By Emily Keller

jasper national park

Jasper National Park preparing to re-open some services and facilities on June 1

May 29, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Jasper National Park is preparing to re-open some services and facilities to the public on June 1.

This includes day-use areas such as trails and pathways, green areas, beaches and picnic areas, boat launches and water-based recreation. Guidelines will still be in place for visitors to follow physical distancing rules and stay six feet apart.

Steve Young with Jasper National Park says that the visitor centre will remain closed to the public as well as vehicle access to certain areas, but that cycling access will be allowed.

“Actually, there’s some great opportunities there, because there’s a couple of roads, like Miette Road that goes down to the Hot Springs, will be closed to vehicular traffic, but (people) will be able to use bicycles and hike on that road, and it’s quite a scenic road, so there’s one of those things which you might not have had an opportunity to do in the past.”

The Hot Springs themselves will remain closed, as will vehicle access to and day-use along Highway 93A from Moab Road to Athabasca Falls, including Moab Lake Road and Geraldine Lake Road.

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Camping, including backcountry, remains closed in the park, something that Young says they have had a few issues with over the COVID-19 closure, and are still relying on people to follow guidelines and rules. Camping is planned to be closed until June 21.

“I won’t say that we haven’t seen any cases of illegal camping because we have. So, there has been some of that kind of activity taking place, and we try to be as diligent as we can to clamp down on that, but it’s a challenge over 11,000 square kilometres.”

He adds that they are encouraging people to visit their website to check before visiting the park to ensure they are prepared.

“Pack your patience for sure, but also pack things like toilet paper. If you’re coming to the Jasper town site, the doctors in town want people wearing masks within the town site area. So, those kinds of things will be a little bit different, so checking that webpage is a really good first step.”

More information on guidelines can be found at the Jasper National Park website.