Surge in visits leads to user fee for popular Kananaskis Country
KANANASKIS, Alta. — Albertans hoping to escape to a popular provincial recreation area in the Rockies during the COVID-19 pandemic will soon have to pay for the privilege.
Kananaskis Country, which is about 100 kilometres west of Calgary, has been flooded with visitors — particularly over the past year due to restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus.
Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon said in 2020 the scenic area attracted 5.4 million visitors, which is one million higher than nearby Banff National Park.
Since 2014, he added, visits to the area have increased by 70 per cent resulting in overflowing garbage cans, illegal parking, injuries, overcrowded trails and day-use areas, and conflicts between people and animals.