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There are natural hazards in Kananaskis Country.
You are responsible for your own safety. Obtain current information regarding
hazards that may exist in areas that you will be travelling through. Be
aware that you are travelling in bear country.
Kananaskis Country has one of the best mountain rescue
programs in North America. As good as these mountain rescue specialists
are, they are not a substitute for you being prepared. Take responsibility
for your own safety; plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable outing.
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Safe Bear Country Travel
Grizzly and black bears can be found in all
of parts Kananaskis Country. You can enjoy yourself andhave a safe visit
by being Bear Aware. Obtain a copy of the Bear
In Mind brochure for facts and tips about travel in bear country.
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Safe Vehicle Access Camping
- Store all food, toilet articles, and cooking utensils
in your vehicle.
- Never take food, toilet articles, cooking utensils,
or clothes you wore while cooking into your tent.
- Seal garbage in plastic bags and dispose in bear-proof
garbage bins.
- Throw gray-water into toilets.
- Never burn food scraps.
- Use the designated fish cleaning stations.
- Keep pets on a leash at all times.
- Use a flashlight at night.
- Keep young children close at hand especially at
dawn and dusk.
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Safe Backcountry Camping
- Use minimum impact camping techniques.
- Camp in backcountry campgrounds when ever possible.
- If you random camp, use an old campsite.
- Use a portable camp stove for cooking.
- Hang sealed food, garbage, cooking utensils, cooking clothes, and
other equipment 3 metres high on pack racks or between trees.
- Never bring food, toilet articles, or cooking clothes into your tent.
- Leave pets at home.
- Keep children close at hand.
- Use the campground firepit if you must have a campfire and keep the
fire small.
- Make certain the fire is out cold before you leave.
- Camp a minimum of 100 meters from water sources.
- Camp in small groups of 4 to 5 people.
- Pack out what you bring into the backcountry.
- Never burn garbage.
- Use the backcountry toilets when available.
- Bury waste at least 10 cm deep and 100 metres from camp or water sources.
- Learn more about minimizing
you impact.
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Outings and Trail Use
- Always go prepared with maps and current information.
- Make certain that someone knows where you are going and when you expect
to return.
- Take extra clothes, rain gear, food, water, sunscreen, insect repellent,
and a basic first aid kit.
- Use minimum impact techniques while on your outing.
- Make plenty of noise when approaching blind-corners, dense bush, streams,
or high winds; a loud shout of “Yo Bear” every few minutes
is more affective than wearing bear bells.
- Mountain bikers should slow their approach to blind corners. Make
noise by yelling, “Yo bear!”
- Leave pets at home. If you must bring them, keep your pets on a leash
at all times.
- Keep your group together, especially small children.
- If you see signs of bear activity, leave the area.
- Use bridges rather than wading streams.
- Stay off frozen lakes and streams in the spring and fall.
- Throw fish entrails into lakes or streams where they were caught after
puncturing their air bladder.
- Pack out all garbage.
- Stay on the trails.
- Learn more about minimizing
you impact.
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Safe Rock and Ice Climbing
- Novice climbers should always go with experienced professional guides.
- Experienced climbers should always be well informed about climbing
routes.
- Obtain special climbing and hazards information by contacting Kananaskis
Country mountain rescue specialists at (403) 678-5508.
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Safe Water Sports
- All Kananaskis Country lakes and streams are glacier fed and are extremely
cold.
- Swimming is not recommended anywhere in Kananaskis Country.
- Certified life preservers are required for all boaters.
- Anglers should always be prepared for rapid weather changes and high
winds that can create high waves.
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Safe Wildlife Viewing
- Remember that all Kananaskis Country animals are wild and can be dangerous.
- Never attempt to feed or harass any wildlife.
- Stay in your vehicle when viewing animals along roads.
- Try not to stop while viewing from your vehicle; do not create traffic
jams.
- When on foot, stay safe distances away from all animals: 100 metres
for large animals such as bears, cougar, elk, moose, deer, and bighorn
sheep.
- Obtain copies of the brochures Bear
In Mind and Living
With Cougars from any visitor centre for more specific wildlife
safety information.
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Safe Winter Outings
Kananaskis Country has a variety of year round
recreational activities for
you to participate in. Explore on your own or with professional guides,
make an adventure of your Kananaskis Country visit!
- You can obtain summer
trails and winter trails maps at any visitor centre or
from the Friends
of Kananaskis Country.
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Year Round Scenic Drives
Kananaskis Country offers variety of scenic driving opportunities in some
of Canada’s most beautiful mountain scenery. During the summer months
all roads are open to travel. You can plan driving loops by using the
map of Kananaskis Country and by talking to visitor centre staff. Scenic
Highway #40 will take you to the highest drivable pass in Canada (2,195
m or 7,200 feet). Highway #66 leads you from the prairie into the high
country of the Elbow Valley. For the more adventurous, the high quality
gravel Spray Valley Provincial Park road offers fantastic vistas of the
mountains.
In the winter, be aware that several roads are closed to travel. Contact
our visitor centre staff for current road condition information.
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Year Round Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
Bighorn sheep, elk, mule and white-tailed
deer, moose and bears are often seen near Kananaskis Country roads.
These large animals roam throughout the area and can be dangerous. Stay
in your vehicle when viewing the wildlife. Never attempt to feed or get
close to these wild animals. Please don’t stop your vehicle, but
simply drive by slowly. This eliminates wildlife traffic jams which can
be harmful to people and wildlife.
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