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Canyon View Trail slated for further improvements

A winter landslide on the Canyon View Trail has prompted the province to look at improving the popular hiking trail.

A winter landslide on the Canyon View Trail has prompted the province to look at improving the popular hiking trail.

The section of trail washed out by heavy rain on Christmas Eve has been repaired and has BC Parks considering further upgrades.

“Given the popularity of the trail we are hopeful of completing other trail improvements on this west quarter of the Canyon View Trail in the next few years to address older boardwalks, stair structures and improve drainage,” said Brent Blackmun, Nootka area supervisor for BC Parks.

Many of the old wooden structures are beginning to rot and with such a wet climate, portions of the trail are subject to flooding and landslides.

Visitors to the Canyon View had to navigate around a three-foot wide washout for nearly three months after a chunk of trail on the north side of the Campbell River, halfway between the John Hart Generating Station and the logging bridge, came down.

In March, BC Parks unveiled a new 100-metre section of trail, above where the landslide occurred, with improved trail surface and two sets of stairs on either side of a small boardwalk.

The work came at a cost of $15,000.

“There is a slight grade increase in order to skirt above the area affected by the landslide,” said Blackmun.

Elsie Johnsen, who has walked the trail nearly every day for years, said she appreciates BC Parks’ quick work in fixing the trail.

“They did a wonderful job,” said Johnsen. “It’s great, now you can go all the way around again.”