Bear Investigates Occupied Tent, Closing Lake Minnewanka Backcountry Campgrounds

A stretch of Banff National Park's most popular backcountry has been closed until further notice after a bear investigated an occupied tent, prompting Parks Canada to shut down all Lake Minnewanka backcountry campgrounds while it monitors the area.

Parks Canada announced the closure Tuesday (July 28), affecting five backcountry campgrounds along the Lake Minnewanka Trail: LM9, LM11, LM20, LM22 and LM31.

The decision follows an incident on July 26 at the LM11 campground, where a bear of an unknown species investigated the exterior of an occupied tent.

According to Parks Canada, the bear did not enter the tent, eventually moved on, and no one was injured. Bear spray was not deployed.

Still, the agency said it was closing all Lake Minnewanka backcountry campgrounds "out of an abundance of caution" while wildlife staff continue monitoring bear activity in the area.

The closure marks a significant escalation from earlier management actions this month.

On July 7, Parks Canada issued a bear warning for the Lake Minnewanka Trail and campgrounds after reporting "multiple instances of black bears making contact with tents in recent weeks."

At the time, visitors were still permitted to camp while following heightened safety precautions, including properly storing food and scented items, carrying bear spray, remaining alert for signs of bears, and keeping campsites free of odours that could attract wildlife.

The latest incident appears to have prompted officials to conclude that additional restrictions were necessary.

The closure comes just over a month after another series of bear incidents temporarily shut down much of the same backcountry.

In mid-June, Parks Canada closed the Lake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail and six backcountry campgrounds after black bears began displaying food-seeking behaviour.

One of those incidents involved a backpacking group that returned from a day hike to find their tent ripped apart while they were away.

The campers later said they had stored all food and scented items in the campground's bear lockers before leaving camp, and wildlife officers collected the damaged tent for DNA testing in an effort to identify the bear responsible.

Wildlife experts have long warned that once bears begin associating campgrounds or tents with food, the behaviour can become increasingly difficult to reverse. Even when individual campers properly store food, bears that have previously received food rewards may continue investigating campsites.

The Lake Minnewanka corridor is one of Banff National Park's most heavily used backcountry destinations, providing access to popular routes including Aylmer Lookout, Aylmer Pass and the Ghost Lakes.

Although the campgrounds are closed, the seasonal Lake Minnewanka travel restriction remains in effect until Sept. 15. Hikers must continue travelling in groups of at least four people, and everyone in the group must carry readily accessible bear spray.

Parks Canada is also reminding visitors to properly secure all food and scented items, watch for fresh signs of bear activity, make noise while hiking, stay on designated trails, and report bear sightings to Banff Dispatch.

The agency has not indicated when the campgrounds might reopen, saying only that the closure will remain in place until further notice while bear activity continues to be monitored.