Alberta Parks has announced the closure of the Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area from June 2023 to June 2024.
Crescent Falls/ Credit: Bernadette Gallagher
The closure, which impacts the Crescent Falls Campground and Day Use areas, is necessary for site upgrade construction activities.
The closure has been enacted to safeguard the public during construction, considering the use of heavy equipment and materials both on land and near water bodies. The initiative also supports construction efficiency, making the project more cost-effective and time-efficient by avoiding interruptions.
Access to Crescent Falls will be gated at Highway 11, with clear signage and construction barriers in place, to be enforced by Conservation officers under the Provincial Parks Act.
The upcoming construction activities aim to enhance the site, including expanding parking areas, upgrading access roads, installing a new pedestrian trail, improving the day use area, and boosting signage. Furthermore, additional toilets, bear-proof garbage bins, and upgraded safety features will be installed throughout the Provincial Recreation Area.
This upgrade forms part of the second phase of the $8.4 million David Thompson Corridor (DTC) Infrastructure Safety Upgrades project. The project seeks to upgrade 13 sites along the corridor, with the first phase of construction already 80% complete. The final phase is due to kick off in June 2023, with Bighorn Dam and Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area as focal points.
While Crescent Falls PRA will be fully closed for the construction period, alternate parking and staging areas will be available along Highway 11. The east viewing area of the Falls located on the county road will remain open. Also, Bighorn Dam will remain partially open from June to December 2023, offering access to various trails and alternative parking and staging areas.
Situated on the Bighorn River in west-central Alberta, the recreation area is home to the stunning Crescent Falls, a set of two waterfalls, and offers various recreational activities. Among these are fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and geocaching. The recreation area also houses 29 unserviced camping sites.