Plans paused on new recreation trail in northern Alberta as First Nation raises concerns – CBC

Apr 07, 2026

Dene Tha’ First Nation hopes court will eventually reverse winter road transfers needed for project

Plans for bulldozers to carve a new recreation trail through northwestern Alberta are on hold.

Mackenzie County wants to turn two defunct industrial winter roads into a recreation trail in the areas around Bistcho Lake and Thurston Lake. But the Dene Tha’ First Nation says the provincial government did not properly consult its people before transferring ownership to Mackenzie County.

Riley Gough, a spokesperson for Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, said the department followed its guidelines on consultation, and that “these are existing roads with a change in ownership only not requiring consultation.”

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/northern-alberta-recreation-trail-9.7153170