The trail leading to Athabasca Falls is undergoing a partial closure this week to accommodate much needed repairs.
The concrete stairs at the pedestrian bridge are being replaced. This partial closure is required for public safety and will provide crews and equipment the space needed to pour concrete and allow it to set properly.
The closure is in effect between June 10 and 16. During this time, the Athabasca Falls day-use area will remain open and accessible. Visitors will still be able to view the falls from the trail between the parking area and the pedestrian bridge. Everyone is asked to follow the posted signage and heed the directions of personnel on site during this time.
This repair comes on the heels of a temporary closure of the Sunwapta Falls bridge that happened on June 5. There, the main bridge was fully closed to all public traffic for one day. This measure was put into place to offer a Parks Canada trades crew the space that it needed to replace some boards at the base of the bridge and on the railing.
Public safety measures prevented all public traffic to the area. Backcountry permit holders were granted access to Big Bend and Athabasca Crossing backcountry campsites, although day hikers were not granted access to limit traffic on the bridge during repairs.
The work is all fairly routine, said Jasper National Park’s public relations and communications officer Kevin Gedling via an email statement sent to the Fitzhugh.
“As for the work happening at Athabasca Falls, it’s just part of our standard maintenance,” Gedling said.
“The stairs on this section have reached the point they are no longer suitable for traffic. Due to this we are going to fix this issue this week. The remainder of the concrete stairs are in great shape to last for years to come.”
The trail at Athabasca Falls is expected to fully reopen on Monday, June 17.
Athabasca Falls is the largest waterfall by volume in the Canadian Rockies and one of the most iconic sites in Jasper National Park.
