LivePassWatch › Canada › Alberta

Alberta Mountain Passes Live Conditions & Road Status

Real-time open/closed reports, winter closure schedules, webcams, and Canadian Rockies pass updates across Bow Summit (Icefields Parkway), Kananaskis Highwood Pass (AB-40), Crowsnest Pass, and Vermilion Pass. Verified live via 511 Alberta and Parks Canada.

511 Alberta Live Feed • Updated Today • 14 Passes Monitored
Highway 3 · Southern Alberta Rockies Open

Crowsnest Pass

1,357 m (4,452 ft) · Crowsnest Hwy 3 · Coleman AB to Sparwood BC

Southernmost Canadian Rockies highway pass carrying year-round commercial freight between Southern Alberta and the East Kootenays.

Crowsnest Pass road conditions Crowsnest Pass open or closed
Trans-Canada Hwy 1 · Continental Divide Open

Kicking Horse Pass

1,627 m (5,338 ft) · Trans-Canada Hwy 1 · Lake Louise AB to Golden BC

Major transcontinental corridor crossing the Continental Divide on the Banff National Park / Yoho National Park boundary.

Kicking Horse Pass road conditions Kicking Horse Pass open or closed
Highway 16 · Jasper National Park Open

Yellowhead Pass

1,131 m (3,711 ft) · Yellowhead Hwy 16 · Jasper AB to Tête Jaune BC

National Historic Site low-elevation pass crossing the Continental Divide on Highway 16 between Jasper National Park and Mount Robson.

Yellowhead Pass road conditions Yellowhead Pass open or closed
Jasper National Park · Historic Fur Trade Pass Open

Athabasca Pass

1,753 m (5,751 ft) · National Historic Site · Whirlpool River Trail Trek

Historic fur trade trail trek used by David Thompson in 1811 to connect the Athabasca River basin with the Columbia River system.

Athabasca Pass trail conditions Athabasca Pass trek conditions
Banff National Park · Continental Divide Open

Howse Pass

1,539 m (5,049 ft) · National Historic Site · Howse River Valley Trek

Historic fur trade pass trek crossing the Canadian Rockies Continental Divide between Banff National Park and the Blaeberry Valley.

Howse Pass trail conditions Howse Pass trek conditions
Highway 93 · Icefields Parkway Open

Sunwapta Pass

2,035 m (6,677 ft) · Icefields Parkway Hwy 93N · Banff / Jasper Boundary

High elevation pass on the Icefields Parkway near Columbia Icefield, forming the geographic border between Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Sunwapta Pass road conditions Sunwapta Pass open or closed
Highway 93 · Banff National Park Open

Bow Pass

2,088 m (6,850 ft) · Icefields Parkway Hwy 93N · Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Highest paved pass point on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. Access point for the famous Peyto Lake turquoise glacial overlook.

Bow Pass road conditions Bow Pass open or closed
Highway 40 · Kananaskis Country Winter Gate Closed

Highwood Pass

2,206 m (7,238 ft) · Kananaskis Hwy 40 · Highest Paved Hwy in Canada

The highest paved road in Canada. Subject to an annual winter wildlife closure gate (Dec 1 – June 14) to protect bighorn sheep and grizzly bear habitat.

Highwood Pass road conditions Highwood Pass open or closed
Jasper National Park · Columbia Icefield Trek Open

Wilcox Pass

2,375 m (7,792 ft) · Wilcox Ridge Trail · Overlooking Athabasca Glacier

World-famous alpine trail trek offering unmatched panoramic views of the Athabasca Glacier, Mount Athabasca, and frequent bighorn sheep sightings.

Wilcox Pass trail conditions Wilcox Pass trek conditions
Jasper National Park · Brazeau Loop Gateway Open

Nigel Pass

2,195 m (7,201 ft) · Icefields Parkway Corridor · Backcountry Gateway

Alpine pass trek serving as the northern gateway into the remote Brazeau River headwaters and White Goat Wilderness in Jasper National Park.

Nigel Pass trail conditions Nigel Pass trek conditions
Banff / Jasper Boundary · Pinto Lake Trail Open

Sunset Pass

2,165 m (7,103 ft) · Norman Creek Trail · Overlooking Pinto Lake

Steep alpine pass trek climbing from Highway 93 up to Sunset Lookout and Pinto Lake in the White Goat Wilderness Area.

Sunset Pass trail conditions Sunset Pass trek conditions
White Goat Wilderness · High Alpine Pass Open

Cataract Pass

2,470 m (8,104 ft) · Cataract Creek Headwaters · Wilderness Trek

High alpine pass trek connecting Nigel Pass with the headwaters of the Cline River in the pristine White Goat Wilderness Area.

Cataract Pass trail conditions Cataract Pass trek conditions
Banff National Park · Remote Eastern Valleys Open

Pipestone Pass

2,460 m (8,071 ft) · Pipestone River Headwaters · Backcountry Trek

Remote high alpine pass trek crossing between the Pipestone River and Siffleur River wilderness in northern Banff National Park.

Pipestone Pass trail conditions Pipestone Pass trek conditions
Jasper National Park · Northern Rockies Boundary Open

Miette Pass

2,040 m (6,693 ft) · Miette River Trail · Backcountry Wilderness Trek

Solitary alpine pass trek crossing the Continental Divide between Jasper National Park and the Fraser River basin in BC.

Miette Pass trail conditions Miette Pass trek conditions
Jasper National Park · Brazeau Loop Open

Jonas Pass

2,450 m (8,038 ft) · Jonas Shoulder Trail · Brazeau Circuit Trek

Stunning 12 km alpine valley traverse over Jonas Shoulder on Jasper's famous Brazeau Loop backcountry multi-day trek.

Jonas Pass trail conditions Jonas Pass trek conditions
Jasper National Park · Brazeau Lake Axis Open

Brazeau Pass

2,370 m (7,776 ft) · Brazeau River Circuit · Alpine Pass Trek

High tundra pass trek traversing between Brazeau Lake and Poboktan Creek in the remote backcountry of Jasper National Park.

Brazeau Pass trail conditions Brazeau Pass trek conditions
Jasper National Park · Maligne Valley Link Open

Poboktan Pass

2,270 m (7,448 ft) · Poboktan Creek Trail · Backcountry Circuit

Alpine pass trek connecting Poboktan Creek with the upper Maligne River watershed in southern Jasper National Park.

Poboktan Pass trail conditions Poboktan Pass trek conditions
Banff NP / Mt Assiniboine Border Open

Assiniboine Pass

2,260 m (7,415 ft) · Bryant Creek Trail · Gateway to Lake Magog

Main eastern hiking approach pass entering Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park ("Matterhorn of the Rockies") from Canmore / Banff.

Assiniboine Pass trail conditions Assiniboine Pass trek conditions
Mount Assiniboine / Marvel Lake Open

Wonder Pass

2,395 m (7,858 ft) · Marvel Lake Trail · Alpine Ridge Overlook

Spectacular high alpine pass trek featuring panoramic vistas over Marvel Lake, Mount Assiniboine, and larch forest basins.

Wonder Pass trail conditions Wonder Pass trek conditions
Banff National Park · Wildflower Meadows Open

Healy Pass

2,330 m (7,644 ft) · Sunshine Village Axis · Egypt Lake Trail

Renowned alpine pass trek famous for vast summer alpine wildflower displays and golden autumn alpine larch forests above Sunshine Creek.

Healy Pass trail conditions Healy Pass trek conditions
Banff NP / Sunshine Meadows Open

Simpson Pass

2,107 m (6,913 ft) · Continental Divide Trail · Sunshine Meadows Loop

Historic Continental Divide pass trek located directly on the AB/BC boundary in the alpine meadows of Sunshine Village.

Simpson Pass trail conditions Simpson Pass trek conditions
Banff National Park · Skoki Valley Gateway Open

Boulder Pass

2,345 m (7,694 ft) · Skoki Loop Trail · Ptarmigan Lake Overlook

Gateway alpine pass trek leading over Ptarmigan Lake into the historic Skoki Valley backcountry area north of Lake Louise.

Boulder Pass trail conditions Boulder Pass trek conditions
Highway 93 · Continental Divide Open

Vermilion Pass

1,651 m (5,416 ft) · Kootenay Hwy 93S · Banff NP to Kootenay NP

Continental Divide highway pass on Highway 93 South connecting Castle Junction (Banff NP) with Kootenay NP in BC.

Vermilion Pass road conditions Vermilion Pass open or closed
Kananaskis / Banff NP Boundary Open

White Man Pass

2,170 m (7,119 ft) · Cross River / Spray Lakes · Historic Pass Trek

Historic mountain trail pass trek used by 19th-century fur traders crossing the Continental Divide between Spray Lakes and Cross River.

White Man Pass trail conditions White Man Pass trek conditions

Alberta Passes & Treks Quick Index

Pass / Summit / Trek Elevation Highway / Corridor Mountain Range / Park Status Authority
Crowsnest Pass1,357 m (4,452 ft)Crowsnest Hwy 3Southern Alberta RockiesOpenAlberta 511 / DriveBC
Kicking Horse Pass1,627 m (5,338 ft)Trans-Canada Hwy 1Continental Divide / YohoOpenAlberta 511 / Parks Canada
Yellowhead Pass1,131 m (3,711 ft)Yellowhead Hwy 16Jasper National ParkOpenAlberta 511 / Parks Canada
Athabasca Pass1,753 m (5,751 ft)Historic Fur Trade TrekJasper National ParkOpenParks Canada Historic
Howse Pass1,539 m (5,049 ft)Historic Fur Trade TrekBanff National ParkOpenParks Canada Historic
Sunwapta Pass2,035 m (6,677 ft)Icefields Parkway Hwy 93NBanff / Jasper BoundaryOpenAlberta 511 / Parks Canada
Bow Pass2,088 m (6,850 ft)Icefields Parkway Hwy 93NBanff NP / Peyto LakeOpenAlberta 511 / Parks Canada
Highwood Pass2,206 m (7,238 ft)Kananaskis Hwy 40Highest Paved Hwy in CanadaGate ClosedAlberta Parks / AB 511
Wilcox Pass2,375 m (7,792 ft)Wilcox Ridge Trail TrekJasper NP / Athabasca GlacierOpenParks Canada Alpine
Nigel Pass2,195 m (7,201 ft)Brazeau Gateway TrekJasper National ParkOpenParks Canada Backcountry
Sunset Pass2,165 m (7,103 ft)Norman Creek Trail TrekPinto Lake / White GoatOpenParks Canada & AB Parks
Cataract Pass2,470 m (8,104 ft)Cataract Creek TrekWhite Goat WildernessOpenAlberta Parks Wilderness
Pipestone Pass2,460 m (8,071 ft)Pipestone River TrekBanff National ParkOpenParks Canada Wilderness
Miette Pass2,040 m (6,693 ft)Miette River Trail TrekJasper National ParkOpenParks Canada Trail
Jonas Pass2,450 m (8,038 ft)Jonas Shoulder TrekJasper NP Brazeau LoopOpenParks Canada Backcountry
Brazeau Pass2,370 m (7,776 ft)Brazeau Circuit TrekJasper National ParkOpenParks Canada Backcountry
Poboktan Pass2,270 m (7,448 ft)Poboktan Creek TrekJasper National ParkOpenParks Canada Trail
Assiniboine Pass2,260 m (7,415 ft)Bryant Creek Trail TrekBanff / Mt AssiniboineOpenParks Canada & BC Parks
Wonder Pass2,395 m (7,858 ft)Marvel Lake Trail TrekMount Assiniboine ParkOpenParks Canada & BC Parks
Healy Pass2,330 m (7,644 ft)Sunshine Meadows TrekBanff National ParkOpenParks Canada Alpine
Simpson Pass2,107 m (6,913 ft)Continental Divide TrekBanff / Sunshine MeadowsOpenParks Canada CDT
Boulder Pass2,345 m (7,694 ft)Skoki Trail Loop TrekBanff NP / Lake LouiseOpenParks Canada Skoki
Vermilion Pass1,651 m (5,416 ft)Kootenay Hwy 93SContinental DivideOpenAlberta 511 / Parks Canada
White Man Pass2,170 m (7,119 ft)Spray Lakes Trail TrekKananaskis / Banff BorderOpenAlberta Parks

Alberta Mountain Passes: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paved highway pass in Canada and when is Highwood Pass open? ▼
Highwood Pass on Highway 40 in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (Kananaskis Country) is the highest paved highway pass in Canada at an elevation of 2,206 meters (7,238 feet). To protect wildlife migration corridors for bighorn sheep and grizzly bears, Highwood Pass is subject to an annual seasonal winter gate closure between December 1 and June 14.
What are winter tire requirements on Alberta highways and the Icefields Parkway? ▼
Winter tires (M+S or 3PMSF peak mountain snowflake symbol with at least 3.5 mm tread depth) or tire chains are legally mandatory on Highway 93 North (Icefields Parkway crossing Bow Pass and Sunwapta Pass) from November 1 to April 30. The Icefields Parkway has no cell phone service, no commercial snowplowing between 7 PM and 7 AM, and frequent avalanche control closures.
What permits are required for backcountry alpine pass treks in Banff & Jasper? ▼
Overnight wilderness trekking across high alpine passes such as Jonas Pass, Brazeau Pass, Boulder Pass (Skoki), Healy Pass, and Assiniboine Pass requires a Parks Canada Wilderness Pass and advance backcountry campsite reservations. Bear-resistant food canisters or hanging cables are mandatory.
Where can I check live Alberta 511 highway conditions? ▼
LivePassWatch updates live road condition advisories directly from Alberta 511 (Alberta Transportation) and Parks Canada road status bulletins for Crowsnest Pass, Kicking Horse Pass, Yellowhead Pass, Bow Pass, and Sunwapta Pass.