Heavy rain forcing residents to leave and park to shut down in a British Columbia provincial park

Flooding Closes Bugaboo Provincial Park, Evacuates Hundreds of Visitors

Bugaboo Provincial Park, known for its awe-inspiring mountain and glacier terrain, has been closed due to flooding in southeastern British Columbia. The closure, which includes popular trails like the Kain Hut Trail, Bugaboo Spires Trail, Applebee Dome Campground, and Boulder Campground, was triggered by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development of British Columbia.

Approximately 250 hectares of the park have been affected by the flooding, forcing the evacuation of over 60 people on Sunday. Columbia Valley Search and Rescue, along with the Alpine Club of Canada and a local helicopter operator, successfully removed all hikers and climbers from the core area of the park.

The provincial parks ministry issued a BC Parks order on Sunday, stating that any users of the closure area within Bugaboo Provincial Park during this closure are in trespass under the Trespass Act. However, the ministry did not mention any additional assistance or involvement in the evacuation efforts in the current paragraph.

The current status of the park remains under assessment as BC Parks staff work to evaluate residual hazards and damage. The closure will remain in effect until further notice, and areas of the park outside the closure zone remain open to visitors.

The steep, granite spires of Bugaboo Provincial Park attract climbers from around the world, with many peaks in the park exceeding 3,000 metres. The closure of the park is a significant disruption for the climbing community, but the safety of visitors and park staff is the top priority.

As the situation develops, BC Parks will provide updates on the status of the closure and when the park may reopen. In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to stay informed and follow any updates from the provincial parks ministry.