Following the announcement of the proposed new bike and walking trail along the Icefields Parkway, Parks Canada will begin consulting with Indigenous Peoples, partners, stakeholders and the public on the project, in early 2017.
The idea of the Icefields Trail project is part of the Icefields Parkway Strategic Concept (2009) and the management plans for both Jasper National Park (2010) and Banff National Park (2010). Parks Canada is also considering on extending the trail over the long-term past the Columbia Icefield to reach Lake Louise.
An environmental assessment, along with input from the consultations, will inform the decision on the overall project. The public would also be consulted on any potential extension of the trail to Lake Louise. The total cost of the Icefields Trail project is estimated to be $86.4 million.