• Camping in the Provincial Park • Anyone recreating in avalanche terrain should take Castle Provincial Welcome to the • Tree Cutting and Firewood Collection an Avalanche Safety Course. These courses are Camping Contact • Hunting and Discharging a firearm available through many reputable institutions Park & Wildland Castle Parks • Special Events, Guiding and Instructing, and • Never go into avalanche terrain alone Alberta Parks Pincher Creek Office Filming • Learn to recognize and when possible, avoid Campgrounds in Castle Phone: (403) 627–1165 Toll-Free: 310–0000 Provincial Park With more than 105,000 hectares, the Castle Provincial avalanche terrain Provincial Park Web: albertaparks.ca/castle Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park protect vital • Carry the gear and know how to use it, including an habitat for more than 200 rare species. The parks Safety & Emergency avalanche beacon, shovel and probe Campgrounds at Beaver Mines Lake, Castle Falls, Conservation Officer and Public Safety border Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Communication • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes Castle Bridge and Lynx Creek are closed for the Phone: 1–844–HELP–PRK (435–7775) World Heritage Site to the south, the Crowsnest Pass • Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or winter season. Visitors should be aware that Winter Guide to the north, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve to the Plan ahead. There is limited to no cell phone reception wet facilities are limited. For opening dates, check Avalanche Canada east, and British Columbia’s Flathead River Valley to in most of the Castle Parks. • Pay attention to hazards like overhanging edges albertaparks.ca/castle. Web: avalanche.ca/map the west. The Castle Parks are a part of the Crown of of snow (cornices) above you that could trigger an the Continent ecosystem, an international region with Please remember: avalanche below them if they collapse. Designated Camping areas 1–7 Report a Forest Fire: dramatic landscapes and important wildlife corridors. Phone: 310–FIRE (3473) • When traveling in the backcountry, bring Spring Runoff and Melting Snow Former random camping areas, these sites are appropriate equipment, emergency provisions and temporarily designated as campgrounds while rustic Report a Poacher/Public Lands Complaints: Know Before You Go review safety information During the late winter and spring, melting snow and campgrounds are built. From September to December Phone: 1–800–642–3800 • Provide family or friends with your detailed trip precipitation contribute to high water levels and 30, Designated Camping Area 1 will be fully closed to Stay safe in the Castle Parks. Please review the plans and what to do if you do not report back on increase the velocity of creeks and rivers. camping and vehicle access and Designated Camping Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) differences between a Provincial Park and a Wildland time Areas 2–7 will be partially closed to camping and Phone: 911 Park designation by visiting albertaparks.ca. • Pay phones are located at the Beaver Mines Store, For your own safety and protection of aquatic species, vehicle access. Conservation Officers enforce the regulations under Castle Mountain Resort (T-bar Pub and the Day please stay clear of creeks, rivers and wetlands. Banks General Provincial Park Information the Provincial Parks Act to protect the park and Lodge during regular business hours), at the Camp may be slippery or unstable due to erosion. Facilities are minimal and self registration is required Phone: 1–866–537–2757 support the safety and enjoyment of its users. Impeesa entrance and in the nearby communities at centrally located kiosks. These sites are open Web: albertaparks.ca • Emergency contact information is listed on the back Be Wildlife Smart for winter camping, subject to snow and road Please remember: of this publication conditions supporting safe access. To Calgary Rich with biodiversity, the Castle area contains 22 2 • Before your visit, check albertaparks.ca/advisories important habitat and wildlife corridors for many Bring your own portable toilet and potable water. 3 Municipality of and albertafirebans.ca for current notices Recreate Responsibly species. You may encounter grizzly and black The sites and their access from roadways are not Crowsnest Pass Fort Lundbreck 3 MacLeod • Watch the weather. Turn back before severe bears, wolverines, wolves, big horn sheep, cougars, developed or maintained. Garbage receptacles are Cowley 3 Lethbridge 507 weather conditions develop, or seek shelter if Be Avalanche Aware moose and elk. All wildlife can be unpredictable and not maintained during the winter. Please ensure you Beaver BC Mines 507 5 conditions change too quickly. precautions should be taken when in their habitat. pack out your garbage with you. Fires are only allowed 774 Pincher Creek • Stay on the designated trails and respect other Avalanches are a significant risk to the safety of inside firepits provided for that purpose. 2 Castle users in the area anyone recreating in the backcountry during the • Store all attractants, such as food, garbage and pet Provincial 6 Park Twin Magrath • Leave no trace of your visit and dispose of your winter months. Many factors can initiate an avalanche, food, in a secure bear/wildlife proof container Backcountry Camping Butte 5 trash in marked bins such as precipitation, winds and temperature. Terrain • Be aware that bears may leave their den at times in • Do not put any foreign materials into any features such as elevation, aspect on the mountain, the winter Backcountry tent camping is allowed within the Castle 5 Cardston watercourses (e.g., fuel, soap, body waste, steepness and time of year are also important factors • Stay well back from all wildlife Wildland Provincial Park, providing that the campsite Montana grey water) in avalanche awareness. Avalanches can occur • Avoid surprise encounters on trails by making noise and fire is at least 1 kilometre from any facility, road • Do not cut, remove or damage trees or any other naturally or be triggered by human activity. • Keep children close to adults and at least 50 metres from any trail. Please practice vegetation unless you have a permit • Carry bear spray, learn how to use it, and store it traceless camping methods including dismantling fire • Read and follow signs and notices To stay safe in avalanche terrain remember: safely pits and packing out all your supplies and garbage. • Pets must be kept on a leash (2 metres maximum Backcountry camping permits are not required. It is up to you to be familiar with appropriate activities • You are responsible for your own safety length) or in a cage, supervised and under physical wherever you are exploring. Be aware of what • Check Avalanche Canada for reports and updates control at all times activities require permitting. Permits are required for: at avalanche.ca • Clean up after your pet Updated December 2020 Fat Bikes be respectful when using trails, be cautious of non- Highway Vehicles motorized trail users, and stay clear of wildlife. Fat biking trails are not regularly maintained or Vehicles (cars, trucks, Jeeps, SUVs) registered for groomed in the Castle, and are shared by motorized Note that wheeled motorized use is not permitted highway uses are only allowed on highways and and non-motorized users. Please do not fat bike on December 1 to April 30 on winter trails; only tracked designated roadways within the Provincial Park and groomed ski trails. OHVs are allowed for the protection of habitat and Wildland Provincial Park. No highway vehicles are safety. allowed on any part of the designated trail system Ice Safety without written authorization. Every off-highway vehicle (OHV) operating in the Ice thickness may fluctuate throughout the season Castle parks must have: and with changing weather conditions. No activity Please Note should be carried out on ice less than 15cm thick. In • Valid registration and insurance The road to Castle Falls is closed in the winter the presence of snow on ice, the minimum thickness • Exhaust muffler with spark arrester from December 1 to April 30. required is 30cm. • Approved helmets for all off-highway vehicle users • Direct adult supervision for operators under the age Liquor & Cannabis Check Canadian Red Cross & My Wild Alberta for ice of 14 years. safety tips. • A licence plate that is securely attached on front or Alberta Parks According to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act, rear of OHV and visible to other operators consumption of liquor is restricted to a temporary Parks Activities Ice Fishing • Head lamp on the front of the vehicle capable of Regulations dwelling situation inside a registered and permitted emitting a white/clear light of sufficient intensity to campsite or camping area only. The Castle Parks offer a wide variety of front country Ice fishing is permitted on Beaver Mines Lake, Butcher illuminate a person or object from at least 60 metres Firearms & Hunting and backcountry experiences. Snowshoeing, Lake and Bathing Lake. (185 feet) Adult visitors may consume cannabis in their cross-country skiing, ice fishing, wildlife viewing, • Tail lamp on the vehicle rear capable of emitting a If hunting exclusively in Castle Wildland Provincial registered campsites and in public areas where backcountry camping and snowmobiling are some of For Beaver Mines Lake, access is from the boat launch red light visible from at least 60 metres (185 feet) Park, a firearm discharge permit is not required. tobacco is permitted. Cannabis use is not allowed in the activities you can enjoy in the area. Please see trail in the day use area; motorized vehicles are NOT Hunters will need a permit if in possession of their motorized vehicles (i.e. cars, trucks, SUVs and vans) map for detailed information on the places to go and permitted on the ice unless permission has been given firearm while crossing through, or within the Provincial unless the vehicle is used as a temporary dwelling at a permitted uses.