Wildfire closes parts of Banff and Kootenay National Parks

A wildfire in the Verdant Creek area has forced the closure of parts of Banff and Kootenay National Parks west of Calgary.

The closureincludes:

• The area east of Highway 93S (Kootenay Parkway) from the Verdant Creek Trail to the Simpson River Trail to the height of land on Haiduk Peak.
• The Whistling Valley Trail,PharoahCreek Trail and all trails in the Egypt Lake and Healy Pass areas, including Healy Pass Trail.

The closure applies tobackcountryusers, including campers and day hikers.

• Winds brew in fire-stricken B.C. Interior, more than 17,000 on evacuation order

Officials spent most of Saturday evacuating people from the area and contacting those with a backcountry reservation to say they have been cancelled until at least Tuesday.

The closure could be extended if the fire persists.

"We do hope that things will be back to normal in the next few days but we really don't know, it depends on how the weather goes," said Parks Canada spokesperson Natalie Fay.

Those with backcountry reservations can call 403-762-1556 or go to a Parks Canada Visitor Centre.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|Outdoor Report: Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park tops family hike list
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|Meet Jerry Potts: The warrior, tracker, trader, hunter and horseman who shaped Alberta