Traffic congestion in Lake Louise a concern for Parks Canada
Short drive from village to the chateau can take up to two hours during peak times
Parks Canada is looking into providing more shuttle service in the Lake Louise area as it tries to find ways to reduce traffic congestion this summer.
The federal agency is considering running shuttles on weekends in July and August from a parking lot near the village of Lake Louise to the chateau and Moraine Lake, expanding the free service it already offers during fall larch season and on the August long weekend.
Low loonie, staycations
Banff National Park is expected to be busy this year as tourists take advantage of the low Canadian dollar and Albertans seek out "staycations" during the economic downturn.
But the heavy traffic and overflowing parking lots have been a concern for parks officials and RCMP for several years.
"A stat[istic] that actually caught me off guard when I was first transferred out here is that during the peak times in the summer — and that would be the weekends, and more so during the long weekends in the summer — there's 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles per day that will travel through the village up to Lake Louise and the chateau there to see the sites," said Sergeant Alan Vanthuyne at the Lake Louise RCMP detachment.
'Losing the visitor experience'
At peak times, the 15-minute drive from the village of Lake Louise up to the lake can take almost two hours.
"You start losing the visitor experience. We're wanting people to come up and visit these iconic destinations and feel the freedom in a stress-free environment. As well, there's a possibility of increased chances for motor vehicle accidents or anything of that sort," said Travis Wert, a Parks Canada manager for the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit.
"I think nowadays you find a lot of people that are seeking transit solutions whether it be parks or anywhere else in their lives."
Packed parking lots
For Minnesota hiker, Margie Shaul, the congestion in Banff National Park was noticeable.
As she and her husband set out for hike on rainy mid-week morning, the parking lot at Lake Louise was already almost full.
"It looks very busy. So, we'll see what happens when we get in there," said Shaul. "We're finding a lot more people here than we're used to."
Two million people visit Lake Louise each year, according to Parks Canada.
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With files from Allison Dempster