Alberta Parks has posted a bear closure for Kent Ridge North and the James Walker drainage in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park effective November 30, 2025, after confirming a grizzly bear is denning in the area. The closure removes access to route-travel to Mount Chesmill, Mount Inflexible and Mount James Walker and remains in place “until further notice” to give the bear space and reduce the chance of dangerous surprise encounters. (See the full advisory from Alberta Parks.)
The park authority says the closure covers the named ridges and drainages and that a map of the affected area is available with the advisory. Park users — hikers, mountaineers, backcountry users, guides and hunters who head into the Canmore/Bow Valley corridor — are being asked to avoid the closed routes while the bear is active near its den. Sightings and incidents should be reported to Alberta Parks at 403-591-7755, the advisory notes.
Alberta Parks reiterated basic bear-safety steps: make plenty of noise, travel in groups, keep pets leashed, carry bear spray, and secure attractants like food, garbage or scented items in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof lockers. The advisory also warns that bears can be encountered at any time, even where advisories are posted.
Hunters in the region should take particular note. Peter Lougheed is a provincial park where hunting and the discharge of firearms are generally prohibited; anyone unsure about where hunting is allowed should consult Alberta Parks’ hunting guidance before planning travel. Adjacent areas outside provincial parks can have different rules, so hunters are being reminded to check maps and permits carefully.
The closure follows a pattern of temporary trail and route closures around Kananaskis when grizzlies are denning or frequently using high-traffic routes. A similar denning-related closure was posted for the Rawson Lake/Sarrail Ridge area in early December 2025. Experts say denning bears can still be active around the mouth of a den, especially on warmer days in late winter or early spring. Kevin Van Tighem, former superintendent of Banff National Park, explained: “This time of year in particular, as the days get longer and brighter, and you get some spells of good weather, bears will start to stir a little bit, come out, maybe hang around the mouth of the den and go back in,” which raises the chance of encounters if people come too close.
Local businesses and guides in Canmore and the Bow Valley may see short-term disruption to guided trips that normally use the affected routes. Alberta Parks manages closures to balance public access with wildlife protection and visitor safety; the advisory notes the closure remains in effect ‘until further notice’ and will be updated on the Alberta Parks advisories page when conditions change.
Anyone planning backcountry travel in Peter Lougheed or the surrounding Kananaskis country should check the Alberta Parks advisories page for the latest closures and follow the instructions in the advisory before heading out.
