Risk of falling rocks spurs lengthy detour for drivers to Marmot Basin

File photo. A sign along Highway 93 in Alberta, also known as the Banff-Windermere Parkway south of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Icefields Parkway, welcomes visitors to Jasper National Park. (Alex Antoneshyn / CTV News Edmonton)

If you’re travelling to Marmot Basin in the near future, prepare for a detour. Parks Canada says Route 93A near Marmot Road is closed until further notice because of washout and rockfall.

The 2.5-kilometre stretch of road between the Icefields Parkway and Marmot Road, which is also known as Mile 5 Hill, is impacted.

Parks Canada says spring snowfall and rain created unstable conditions on the slope, posing a risk to drivers.

Loss of vegetation in the area from the 2024 wildfire has resulted in the area becoming even more prone to small debris falls than in previous years.

Engineering assessments are underway to find the most effective long-term solution.

Marmot Basin ski area is still accessible via the south end of Wabasso Road (93A) near Athabasca Falls.

The route adds an estimated 45 to 50 minutes to the drive between Jasper and Marmot Basin.

Drivers should follow the posted detour signs and check Alberta 511 for more information on updates and road conditions.

The road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Parks Canada says the estimated timeframe for reopening is within several weeks.

After the road reopens, one section is expected to remain single-lane alternating traffic through summer 2026 until additional stabilization work begins in the fall.

The work is expected to be completed in time for the opening of Marmot Basin’s 2026-27 season.