Wildfire prompts closure of sections of Banff and Kootenay National Parks

A mountainous backcountry area along the Alberta and British Columbia border has been closed to the public as a wildfire rages on.

According to Parks Canada, a fire in the Verdant Creek region of B.C. has raised public safety concerns in an area east of Highway 93 and south of the Trans-Canada Highway. The closed area includes:

• Whistling Valley Trail
• Pharaoh Creek trail
• Trails in the vicinity of Egypt Lake
• Trails in the vicinity of Healy Pass

Backcountry camping permits in the closed area are void until further notice and Parks Canada staff is evacuating backcountry users from trails and campsites.

At this time, Highway 93 remains open to traffic.

For updated information on the wildfire and closures, visit Kootenay National Park warnings and closures or Banff National Park important bulletins.

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  Closed areas of Kootenay and Banff National Parks related to Verdant Creek wildfire as of July 15, 2017 (Map courtesy: Parks Canada)