Cougar Creek Canyon Reopens to Climbers After Flood Damage Cut Off Access

For the first time since heavy rainfall and steep creek flooding reshaped Cougar Creek, climbers can once again reach one of the Bow Valley's most popular climbing destinations.

The Town of Canmore announced on July 4 that engineers have completed a safety assessment of the Cougar Creek Debris Retention Structure and determined the flood-control dam is safe for public use, including pedestrian access across its crest toward Cougar Creek upstream of the structure.

The decision restores the primary route to Cougar Creek Canyon, home to more than 250 established sport climbing routes and a popular destination for local climbers throughout the summer.

The reopening follows several days of uncertainty after flooding damaged roads and altered the creek channel around the debris retention structure.

While the Lady Macdonald trailhead reopened July 2, climbers remained unable to reach Cougar Creek Canyon because the normal approach routes across the flood-control infrastructure were still closed while engineers assessed the structure.

Under the new access plan, visitors must reach Cougar Creek Canyon by hiking the Lady Macdonald Trail to where it meets the top of the debris retention structure before crossing into Cougar Creek.

The town emphasized that the former access road on the south, or Canmore, side of the structure remains closed.

"Channel migration downstream of the Debris Retention Structure has significantly affected access roads," the town said in its update. "Access to the south side access road is prohibited at this time."

Officials are asking visitors to respect all closure signs and barricades and use the designated route instead.

Although the structure itself has been deemed safe, the town cautioned that the landscape has changed following the heavy rainfall event.

"We recommend that everyone in the area exercise caution," the town said. "The landscape has changed since the heavy rainfall and trails may be different than you remember them."

The reopening was welcomed by the Bow Valley Climbers Access Society, which thanked the Town of Canmore and Alberta Parks for restoring access within days of the flooding.

"Huge thanks to the Town of Canmore and Alberta Parks for executing an amazing turnaround, in record time, in re-opening Cougar Creek for climbing and other recreation," the organization wrote on social media.

The Cougar Creek Debris Retention Structure was built following the 2013 flood to protect Canmore from debris flows originating in Cougar Creek. While the structure has reopened, officials say visitors should continue exercising caution as crews monitor conditions and assess the lasting impacts of last week's flooding.