The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed that the Chief Mountain port of entry, which connects Alberta’s Highway 6 with Montana’s Glacier National Park, will close for the winter at 6 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, September 30. The seasonal shutdown is an annual event because the high-elevation route—1,722 metres above sea level—is frequently hit by heavy snow and high winds that make year-round operations unsafe. Travellers will be redirected to the Carway, Del Bonita or Coutts crossings, all of which operate throughout the winter. Traffic through Chief Mountain has been growing steadily since pandemic restrictions were lifted. CBSA data show that 53,993 travellers entered Canada via the crossing between May 15 and September 7 of this year, almost 5,000 more than in 2025. Commercial transport companies have also taken advantage of the route’s extended summer hours—7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June through Labour Day—which allow trucks serving southern Alberta’s agri-food sector to shorten delivery times to U.S. markets. For corporate mobility managers, the closure means revising route planning for employees, contractors and cargo moving between southern Alberta and the U.S. Midwest. Companies that normally rely on Chief Mountain for quick access to Waterton Lakes or to Montana destinations will need to factor in an additional 60–90 minutes of driving time through Carway or Del Bonita. The CBSA recommends checking its online Border Wait Times dashboard before departure and ensuring that travellers have proper travel documents and a complete list of goods to expedite inspection. Businesses moving high-value equipment should note that Canadian firearms and restricted-goods regulations remain in full effect at alternative ports. Failure to declare items can result in seizure, penalties or prosecution. CBSA officials also remind employers that winter road closures are common on secondary highways leading to Coutts and Del Bonita; contingency planning should include weather monitoring and potential overnight stops.
