The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed this morning that the seasonal Chief Mountain land border crossing between Alberta and Montana will shut down for the winter at 6:00 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, September 30. The high-elevation port—located in Waterton Lakes National Park—operates only from May through September because of harsh mountain weather and limited traffic in colder months. Traffic through Chief Mountain has rebounded strongly in 2026. Between May 15 and September 7, the crossing processed 53,993 travellers—about 10 % more than the same period last year—thanks to strong leisure demand and a surge of cross-border camper-vans and motorcycle tours. Commercial shipments account for only a fraction of movements, but local exporters of Alberta beef and B.C. cherries value the route as a scenic alternative to the more congested Coutts–Sweetgrass corridor. During the closure, motorists will be diverted to the Carway, Del Bonita and Coutts ports of entry. Companies with bonded or temperature-sensitive cargo should factor the 90- to 150-kilometre detour into their trip plans and driver hours-of-service calculations. Employers sending technicians to support Alberta’s wind-energy projects—many of which lie along Highway 6—have been advised to book earlier flights into Calgary or Lethbridge to avoid missed service windows. The CBSA recommends travellers monitor its online Border Wait Times dashboard and reminds returning residents that all firearms must be declared. Border officers seized 18 undeclared weapons at western ports during last year’s winter closure, underscoring increased enforcement at alternative crossings. For global mobility managers, the announcement is a timely reminder to audit fall travel itineraries. Assignees returning from U.S. client meetings should carry proof of employment and be prepared for extra questions if they transit alternative crossings that handle higher commercial volumes.
Source: Canada Newswire / CBSA release
