now open.
But Banff’s backcountry is a different story, with initial fly-overs revealing bridges and trails have been washed away as torrential rains from the Great Divide to the front ranges turned mountain streams into raging torrents.
“We still don’t know the extent of the damage to backcountry infrastructure because it’s so far-reaching, ” said Michelle Macullo, Parks Canada’s public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park.
“We have to do an inventory of pretty much everything -- trails, bridges, campgrounds, cabins, dams. There will be a big list and we can’t even begin to talk about costs. ”
Backcountry camping is currently unavailable until further notice. Crews have not yet been able to get into all wilderness campgrounds to do a full assessment.
Many trails in the Banff area are closed or inaccessible, including some closer to the townsite such as Spray River Loop and Goat Creek where bridges have been washed out.
The Lake Louise area, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper national parks were much less hard hit by the rain storms of last week, offering the best options for hiking at this time.
The access road to Lake O’Hara has also re-opened. The road there reportedly has a washout approximately one metre deep and five metres wide.
Highway 93 North was closed due to a big mudslide but has also since reopened.
“Things were very fluid and were constantly changing, but we are now transitioning from response to recovery, and none of this is going to happen overnight, ” said Macullo.
Healy Creek ran through the middle of Sunshine Village’s parking lot.
Part of the access road to Sunshine also collapsed by the forces of water.
Sunshine Village could not be reached for comment, but their information on Facebook says an emergency cleanup is underway at the base of the mountains.
“There has been no major damage to the resort’s gondola, lifts or buildings, ” they wrote. “We anticipate opening for hiking at Sunshine Village by mid-July. ”
There are also reports that Warner Guiding and Outfitting’s backcountry cabins were heavily affected by the flooding.
At press time, Warner’s, which offers everything from trail rides along the Bow River and Spray River, to backcountry wilderness trips, was unsure of how they have been affected.
One of their backcountry cabins, Sundance Lodge, sits on Brewster Creek.
“As for the backcountry, at this point we don’t know, ” said Amanda Markey, Warner’s office manager.
Tim Nokes, whose family owns Johnston Canyon Resort on the Bow Valley Parkway, said there are areas of the popular canyon trail that were compromised below the lower falls.
The trail has since reopened. The resort is also open.
“The trail fared quite well and the resort itself is fine. The water was rushing over the catwalks on the trail and large logs have dislodged some of the trail structure, though it’s not too significant, ” said Nokes.
“There are massive log jams within the canyon that I’ve never seen ever before in my life. There were massive trees that came down there. ”
Meanwhile, Parks Canada has opened the Trans-Canada Highway.
Work continues to repair three flood-damaged bridges along the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway between Banff and Canmore.
At Carrot Creek, just inside the park’s east gate, construction of a detour road and temporary replacement bridge is underway after the raging waters of the creek knocked out the westbound lanes.
At two other locations, an animal underpass and at 40-Mile Creek, Macullo said undermined foundations and erosion created by the flooding are also being repaired.
Roads shut down following the storm have now been re-opened - Kootenay Parkway (Highway 93 South) and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North), as well as all four lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Banff.
Banff Lake Louise Tourism sent out a message that Banff is open for business.
Many of Banff’s key attractions such as the gondolas at Lake Louise and Banff, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the Icefields Parkway and Lake Louise are all open.
“We have been an extremely lucky community, but Banff is open for business, ” said Julie Canning, president and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors for the July long weekend and throughout the summer. ”
The Town of Banff plans to move ahead with the Canada Day parade July 1, which typically sees more than 50,000 people, plus residents, throng to downtown Banff for the festivities.
This year’s festivities include a pancake breakfast, sidewalk art, artisan market, family fun zone, and old-fashioned games. The parade kicks off at 5 p.m. and is followed by an evening of live music and dancing in Central Park.
“We are Canada’s first national park and it’s important we recognize this, ” said Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen. “We want to continue to offer a great visitor experience for those visitors who are here for Canada Day and for our residents. ”
Many campgrounds in the park are open, including Tunnel Mountain Village, Lake Louise, Rampart Creek and Mosquito Creek. Campgrounds in nearby national parks are also open, including Kicking Horse and Takakkaw Falls in Yoho and Redstreak in Kootenay.
Check Parks Canada’s website for the latest openings.
