McKinnon Flats Reopens

We reported back in March that signs had gone up announcing that McKinnon would be closed in the future from Nov 01 to April 15.

The gate was then closed and locked on March 14.

The gate was open today. 
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#‎bowriver‬ ‪#‎flyfishing‬ ‪#‎yyc‬ ‪#‎driftboat‬

Today along the Bow River - Mar 10, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

We did our first shuttle of the season to McKinnon Flats today.

High today 11°C, Partly Cloudy, wind avg 10, max 20

McKinnon Flats Open, repairs complete

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

ESRD writes: "Repairs to the access road into McKinnon Flats are now complete and the launch site has been reopened. Public access and use is welcomed.

The repairs enhance the resiliency of the road to withstand weather events and improve access for anglers, outfitters and the public alike. These repairs include reshaping the existing road, culvert installation, and placement of gravel.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels on the river!"

We were pleased to be able to provide the very first shuttle down to Mac this afternoon on the improved road. It was an unexpected reverse shuttle for a couple of visiting fly fishing drift boaters from south of the 49th.

McKinnon Flats road work Day 3

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

The third culvert was installed today. The second culvert that was installed yesterday needed to be 'tweeked'.

A padfoot packer was doing its thing - packing the road. This type of packer is intended to leave the surface somewhat rough, so that it will have a better chance of holding on to the gravel on this very steep road.

They plan to begin hauling in the gravel tomorrow.

All hands were on deck for whatever 'tweeking' was required on the second culvert, which was installed yesterday.

This is the sign at the junction of Highway 22X and Range Road 274

McKinnon Flats road work Day 2

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

The D6 Cat was carving out a drainage ditch along the road.

Two culverts were being installed today, with a third one going in tomorrow.

The bobcat was repairing the section of the road where the first culvert had been installed.

The excavator was digging a trench for the second culvert.

Work begins at McKinnon Flats

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

A D6 Cat was hard at work today.

Today along the Bow River - September 2014

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Another great day in the neighbourhood.

The boat launch at 22X/Fish Creek Park is closed. It will reopen on or before Sept 19. (note new date).

McKinnon Flats Access Road Closed - Sept 22-26, 2014

#‎bowriver‬ ‪#‎flyfishing‬

High today 24°C, partly cloudy, wind avg 5, max 13.
Bow River at Banff 36 cms
Bow River at Calgary flow 97 cms
Bow River below Carseland 165 cms

McKinnon Flats Access Road Closed - Sept 22-26, 2014

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

"The access road into McKinnon Flats will be closed from September 22-26 to conduct road repairs.

The area on the Bow River southeast of Calgary is heavily used by boaters, anglers and outfitters as a take-out point for boats.

Rocky View County, the owner of the road, fully supports the temporary closure decision in the interest of public safety. Beginning on September 22, and until road repairs are complete, access to McKinnon Flats will be barred with a “no entry” marker. Public access and use is not allowed during this time and users are advised to arrange alternative take-out points for the duration of the closure.

These repairs will include reshaping the existing road, culvert installation, and placement of gravel. The repairs will enhance the resiliency of the road to withstand weather events and improve access for anglers, outfitters and the public alike.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels on the river!"

Regards,

ESRD Information Centre

#bowriver #flyfishing

McKinnon Flats road - looking better

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

A bit of good news. We found the road had been graded early this morning. We didn't see any sign of the grader, but we were first down the hill on a very smooth road. Although it was still passable, the road had begun to deteriorate over the past several weeks, after a number rain events.

So, ESRD must have found a bit of the money that they were looking for. No sign of any gravel, drainage, etc. But hopefully, all of those improvements are on someone's to-do list.

Mud Bogging at Mac

Photos, © Bow River Shuttles. Friday.

This is what the road down to the McKinnon Flats boat launch looked like on Friday and Saturday mornings, after overnight rains.

I could not risk driving my shuttle van down the road, for fear I would not be able to get back up.

So, my drivers drove the customer vehicles down the hill, and walked back up.

 Friday

Friday

View Saturday photos here: http://on.fb.me/1iCQKJa

Province re-opens McKinnon Flats access

Please click on image for larger version

Boat launch set to repopen on weekend

The access road to McKinnon Flats was closed May 16 due to safety concerns, cutting off access to one of the most popular spots for rafters to float on the Bow River. The road was graded and repaired Wednesday, and is expected to reopen this weekend.
Photograph by: Erika Stark, Calgary Herald

Road repair to reinstate access to Bow River for floaters, fishers

By Erika Stark, Calgary Herald May 22, 2014

A popular boat launch southeast of Calgary is expected to reopen this weekend, following a weeklong closure that had many anglers and outfitters worried about access to the Bow River.

The access road to McKinnon Flats, about 35 km southeast of the city, closed last week after the province deemed the road unsafe for traffic. It’s one of the most common takeout points for drift boaters who get on the Bow River around Calgary and float south.

Read story here: http://bit.ly/1jKrBBk

McKinnon Flats Road Open

 Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

ESRD confirmed late today the gate is open and the site is accessible again.

Sign at 22X/Fish Creek Park

 Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Turns out we crossed paths with ESRD today, but didn't know it. The signs were made this morning. The first one went up at Police, which we saw when we did a shuttle from 22X to Police. ESRD then put up this one at 22X, after we had already departed that boat launch. LOL.

And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, "Hey! What gives you the right?"

Five Man Electrical Band (Canadian) 1970

Sign at Policeman's Flats

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

Five Man Electrical Band (Canadian) 1970

Province closes McKinnon Flats access due to safety hazards

Click on poster for larger image

McKinnon Flats Road Closed Until Further Notice

Michelle chatting with Alberta Transportation and ESRD reps.
All photos, © Bow River Shuttles.

Yesterday, we met reps from Alberta Transportation and from ESRD while we were at McKinnon Flats. They told us that they planned to close the road later in the afternoon, as soon as they could fix the damaged gate. 

When we went back today, the gate was up and locked.

Help is on the way...

Help is on the way...

We received word from ESRD that the department is looking at how they might repair the road down to McKinnon Flats. It would be a pricey project. So securing funding will be the key to the scale and timing of any work. Given its current state, a road closure could be in the offing in the short term.

In the meantime, we would discourage people from attempting to use that road any time there is rain. You'll only make matters worse. And if you slip off what one shuttle client described as 'the goat trail', you won't be getting out of there without a great deal of trouble.

If you doubt my word, have a look at my May 03 report "Stuck in the Mud at Mac" at this link: http://on.fb.me/1jFxcYB

Today, we managed to find the high ground all the way down, for both my shuttle van and the van and trailer that we were moving. (see video above) No bottoming out! And we managed the same feat on the way back up. :-)

Dispatches from The Goat Trail

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles. This is near the beginning of the second leg of the switchback, that you can see from the top of the valley

We had a shuttle trip to McKinnon yesterday (Sun May 11). So we got a chance to see the condition of the road up close and personal.

The overall appearance of what can be seen of the road from the top of the valley was the same as we saw last Thursday. It's pretty much a one lane road, with few opportunities for two vehicles to pass by one another. Regular size vehicles, like my van, are at a real disadvantage. However, in a number of spots, even full size trucks would have a problem pulling over.

The worst spot is near the end of the second leg of the switchback. I'm standing in one of the deepest ruts.

Similar to the last time we went down the road, my van bottomed out several times, despite my best efforts.

Until we get another major storm, the road will remain passable.

This is near the end of that second leg.

Same spot as previous photo. My right hand is touching the top of the mud.

View more photos here: http://on.fb.me/1mijtrd

Stuck in the Mud at Mac

All Photos, © Bow River Shuttles

Stuck in the Mud at Mac
a.k.a. Today along the Bow River

"Today seems like a great day to check out the Bow River at McKinnon Flats" said (almost) no one.

What we find when we're looking to take a snowy river photo. :-)

The snow sort of 'frames' the huge ruts in the road that we reported on a couple days ago.