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.

Be aware of your surroundings. There may be damage to trails and stream crossings that are unmarked.

Trail and area closures and advisories

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

  • Agricultural dispositions GRL32636 and GRL40602

    Closure statusTemporary
    Area affectedGRL32636 and GRL40602
    Effective datesDecember 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024
    Details

    Agricultural dispositions GRL32636 and GRL40602 are temporarily closed for pest management. No person shall access the GRL lands for recreational purposes while the temporary closure is in effect.

    ResourcesThis area is closed under the Recreational Access Regulation and the Public Lands Act.

  • Bighorn Backcountry – Crescent Falls PRA

    Closure status Temporary
    Area affected Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area (PRA)
    Effective dates May 2023 to June 2024
    Details In addition to the access restrictions noted on link below, no access is permitted on the off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail starting on Highway 11 north of the Bighorn River bridge to T9.

    Advisories – Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta Parks
    Resources This area is closed under the Provincial Parks Act.

  • Bighorn Backcountry - Abraham Lake Vehicle Restriction

    Closure status Temporary
    Area affected Abraham Lake
    Effective dates April 30 to December 1, annually
    Details No motorized vehicles April 30 to December 1 below the high water mark or on lake bottom.

    Abraham Lake is a reservoir formed by the Bighorn Dam – water levels in the area fluctuate dramatically throughout the year as the dam helps regulate flows in the North Saskatchewan River.

    It is dangerous to drive onto the lake bottom as water levels can change quickly, leading to vehicles getting stuck, being trapped and flooded over. Fluids and contaminants from abandoned vehicles, as well as garbage and human waste from camping, can impact water quality when lake levels rise, which is a concern for downstream drinking water and fish habitat.

    Stay above the high water mark (where the vegetation starts/stops growing on the bank) to avoid facing a fine ($300) and getting stuck (tow bills average $1,500).
    Resources This is enforceable under the Public Lands Administration Regulation.

  • Bighorn Backcountry – OHV use on sections of Highway 734 (Forestry Trunk Road)

    Area affected Highway 734 (Forestry Trunk Road)
    Effective dates Pilot Project
    Details Through a collaboration with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, portions of Highway 734 deemed appropriate for off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail connectivity have been designated to allow for OHV use. These portions are reflected on the 2023 Bighorn Backcountry brochure along the road in yellow.
    • Operation is for recreational purposes only and must take place during daylight hours.
    • Maximum speed limit is 50 km/hour.
    • OHV shall be operated as close as practicable to the right edge of the roadway, unless passing another OHV travelling in the same direction or preparing for a left turn.
    • Except when passing, OHVs may not be operated adjacent to one another. They must be operated directly in line when travelling in the same direction.

  • Bighorn Backcountry - 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

  • Sibbald Snow Vehicle PLUZ - Jumpingpound Demonstration Day Use

    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)

Road closures and advisories

Select a road below to view full 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 an area.

    Closure of Area 184

    (1) The director may, by order, restrict or prohibit, for any specified period of time, entry into all or any part of the lands within a public land use zone.

    (2) An order of the director under this section is in effect from the time it is posted publicly by the  Department.

    (3) A person shall comply with any order made and posted pursuant to this section.

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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