Future of The Gap Campsite

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The Alberta River Rats Society is working to establish a lawful, environmentally responsible stewardship arrangement for an existing backcountry campsite known as The Gap, located along the upper North Saskatchewan River in Clearwater County, Alberta.

The site has been used informally by river travellers and backcountry campers for many years. It is accessible by river, has no road access, and currently includes a small number of basic features such as tenting areas, picnic tables, a fire ring and an outhouse.

Our goal is not to create a commercial campground or introduce intensive recreation into an untouched area.

Our goal is to bring existing use under a clear system of stewardship, limits, monitoring and accountability.

Unmanaged camping can lead to scattered fire pits, garbage, food attractants, vegetation damage, human waste, noise and the gradual expansion of disturbed areas.

When no organization is clearly responsible for a site, these impacts can continue without consistent oversight, maintenance or enforcement.

The Alberta River Rats Society believes that a small, controlled campsite can reduce these risks through:

• strict limits on the number of campers; 
• a defined operating season; 
• advance reservations; 
• BearSmart food and waste practices; 
• pack-in and pack-out requirements; 
• controlled fire use; 
• quiet hours; 
• no generators or dogs; 
• wildlife and environmental monitoring; 
• temporary closures when conditions require them; and 
• regular volunteer inspections and maintenance. 

The proposal is based on a simple principle:

Responsible management of existing use may provide better environmental outcomes than allowing unmanaged use to continue.
 

ARRS previously applied to the Government of Alberta for a recreational land disposition for The Gap.

That application was refused. The concerns identified by the province included wildlife habitat, possible wildlife movement corridors, the original size of the proposed area, proximity to the river valley break, the possibility of increased use, public access and the risk of exclusive control over public land.

ARRS appealed the refusal. The appeal process has now concluded, and the original decision was confirmed.

We respect that decision and are not asking for the completed appeal process to be disregarded.

Instead, we are seeking a new and more collaborative pathway forward.

That pathway may involve a smaller footprint, revised boundaries, stronger wildlife safeguards, additional scientific input, improved monitoring or consideration of an alternate nearby location if one can meet both environmental and practical requirements.

Before submitting another application, we want to understand the government’s concerns as clearly as possible and address them directly.

ARRS has already developed a more detailed set of mitigation measures intended to make the proposal smaller, more controlled and more responsive to wildlife and habitat concerns.

These measures include:

• reducing the proposed area from approximately 16.4 acres to a compact area of approximately 2.7 acres; 
• limiting the site to five tents and twelve people; 
• operating only from July 1 to October 1; 
• prohibiting dogs and generators; 
• requiring low lighting and quiet hours; 
• implementing BearSmart food, refuse and attractant controls; 
• maintaining public, non-exclusive access; 
• avoiding paid promotion and destination-style advertising; 
• monitoring wildlife activity and campsite conditions; 
• reducing occupancy or closing the site when environmental triggers arise; and 
• protecting the riverbank and limiting disturbance near the valley break. 

These measures are not intended to minimize the importance of wildlife concerns.

They are intended to respond to those concerns in a practical, measurable and enforceable way.

Wildlife protection is one of the most important parts of the proposal.

The Gap is located within a broader landscape used by grizzly bears and other large mammals. Government reviewers have also raised concerns about possible wildlife movement through the valley.

ARRS is seeking guidance from wildlife specialists, government staff, researchers and conservation organizations to better understand these concerns and to determine what monitoring and mitigation measures would be most appropriate.

We have also created The Gap Campsite Wildlife Monitoring Project through iNaturalist.

The project is intended to create a transparent public record of wildlife, plant and habitat observations associated with the area.

This citizen-science work does not replace professional biological assessment or government review. It is intended to supplement professional advice, improve local awareness and help guide adaptive management over time.

ARRS has contacted or sought input from a range of organizations and individuals, including:

• provincial government departments; 
• Fish and Wildlife staff; 
• Clearwater County representatives; 
• elected provincial and federal representatives; 
• wildlife researchers; 
• environmental organizations; 
• watershed groups; 
• river-user organizations; 
• paddling and jet-boating interests; 
• independent biologists; and 
• local volunteers and campsite users. 

The level of involvement differs among these groups.

Contact does not necessarily mean endorsement.

Our purpose is to gather informed advice, identify concerns and improve the proposal before another application is filed.

The broader question is not simply whether one campsite should remain.

It is whether existing recreation on public land can be managed in a way that protects wildlife, reduces environmental impacts and preserves responsible public access.

ARRS believes a carefully limited stewardship model can:

• reduce uncontrolled camping impacts; 
• create accountability for maintenance and cleanup; 
• improve BearSmart compliance; 
• provide better information about site use; 
• respond quickly to environmental concerns; 
• protect public access; and 
• demonstrate that recreation and conservation do not always have to be treated as opposing goals. 

This proposal also matters because volunteer organizations often face significant challenges navigating public-land approvals, scientific concerns, consultation requirements and regulatory processes.

We want to build a proposal that is transparent, evidence-based and capable of being independently reviewed.

At this stage, ARRS is not asking the public to choose between recreation and wildlife protection.

We are asking for a fair opportunity to develop a workable proposal that addresses both.

We are seeking:

• clear guidance from the Government of Alberta; 
• meaningful pre-application discussions; 
• practical wildlife and habitat information; 
• advice on an acceptable site footprint; 
• identification of any non-negotiable environmental limits; 
• input from researchers and conservation organizations; and 
• support for a managed stewardship approach where the evidence shows it can work. 

The Alberta River Rats Society is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization.

The campsite is not intended to generate private profit, and use of the site is intended to remain free of charge.

ARRS is not proposing a commercial campground, membership-only facility or exclusive private retreat. Any reservation system would be used only to control occupancy, prevent overlapping groups and support responsible stewardship.

Our commitment is to keep the site small, public, controlled and environmentally responsible.

We will continue to improve the proposal, document our work and make relevant information available to the public.

Our objective is simple:

To replace unmanaged use with responsible stewardship while protecting the wildlife, water and landscape that make The Gap important.
 

Updates on the proposal, wildlife monitoring, mitigation measures and consultation efforts will be posted on this website.

Visitors will also be able to view The Gap Campsite Wildlife Monitoring Project through iNaturalist once the project record is active.