Bulletins

Effective date

May 15 until September 30, 2023

What:

Pursuant to section 7(1) of the National Parks General Regulations, the following activities are restricted or prohibited by order of the Superintendent:

All climbing, canyoneering or rappelling activities in waterfalls or on rock faces within the identified canyon areas are prohibited to protect black swifts, an endangered bird species listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

Where:

All waterfalls or rock faces within the identified areas in the canyons, including the canyon sidewalls. All coordinates are projected in NAD1983 UTM zone 11N.

Maligne Canyon

Upstream from 11 U 432440m E 5863510m N (50m downstream of 4th bridge) to 11 U 432867m E 5863833m N (20m downstream from the tea house).

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Two Valley Canyon (also known as BS Canyon)

Upstream from 11 U 437126m E 5861861 m N (under the Maligne Road Bridge) to 11 U 437291 m E 5862404m N (the upstream mouth of the canyon).

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Pleckaitis Canyon

Upstream from 11 U 442356m E 5860856m N (where the canyon narrows upstream of the bolted climbing routes) to 442588m E 5861045m N (top of the tallest waterfall).

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Athabasca Falls Canyon

Upstream from 11 U 440112m E 5835369m N (at the downstream viewpoint) to 11 U 440249m E 5835313m N (top of the waterfall).

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Why:

To minimize disturbance to black swifts, to protect their habitat and to reduce erosion, trampling and disturbance of sensitive vegetation and soils.

Penalty:

Violators may be charged under the National Parks Act: maximum penalty $25 000.