Chief Mountain port of entry in Alberta closes for the season

The Chief Mountain port of entry at the Canada-United States land border between Alberta and Montana is closing for the season on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). It will reopen in the spring of 2027.

September 23, 2026        Calgary, Alberta             Canada Border Services Agency

The Chief Mountain port of entry at the Canada-United States land border between Alberta and Montana is closing for the season on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). It will reopen in the spring of 2027.

Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, the Chief Mountain port of entry only operates from May to September, annually.

During the winter closure, travellers can use the Carway port of entry, Del Bonita port of entry or Coutts port of entry as an alternative.

Chief Mountain is located south of Calgary along Alberta’s Highway 6 on the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park. At 1,722 meters, it has the highest elevation of all border crossings in Canada and has long been considered one of Canada’s most scenic ports of entry.

For additional information, visit the Border Information Services online or call 1-800-461-9999.

As of September 7, the Chief Mountain port of entry welcomed 53,993 travellers into Canada during the 2026 season, an increase of nearly 5,000 travellers from the previous year. 

The Chief Mountain port of entry first opened in 1936, when the Chief Mountain International Highway between Canada and the United States first opened. The Canadian port of entry operated out of a tent for its first year, until a facility was constructed in 1937. 

Before heading to the land border, travellers are encouraged to check the Canada Border Services Agency's border wait times web pages for estimated wait times at select ports of entry.