Hikers, rejoice!
After receiving a nearly $1 million face lift, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is set to reopen next week.
Those using the popular trail will notice improved camping facilities with the addition of 50 new elevated tent platforms at five back country campgrounds.
The wooden tent platforms are part of various infrastructure upgrades along the 47-kilometre wilderness trail, offering hikers a more comfortable camping experience during bad weather while protecting sensitive habitat.
The project, which costs approximately $905,000, includes ten new tent platforms added to each of the campgrounds at Mystic Beach, Bear Beach, Chin Beach, Little Kuitshe Creek, and Payzant Creek, along with two more food caches installed at each location.
Other improvements include stepped boardwalks, staircases, foot bridges, and a newly engineered bridge at Kuitshe Creek, and a damaged engineered bridge was replaced at Hoard Creek.
Spanning part of Vancouver Island’s southwest coast, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is mainly designed for strenuous day or multi-day hiking, with campsites located in rugged, isolated areas.
The trail traverses a rugged environment that is often subject to wet and extreme weather conditions. Before heading out, hikers are advised to check the park website for advisories and be prepared for uneven ground and slippery conditions on muddy trails, wooden surfaces, boulders and rocky shorelines.
A portion of the trail between Little Kuitshe Creek campground and the Parkinson Creek trailhead remains closed to finish infrastructure upgrades.
The trail will fully re-open on May 17th.
Since 2019, the BC government has spent $2.1 million to build new bridges, boardwalks and other infrastructure along the popular multi-day hiking trail.