Parks Canada has expanded area closures in Banff National Park as wildfire risk reduction work continues around Tunnel Mountain.
Crews working on the Tunnel Toe Wildfire Risk Reduction Project have completed 70.3 hectares of forest thinning in Block A and are now proceeding into a 10-hectare section of Block B. The agency says recent snowfall and ongoing winter conditions have allowed the project to move ahead of schedule.
The new closure, issued March 21, applies to land between Peyto Pit Road, The Toe (Hoodoos) trail, and The Toe (Stinky D) trail. The Tunnel Bench Loop (Teddy Bear’s Picnic), Super G, Wolf Skat Alley and upper Stinky D trails are also closed. The order remains in place until May 25, 2025.
Block A remains closed under a separate order issued in December 2024. That closure covers a broader area between Tunnel Mountain Road, Peyto Pit Road, and the Coastline Trail, including large sections of The Toe trail system and Teddy Bear’s Picnic trail. That order remains in effect until at least July 1, 2025.
Closures are enforced under Section 36(1) of the National Parks General Regulations, and violators may be fined up to $25,000.
The full Tunnel Toe project spans 211.5 hectares and is aimed at reducing forest fuel loads to lower wildfire risk to Banff, Harvie Heights and Canmore. Mechanical thinning, log hauling and prescribed burning are ongoing, and smoke may be visible in the area. Parks Canada says burning will only take place when conditions are safe.
The Tunnel Toe project is part of a broader wildfire mitigation strategy that includes up to 1,413 additional hectares of fuel reduction work planned within 15 kilometres of the Banff townsite. Work is expected to continue through the winter of 2026.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.