Bow Glacier Falls trail reopens after fatal rockslide last year

The Bow Glacier Falls trail in Banff National Park has been reopened, more than a year after two hikers were killed in a rockslide.

The Bow Glacier Falls trail in Banff National Park has been reopened, more than a year after two hikers were killed in a rockslide. Parks Canada said in a Thursday statement that the area has undergone a detailed geotechnical assessment, and new warning signage has been installed. The assessment identified lower-risk and higher-risk areas, and signs have been updated to clearly mark the end of the official trail, warning visitors of the increased rockfall risk beyond the trail.

“While the trail has reopened, visitors are reminded that rockfall is a natural hazard in mountain environments, and some risk will always be present,” the statement said. In June 2025, a rockslide in the area claimed the lives of two hikers, Calgarian Jutta Hinrichs, 70, and Hamza Benhilal, 33, who was visiting from Vancouver. Two other hikers were airlifted out by STARS air ambulance, and a total of 13 people were evacuated from the scene.

The rockslide was confirmed to be the result of natural processes in mountain areas, with Parks Canada confirming at the time that it was “neither preventable nor predictable.” The area was closed to the public starting June 20, 2025, and has remained closed while the geotechnical assessment was completed. Parks Canada advises visitors to the area to respect the posted signage, avoid steep slopes past the marked trail, and take precautions including travelling in groups, staying alert, and passing through higher-risk areas quickly.

“Rockfall risk is highest near the falls and rockwall, with possible rockfall runout below,” Parks Canada said, noting that natural hazards are “part of the national park environment.” “Safety is your responsibility,” the statement said. “All backcountry travel involves risk — choose trips that match your experience and comfort level.”

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