A special avalanche bulletin has been issued for the Rockies and surrounding areas and backcountry users planning trips this long weekend are being advised to use caution and come prepared.

Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada and Kananaskis Country have issued the warning for the following areas:

Banff National Park

Yoho National Park

Kootenay National Park

Jasper National Park

Kananaskis Country

Purcells

North Rockies regions

Experts say the main issue is a deeply buried, weak layer and that large, human-triggered and naturally occurring avalanches are possible.

Backcountry users who do not have experience or training in avalanche safety are advised to avoid avalanche terrain this weekend.

Those with experience and training are instructed to be extremely cautious in areas with thin snowpack, and to limit exposure by avoiding large slopes.

Officials say avalanches can be initiated from a distance and can spread across the entire mountain and that people should stay away from those slopes threatened by cornices overhead.

Those travelling in groups should be careful where they stop to meet up and to ride one at a time in avalanche terrain.

Everyone should come equipped with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.

The avalanche warning is in effect from March 25 to March 28.

For the latest advisories and conditions, click HERE.