Rent A Backpack Canmore

07/18/2026

Wow! Like I say to all my customers, having bear spray is a must when hiking because you never know what will happen on Banff or Jasper trails. Keep talking and be aware of your surroundings folks.

Grizzly bites hiker on popular Jasper trail

Two hikers survived a grizzly bear encounter on Jasper's Opal Hills Trail last week with only minor injuries, and Parks Canada says their preparation made all the difference.

The pair, visitors from Luxembourg, were descending the trail when a female grizzly with two cubs charged from about 20 metres away. One hiker fell backwards and played dead. The bear made contact and bit her twice, according to Parks Canada, per reporting from The Jasper Local, before the two regrouped, created some distance, and deployed bear spray they'd already prepped - zip ties and safety catch removed before they'd even set out.

The sow gathered her cubs and left. The woman was treated for minor bite wounds and released from the hospital the same day. Both hikers walked out under their own power before alerting park staff.

Wildlife officials call it the first physical bear contact in Jasper National Park since 2014. Opal Hills remains closed while officers patrol for the bear family. With buffalo berries now ripening and bears feeding across the park, particularly in areas opened up by last year's wildfire, more sightings are expected.

The one thing officials say they'd have done differently: made more noise on the trail, since wind can muffle voices and scent long before a bear notices you coming.

Do you make a habit of talking or singing on quiet stretches of trail, or does that feel a bit daft until a moment like this?

06/27/2026

This…

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (June 25, 2026)

06/26/2026

This is an unfortunate situation.. with Spray lakes closed, Ha Ling , EEOR, Westwind and Wind Tower hikes are basically cut off for now.

⚠️ Update: The section of the Spray Lakes Road, also known as Highway 742 and Smith-Dorrien Highway, on the Canmore Hill in Kananaskis remains closed due to a rockslide. The road is closed to all vehicle, pedestrian, and cycle traffic to ensure public safety.

As area assessments are ongoing, there is currently no timeline available for re-opening the highway. Please respect all closures and stay clear of the area.

05/27/2026

Never assume hikes that are heavily populated like Heart Creek are safe from bears. The entire mountains are their back yard. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it. 🐻

Bear Warning: Heart Creek Trail, Heart Creek Bunker Trail and the Trans Canada Trail between the Heart Creek bunker and the access to Grant MacEwan peak/Acephale climbing area because numerous black bears, including a black bear sow and cubs-of-the-year, have been seen in the area and in close proximity to the above trails. More info at: https://ow.ly/rttP50Z3RWl

05/25/2026

Bears can pop up anywhere and anytime… always carry bear spray..

A bear cub was darted on 7th Avenue in downtown Canmore this afternoon 🐻

Wildlife officers and RCMP responded to reports of a bear moving through Mountain View Estates near Policeman Creek Trail just after 2 pm. A mother and cub were involved - the cub was tranquillised while the mother moved away from the area on her own terms.

No injuries reported. The kind of Saturday afternoon Canmore does that nowhere else quite manages.

It's that time of year again - bears are moving, and the Bow Valley's urban edge means these encounters happen more than most people realise. If you're out on the trails around town, the usual rules apply: make noise, carry spray, and don't leave anything that smells interesting in your car.

Has anyone else seen bear activity around Canmore this weekend?

05/12/2026

A little bear levity…😂

05/02/2026

This…🐻🫣

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (May 1, 2026)

04/28/2026

This…🐻

We are well into spring and bears are returning to the landscape. Remember these key tips when visiting bear country:

🎶 Make plenty of noise and travel in groups.
👀 Be aware of your surroundings. Look and listen for bears and their signs.
🐕‍🦺 Keep your pets on a leash.
🐻 Carry bear spray – make sure it's easily accessible and know how to use it.

Learn more at: AlbertaParks.ca/BearSafety

04/26/2026

Please give bears and other wildlife their space. It’s not just dangerous for you, it stresses the wildlife more than you know. 🐻🫎🐺

Bear Closure Vermillion Lakes Banff National Park

The bears are back at Vermilion Lakes - and this time, Parks Canada isn't asking nicely.

Starting 24 April, Vermilion Lakes Road, the adjacent shoreline, and the section of the Legacy Trail west of the road are closed overnight, every night, from 8 pm to 8 am. The closure runs through 29 April.

The reason is straightforward: bears have been feeding on fish carcasses in the area, and that's exactly the kind of food-reward situation that Parks Canada works hard to prevent from becoming a habit.

During daylight hours, the area is open, but a bear warning is in effect. That means carry your bear spray and actually know how to use it, make noise on the trail, keep 100 metres from any bear you spot, keep dogs leashed, and supervise kids. If you see a bear, note the details - size, colour, ear tag if visible - and call Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.

Vermilion Lakes is one of the most-visited spots in the park, so this is worth knowing before you head out this week.

Have you had a bear encounter at Vermilion Lakes before?

🐻