On March 21, 2026, Alberta Parks issued a safety alert for hikers and fat bikers in Canmore, Alberta, warning that recent snow has hidden dangerous layers of ice and increased the risk of falling trees.
Officials are urging everyone headed to the trails to carry microspikes and hiking poles to handle the slippery conditions. Treacherous ice has been reported on several popular routes, including Cloudline, the upper section of Grassi Lakes, Highline, Johnny’s, and the Montane Traverse.
Recent wildfire prevention work at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park has also changed how wind moves through the trees. The Town of Canmore and provincial partners completed the majority of the project in November 2025, but the removed trees have left the remaining forest more open to the wind. This has led to a higher chance of trees falling across trails like Backdoor and Killer Bees, which are currently closed.
The warning follows a broader safety alert from Avalanche Canada, which recently rated the avalanche risk in Kananaskis Country as high. Forecaster Tyson Rettie noted that even people on low-elevation trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing should be careful, as large steep slopes above can still pose a danger.
Residents are also reminded that the Pigeon Mountain and West Wind Valley trails are currently closed to help protect local elk and bighorn sheep. These annual closures remain in effect until June 15 to ensure the animals have a safe habitat during the winter and spring months.
