Tourism versus environment: Development in Rocky Mountain national parks

Parks Canada is proposing an $86-million bike trail in Jasper National Park that would run from the Jasper townsite to the Columbia Icefields. The agency says it’s an opportunity to expand visitor experiences and bring new people to the parks. Environmental groups call it another chip off the park’s environmental integrity.

Here’s a look at some other commercial and recreational developments in the Rocky Mountain national parks that have been proposed or built in recent years:

Ski hills: Parks Canada is updating its guidelines for ski hills for the first time in more than 10 years. Both Marmot Basin in Jasper and Lake Louise in Banff have suggested they might return unused parts of their leases in exchange for building new lifts elsewhere. Marmot’s request has been turned down. Lake Louise has also said it would like to build new warming huts and a mountaintop lodge.

Mount Norquay: A private company operates a via ferrata on this mountain near the Banff townsite. Visitors can experience an alpine climb and high-altitude walk harnessed into a cable secured to the rock face at a cost that starts at $139.