BANFF – Parks Canada looks set to limit vehicles to Lake Louise by 2029 and to Lake Minnewanka by 2034 as the two Banff National Park tourist hotspots face increasing pressure from skyrocketing visitation.
That’s according to the final report by Dillon Consulting for the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission’s (BVRTSC) fleet and facility study, which noted this information was gathered during discussions with Parks Canada during strategic working sessions.
The study, which was presented to Banff town council on Monday (March 24), noted Parks Canada had no new transit routes expected to other tourist attractions in the upcoming 10 years beyond the existing ones.
“Measures limiting vehicle access to Lake Louise are expected by 2029, where transit mode share and ridership on Route 8X (Lake Louise-Banff Express) is expected to increase,” states the report.
“Measures limiting vehicle access to Lake Minnewanka are expected by 2034, where transit mode share and ridership on Route 6 is expected to increase significantly.”
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno asked if the information shared in the report was embedded in the new visitor use management strategies being drafted for Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka, which are areas of the park that have seen an explosion in visitation in the past decade.
“Can you speak to where they got that data from?” said the mayor to Martin Bean, BVRTSC’s chief executive officer.
He replied: “They did have conversations with Parks Canada representatives, but I am not sure if it’s fully embedded there or if it’s just considerations at this time.”
At the time the story went to press on March 26, Parks Canada did not comment because there is a media blackout until the April 28 federal election.
Between 2013 and 2023, visitation to Banff National Park grew by 31 per cent to more than four million; however, the rise is even greater at some of the park’s main attractions.
At Lake Louise, there has been a 70 per cent increase in traffic volume over the past decade, leading to significant congestion.
At the 25th annual Banff planning forum on March 18, Parks Canada touched on the human use management strategies currently underway for Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka.
“We had over four million visitors last year in Banff National Park, and news break, we expect this to keep growing,” said François Masse, superintendent of Lake Louise, Kootenay and Yoho field unit.
“Even if it doesn’t grow, frankly, it’s still a lot to manage. It’s definitely a challenge. It’s not equally spread out across the landscape. It definitely has some hotspots.”
Parks Canada shut down private vehicle use to Moraine Lake in 2023 on a year-round basis, but Parks Canada-run shuttles from a park-and-ride lot at the Lake Louise ski hill, Roam public transit, and commercial buses are permitted on the 12.8-km scenic road to the iconic lake from June to mid-October.
Masse said there was 80 per cent growth in commercial traffic on Moraine Lake Road last year, almost double from the year before.
“The general trend is growth, but there are flash points where it gets a little more hectic and so it’s hard to predict exactly from year to year, so how do we get a handle on that?” he said.
“Parks Canada’s mandate is to preserve this park but also to help people to connect with the park, so how do we balance that?”
Visitor use management strategies are being developed to address that. Parks Canada has previously said limits or quotas for some types of use, in some areas, at certain times, may be necessary in the face of exploding visitation.
The first phase of the Lake Louise visitor use management strategy has been completed, with most public feedback noting overcrowding as a barrier to visiting and enjoying Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and most people saying they wanted to see changes in the way visitors access the area.
“They would like to see a less crowded experience. They want the place to be easier to access,” said Masse.
Masse said the second phase is to begin in the coming weeks.
“We’re going to have focus groups and moving to an online public engagement that is very broad based and we’re going to be talking about strategies and actions to achieve those desired conditions,” he said.
“In the meantime, we continue to actively manage the area to ensure public safety while providing good visitor experience and protecting the environment … Parks Canada shuttles will continue like last year.”
The Lake Minnewanka region, which includes Johnson Lake and Two Jack Lake, is bursting with paddlers, boaters, divers, hikers, bikers, campers, picnickers, stargazers, wildlife watchers and sightseers, has also seen an increase in visitors.
The area now attracts about one-quarter of Banff National Park’s four million annual visitors and has seen traffic volumes increase by about 50 per cent over the last 10 years, creating congestion and parking chaos.
Other challenges associated with the skyrocketing visitation, which has come primarily from Calgary and surrounding areas, include human-wildlife conflicts, feeding of wildlife, garbage and overflowing garbage bins in day-use areas.
One of Parks Canada’s biggest concerns for the area is the potential for the introduction of aquatic invasive species into one of the lakes or streams through recreational use, which can be dangerous for native fish populations.
Masse said an in-depth analysis of patterns and types of visitor use in the Minnewanka area has recently been completed.
“In a snapshot, this work includes an assessment of a multitude of aspects of visitor use from spread, density, temporality… to hot spot analysis, visitor movement and flow sequence, parking patterns and vehicle and transit use,” he said.
“Management for the Lake Minnewanka area is also supported by a park-and-ride pilot, which will be implemented again this summer for a third year, and is testing traffic congestion management strategies during peak summer visitation and will help inform future mobility hub options for this area.”
On Monday (March 31), Parks Canada responded with a statement, saying "no decisions about strategies and actions have been made."
The first phase of engagement on the Lake Louise area visitor management plan is now complete, with the next phase of engagement focusing on strategies and actions to achieve so-called desired conditions for the region.
"A suite of strategies and actions will be needed. There is no one tool that can solve complex visitation challenges," according to the statement.
"Historically, Parks Canada has used a wide range of strategies, including a shuttle system, reservations, paid parking, and marketing campaigns to promote transit and stewardship. Parks Canada has also managed road, shuttle, parking and transit capacities.
"In the future, as in the past, limits to some types of use, in some areas, at certain times, may be necessary to preserve or achieve desired conditions. These decisions will be informed by future engagement and evaluated for viability, feasibility and desirability."
As for Lake Minnewanka area planning, the statement indicated the public engagement process has now concluded, and Parks Canada is in the process of reviewing all the feedback gathered.
"This input will play a vital role in shaping the future of the Lake Minnewanka area, ensuring that the management plan reflects the needs of both the environment and the communities that enjoy this beautiful and ecologically sensitive area," according to the statement.
"Parks Canada remains committed to an inclusive planning process and appreciates the public’s interest and contributions. The next steps will involve incorporating this feedback into the final plan, which will guide the future of Lake Minnewanka for years to come."
