Lake Louise Reopened After Temporary Closure Due to Overcrowding

A view of beautiful Lake Louise, Banff National Park, in Alberta. Lijuan Guo/Photos.com

One of Canada’s most popular vacation destinations was closed to outside traffic for several hours, Aug. 6.

Access to Lake Louise was denied by Parks Canada and the RCMP as roads became overcrowded as a result of extra-heavy long weekend traffic.

Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, spokesperson for the Alberta RCMP, said the flow of traffic prevented emergency vehicles from reaching Lake Louise. As a result, the federal agency had to deploy signs and barriers along the Trans-Canada Highway to control the entry of incoming tourists.

“Until further notice, RCMP and Parks Canada are advising that there will be no entering Lake Louise, unless a resident or with a hotel reservation, due to overcrowding. All highways remain open,” said an Alberta 511 system post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

By around 7 p.m., Alberta 511 said that the closure had concluded saying, “RCMP and Parks Canada are advising that access to Lake Louise has been restored.”

Lake Louise is part of Banff National Park in Alberta. It is approximately 60 kilometres northwest of the town of Banff and is named after a lake famous for its turquoise water. The resort draws visitors from around the world.

Lake Louise village and the surrounding area are popular tourist destinations during the high seasons of summer and winter. It’s estimated some 15,000 people per day visit Lake Louise in the busy summer months and it is one of the most photographed sites in Canada.

Parks Canada warns that the parking lot at the lake fills up before sunrise and stays full until sunset, and finding a parking spot throughout the summer months is challenging.

Earlier this year Parks Canada closed personal vehicle access to Moraine Lake due to an unmanageable level of traffic. Visitors can use Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses to access the site from June to mid-October.

The move to close Moraine Lake to personal vehicle access was opposed by Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen.

“Alberta’s parks—both provincial and national—are jewels of the province, and Albertans and visitors alike deserve to have full access to enjoy their benefits,” he said in a letter to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonnault on Jan. 9.

“Parks Canada’s decision to block personal vehicles at Moraine Lake means fewer visitors to this important part of the province.”