Rockslide Closes Section of Spray Lakes Road Near Canmore

A major rockslide along the Spray Lakes Road southwest of Canmore forced the closure of a section of Highway 742 Monday evening (June 1), cutting off one of the Bow Valley’s most scenic and heavily used mountain corridors as officials warned the area remains unstable.

The closure stretches between the Grassi Lakes parking area and the Goat Creek Day Use Area on the Canmore Hill section of the Smith-Dorrien Highway, according to Alberta Parks and Alberta 511. Officials said the road remains closed “until further notice.”

The slide occurred along a steep mountainside corridor known for loose rock, narrow shoulders and heavy use by runners, cyclists, and drivers travelling between Canmore and Kananaskis Country.

For at least one local runner caught on the road shortly after the rockfall, the experience felt unusually dangerous.

“I've seen rocks fall on this road before, but this was another level,” Reuben Driedger told Bow Valley Insider. “Definitely made me feel less safe running on it.”

In a video posted to Instagram while descending the road, Driedger described feeling exposed.

“Honestly it's not safe for me to be running on this road right now, but I do have to get down,” he said in the video.

The closure comes as the broader Bow Valley continues dealing with unstable conditions linked to days of rain, rising groundwater levels and rapid mountain snowmelt. Across the region, officials have also issued flood advisories, trail closures and high streamflow warnings in recent days.

As of Tuesday evening (June 2), Alberta 511 said the road remained fully closed with no estimated reopening time announced.

No injuries have been reported.