Alberta Parks Charges 13 People for Entering Restricted Grassi Lakes Area Amid Rockfall Risk

Alberta Parks has taken enforcement action against visitors who ignored safety closures at one of the province’s most popular outdoor destinations, charging 13 individuals for entering restricted areas around Grassi Lakes while another two people received official warnings.

The enforcement comes as authorities continue to deal with an ongoing rockfall hazard that has forced the closure of the Grassi Lakes day use area, surrounding hiking trails and a section of Spray Lakes Road near Canmore.

Officials say the restrictions remain in place to protect public safety while crews carry out large scale rock stabilization work following a significant rockslide earlier this summer. Heavy rainfall in early June triggered a slide that sent massive boulders and debris onto Highway 742, prompting emergency closures and detailed geological inspections.

Subsequent assessments identified unstable rock formations on the slopes surrounding the highway and hiking trails. Engineers determined that several sections remain at immediate risk of further rockfall, making it unsafe for visitors to access the area until mitigation work is complete.

Conservation officers said people entering the restricted zones are placing themselves in serious danger. The risks have increased because contractors are actively removing loose rock from steep slopes above the roadway. During these operations, falling debris can travel beyond the highway and reach nearby trails, creating potentially life threatening conditions for anyone inside the closure zone.

Authorities also noted that every time an unauthorized person enters the restricted area, construction crews must immediately suspend work until officials confirm the individual has safely left the site. These interruptions not only increase safety concerns but also delay progress on the stabilization project.

Under Alberta’s Provincial Parks Act, entering a closed park area without authorization is prohibited. Officials confirmed that 13 people have been formally charged while two others received warnings. Although Alberta Parks has not disclosed the specific penalties being sought, the legislation allows for significant fines, with maximum penalties reaching up to $100,000 for individuals convicted of serious violations.

The current closures include the Grassi Lakes day use area, the interpretive trail, the upper Grassi Lakes trail, the Reclaimer Trail and a section of Highway 742 extending between the Grassi Lakes parking area and the Goat Creek trailhead.

With the August long weekend expected to bring thousands of visitors to the Bow Valley, Alberta Parks is urging the public to respect all barricades, warning signs and road closures. Officials are encouraging hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to choose alternative destinations rather than attempting to access the restricted area.

The province is continuing extensive rockfall mitigation efforts that involve removing hundreds of cubic metres of unstable rock, securing vulnerable cliff faces with rock bolts and installing temporary protective barriers to reduce future hazards.

If weather conditions remain favourable, officials expect the engineering work to be completed by the middle of August. However, they caution that reopening Grassi Lakes and surrounding trails will depend on final safety assessments conducted by transportation officials and geotechnical engineers.

Until those inspections confirm the area is safe, Alberta Parks is reminding visitors that the closures remain in full effect and that respecting them is essential for both public safety and the timely completion of the stabilization project.

Courtesy: rmoutlook