Seasonal restrictions on the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park help protect wildlife between dusk and dawn/Parks Canada

To minimize disturbance for sensitive wildlife between dusk and dawn, the mandatory seasonal travel restriction on the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park began March 1 and runs to June 25.

The restriction runs between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on the 17-kilometre (11-mile) section of the parkway from Trans-Canada Highway (#1)/Bow Valley Parkway interchange (Fireside Picnic Area) to Johnston Canyon Campground. It applies to all modes of travel, including motor vehicle, bicycle, foot traffic and more. Emergency services, law enforcement and designated Parks Canada staff can access the area  for emergency purposes only.

All businesses and commercial accommodations remain accessible by the Trans-Canada Highway and the junction of the Bow Valley Parkway and Highway 93 South (Castle Junction). This restriction also applies to the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience that begins on May 1 at 8 a.m. Cyclists can’t access the parkway between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

“Enabling bears, wolves and other carnivores to safely use important habitat and movement corridors without displacement or risk of habituation is a priority for the agency,” Parks Canada said in a news release. The restriction “is part of a larger action plan to ensure the ecologically and culturally rich Bow Valley Parkway area continues as a world-class setting for visitors to learn about and experience the park and be a safe and secure environment for wildlife.”