Bow Valley Communities Warn Residents To Stay Away From Rivers As Snowmelt Pushes Water Levels Higher

Warm temperatures and rapid snowmelt are driving rising river levels across the Bow Valley, prompting a wave of flood advisories, trail closures, and public safety warnings Thursday from municipalities, provincial agencies, and Parks Canada.

A new High Streamflow Advisory was issued Thursday morning for the Bow River from upstream of Banff through the townsite and downstream to Ghost Reservoir, as officials warned water levels are expected to rise another 30 centimetres through Friday if warm weather continues.

The advisory comes as deep mountain snowpack continues melting across the region, swelling rivers and creeks already running high from recent heat.

“This is fast-moving, extremely cold water with debris that poses a significant safety risk,” the Town of Canmore warned Thursday, urging residents and visitors to stay away from riverbanks and avoid using watercraft on the Bow River.

Municipal officials across the Bow Valley are now warning that conditions along rivers and creeks could deteriorate quickly over the next 24 to 48 hours.

In Banff, low-lying pathways along the Bow River are already flooding, according to the Town. Officials warned muddy water can conceal dangerous hazards including sinkholes, open sewers, and submerged debris.

“Stay off the river,” the Town of Banff said in a public advisory issued Thursday.

The Town also warned riverbanks could become unstable and slippery as water levels continue rising.

In Canmore, officials raised concerns about undercut riverbanks and dangerous conditions near the water’s edge, particularly for children and pets. The Town noted groundwater issues could also emerge in Canmore and Exshaw as runoff intensifies.

The advisories extend beyond the Bow River itself.

In Lake Louise, Alberta Environment’s Flood Watch for the Pipestone River remained in effect Thursday morning, with officials reporting rising water levels and flooding impacts already affecting low-lying trails and picnic areas near the Lake Louise Visitor Centre.

Parks Canada simultaneously announced multiple area closures related to high water conditions.

The agency closed trails and areas adjacent to the Pipestone River in the Lake Louise area “to ensure visitor safety in areas affected by high water.” Violators could face fines of up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act.

A separate closure was issued Thursday for Banff’s Fenland area, including the Fenland day-use area, Fenland loop, and connector trails, after flooding overtook portions of the trail system.

Municipal crews in Banff are also taking precautionary flood mitigation steps in vulnerable areas near the Bow River.

Thursday afternoon, the Town of Banff announced the closure of the playground and greenhouse parking lots at Sundance Park while crews deployed a temporary “Tiger Dam” flood barrier system near the Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge.

The precautionary measure is intended to help protect low-lying areas near the housing co-op and Buffalo Nations Museum if water levels continue climbing.

The Town said emergency crews are actively monitoring conditions and are prepared for increased flood risks if warm weather persists.

The warnings arrive during a period of unusually strong late-spring snowmelt across parts of the Canadian Rockies, where deep alpine snowpack remains at higher elevations despite several days of warm temperatures.

Officials throughout the Bow Valley are urging residents and visitors to use extreme caution around all waterways until conditions stabilize.

“Don’t be the reason others are put at risk,” the Town of Canmore warned, noting that rescues during high streamflow events are especially dangerous for first responders.