Some Albertans who regularly bike, climb, hike or photograph Moraine Lake in Banff National Park say the decision by Parks Canada to ban private vehicles on its access road was long overdue.
The federal agency has announced that visitors will need their own shuttles, regional transit or commercial vehicles to access the iconic blue alpine lake and its surrounding climbing routes and hiking trails. The tag of people with disabilities is hung in their vehicle and those who want to ride a bike will be allowed to use the road.
Environmental groups say this is a good start to protect the park’s ecological integrity. Others, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have raised concerns that it could reduce access for visitors, especially those with canoes or large dogs, to the popular area near the hamlet of Lake Louise, Alta.
Parks Canada says it considered each user group and came up with a decision that could improve the overall visitor experience at Moraine Lake as thousands of vehicles were being turned away daily due to overcrowding.
The Alpine Club of Canada, a member-based association for outdoor enthusiasts, supports the decision.
The association’s Keith Heberl said, “Something had to be done.” “It was very unstable.”
Parks Canada to close road access to Moraine Lake in summer
Protesters, supporters clash at Coquitlam, BC Public Library during drag queen story time
This week, the club sent a notice to its members about Lake Moraine, which includes climbers and climbers.
This highlighted visitor growth in the area which has a luxury lodge and canoe rental, as well as a trailhead for hikes. This area, it’s noted, is also busier in fall, when the larch trees turn a brilliant gold and make the hike a destination for photographers. Moraine Lake is also a starting point for rock climbing and one of the Alpine Club’s backcountry huts.
Haberl said the association has received some complaints from members.
“Most are either selfish in saying ‘it doesn’t quite suit me’… or they don’t understand the situation,” he said, adding that some people were misinformed about the restrictions.
The shuttle’s hours may make it difficult for early risers, but he said he expects commercial operators to fill any gaps.
John Marriott, a professional photographer from Canmore, Alta., said he used to go to Moraine Lake to photograph sunrises until about six years ago.
“I arrived in semi-darkness and there were already 50 cars in the parking lot,” he recalled. “I actually turned around and left.”
Marriott compared it to a traffic jam caused by people stopping on the side of the road to watch the bear.
“Moraine Lake … is the worst,” he said. “Lake Lewis is just a little bit behind. And Bow Lake is up there and Johnson Canyon is up there. There’s just overflowing parking lots everywhere.
Marriott said he believes it is influenced by social-media, which sees people going on an approach just to take selfies.
“I don’t think there’s any way to reach out and educate people before they get here or when they get here, and so I think Parks Canada has to step in,” he said. “They have to further protect and conserve tourism in specific instances where tourism is starting to make a loss and it’s starting to not be a good experience.”
The move was a recommendation from a Parks Canada expert advisory panel made up of transportation, recreation and tourism experts, which was looking at how to permanently relocate people to Banff National Park.
Its report, which received 15 submissions from affected groups, is taking public input until early February.
“Banff National Park is Canada’s most popular national park and one of the country’s most important tourist destinations,” the report said. “More than four million people visit the park each year and visitation increases every year.”
It notes that there was a 29 percent increase in visitors between 2010 and 2019. Some roads around Lake Louise have seen a 71 percent increase in traffic volume over a decade.
No one from Lake Louise & Banff Tourism could be reached for comment, but its president and CEO sent submissions to the expert panel and other tourism associations and businesses.
Bill Keeling, who runs Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise, said the area has been “under siege” for 15 summers.
“It’s cruel to visitors, it’s cruel to local people, it’s not good for business and, in my opinion, the parks are finally going in a good direction.”
Keeling said she had a great experience at Zion National Park in Utah six years ago.
“You go on the bus or you go on your bike — and it’s awesome,” he said, adding that bus service is free with park passes.
Keeling said Parks Canada should increase the frequency of its shuttles so it can add more than 200 locations this year. Last year, 2,500 people took the shuttle and 900 private vehicles were allowed to park at Moraine Lake each day.
“I don’t see the math on that,” he said.
But Keeling said the move would benefit his business because it rents out e-bikes – although he expects other bike rental options and some taxi companies to start up.
Overall, he said, it is a positive decision.
“It should be an improvement because, by the time you get to Moraine Lake, it won’t be a traffic jam.”