Overview

Public land and natural resources within these areas are managed under the Public Lands Act and the Public Lands Administration Regulation. Under this legislation, temporary or long-term closures of public land trails, areas and roads can be used to address public safety concerns and conservation objectives.

Current trail and area closures

Select an area or trail below to view full closure details.

  • Bighorn PLUZs

    For a detailed listing of closures in the Bighorn Public Land Use Zones (PLUZs), visit: Bighorn Backcountry – Trail and Area Updates

  • Jumpingpound Demonstration Day Use Area – Sibbald Snow Vehicle PLUZ

    Closure status Temporary
    Area affected Jumpingpound Demonstration Day Use Area is located within the Public Land Recreation Area (PLRA) and the Sibbald Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone in Kananaskis, south of Highway 68.
    Effective dates September 7 to December 22, 2023
    Details The day use area will be temporarily closed during construction to improve sustainable year-round recreational use of the area. Planned activities include redevelopment of the staging area and formalizing existing trailheads.

    The closure will impact the day use area, access roads, parking, the group use area and trailheads. Nearby trails outside of the closure area remain open.
    Resources Pursuant to Section 184(1) of the Public Lands Administration Regulation, access is forbidden to the following:

    Map – Jumpingpound Demonstration PLRA Temporary Area Closure (PDF, 1.1 MB)

  • Atlas Staging Area – Livingstone PLUZ

    Closure status Temporary
    Area affected Atlas Staging Area is on Atlas Road in Livingstone Public Land Use Zone.
    Effective dates September 11 to October 1, 2023
    Details This staging area will be temporarily closed for construction to improve user experience and sustainability of the area. Planned work includes enhancing and clearly identifying access to the existing designated motorized trail network. Random camping and off-highway vehicle (OHV) staging will not be permitted within the closure area.

    Atlas Road remains open to through traffic.
    Resources Pursuant to Section 184(1) of the Public Lands Administration Regulation, access is forbidden to the following:

    Map – Atlas Staging Area Temporary Closure (PDF, 6.3 MB)

  • McGillivray Staging Area – Livingstone PLUZ

    Closure status Temporary
    Area affected McGillivray Staging Area is located in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone
    Effective dates October 2 to 30, 2023
    Details This staging area will be temporarily closed for construction to improve user experience and sustainability of the area. Planned work includes enhancing and clearly identifying access to the existing designated motorized trail network. Random camping and OHV staging will not be permitted within the closure area.

    Access to Crowsnest Mountain Gun Club and Range will not be impacted.
    Resources Pursuant to Section 184(1) of the Public Lands Administration Regulation, access is forbidden to the following:

    Map – McGillivray Staging Area Temporary Closure (PDF, 7.4 MB)

  • Wapiabi Cave

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected The Wapiabi Cave is located north of Nordegg.
    Effective dates July 16, 2010 to present
    Details Wapiabi Cave is currently closed to reduce the risk of white-nose syndrome (WNS) infection in bats.

    Bats in these caves are susceptible to WNS, a fungus that has caused the mortality of large numbers of hibernating bats at caves in Eastern Canada and the United States.

    Public exploring the caves are suspected of introducing the fungus and infecting the bats.
    Resources Fact Sheet – White-Nose Syndrome in Alberta

    Advisories and news releases

Current road closures

Select a road below to view full closure details.

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 770462 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Licence of Occupation (LOC) 770462 Access Road
    Effective dates February 15, 2018 to present
    Details See Director’s Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Director's Order (PDF, 172 KB)

    Road Closure Map (PDF, 194 KB)

  • Licences of Occupation (LOC) 111519, 111600 and 111712 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected The LOC road is located northwest of MacKay River in Alberta’s Northeeast Region.
    Effective dates January 14, 2013 to present
    Details See Director’s Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Director’s Order 01/2013
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 100202 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected The LOC road is located south of Wolf Lake in Alberta’s Northeast Region.

    Legal land description: NW-21 and NE-20-065-07-W4
    Effective dates June 26, 2012 to present
    Details See Director’s Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Director's Order 01/2012
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 3803 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Legal land description: SW-35-87-11-W6
    Effective dates August 30, 1995 to present
    Details See Ministerial Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Ministerial Order
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 005466 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Legal land description: NW-17–96–06–W6
    Effective dates July 27, 1994 to present
    Details See Ministerial Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Ministerial Order
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 920770 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Legal land description: LSD 7–23–90–20–W5
    Effective dates January 13, 1994 to present
    Details See Ministerial Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Ministerial Order
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 930882 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Legal land description: LSD 3–13–93–01–W6
    Effective dates January 5, 1994 to present
    Details See Ministerial Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Ministerial Order
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

  • Licence of Occupation (LOC) 840059 Access Road

    Closure status Closed until further notice
    Area affected Legal land description: LSD 12–15–95–02–W6
    Effective dates November 1, 1991 to present
    Details See Ministerial Order in the Resources section below for full details.
    Resources Ministerial Order
    Contact District Offices – Northeast Region

Legislation

The provisions in the Public Lands Act and the Public lands Administration Regulation incorporate the best practices of what the department has always done when there was a need to close an area that includes:

  • Section 48 of the Public Lands Administration Regulation: Provides the reasons and the process to be followed for closure of vacant public land for periods of up to 28 days.
  • Sections 96 and 97 of the Public Lands Administration Regulation: Provide for the process by which roads authorized under Licence of Occupation (LOC) may be closed by an order of a director. A director’s order that authorizes the closure of a road under an LOC is to be registered and a copy of the order is to be made available to the public.
  • Section 71.2 of the Public Lands Act and Section 184 of the Public Lands Administration Regulation: Authorizes a director to issue an order to prohibit or restrict entry into all or part of a public land use zone, public land recreation area or public land recreation trail.

Contact

For more information about public land trail and area closures, call 310-LAND.

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-LAND (5263)
Email: [email protected]

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