Flood and fire damage still impacting some trails and rec sites in B.C.

A sunny May long weekend is rare in B.C., so when it happens, many people take advantage and head outside. But the province is warning many trails and recreation sites remain closed due to last year’s wildfires, and the recent floods.

The popular Othello Tunnels near Hope, that normally open in May, are also closed this weekend because of damage caused by the historic November flooding which saw mudslides come down.

Read more: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Merritt to get new B.C. flood relief money

“Once repaired, some areas may look different from past years, and it is a reminder of the power of nature and the need for us to consider climate resiliency as we repair and improve our park facilities.” MLA B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kelly Greene said.

Many roads were washed out, and anyone hoping to head out should check if they’ve been repaired before testing them.

“Similar to BC Parks, many recreation sites were impacted by extreme weather last year and many of the forest fire related Crown Land closures remain in place and these may impact access to some sites and trails,” the Ministry of Environment said.

“Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) continues to assess the full cost and scope of the damage since access to some recreation sites is still limited due to road washouts and areas covered in snow,” it added.

Park closures for the summer:

• Skagit Valley Park, Hope
• Nahatlatch Park, Fraser Valley
• Coquihalla Canyon Park, Hope
• Skihist Park, Lytton

Current trail closures:

• Berg Lake Trail, Mount Robson Provincial Park
• Elaho Giant Trail, Whistler
• Owl Lake Trail, Pemberton
• Bedwell River Trail and Mackenzie Climber Trail, Tofino

Read the full list here

Partial closures:

• Davis Lake, near Mission
• Sasquatch Provincial Park, Harrison Hot Springs
• Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, near Coquitlam and Maple Ridge
• Golden Ears Provincial Park, Maple Ridge
• Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, Sunshine Coast

Read the full list here

Adventure Smart has created several videos to help people navigate some of the province’s most popular trails, including the Stawamus Chief Trail in Squamish.

As well, May has been unseasonably cold in many parts of the province, including Metro Vancouver, and there is a lot of snow on the local mountains still.

As a result, the Grouse Grind remains closed in North Vancouver due to the hazardous conditions due to the winter weather. However, the BCMC Trail is set to reopen on May 21, which offers a less intense workout just east of the Grind.

While many campgrounds were also heavily damaged by the floods, the popular Cultus Lake Provincial Park is reopened, and reservations are going quick.

More than 100,000 reservations have been booked on BC Parks’ new web system since it launched in late March.

Read more: B.C. camp reservation system gets new look after years of challenges

Some campsite closures include:

• Widgeon Campgound

Check here for any updates

Some campgrounds at E.C. Manning Provincial Park are closed this weekend, but will be ready to open in time for the summer season.

“While the majority of parks are open to enjoy, some remain closed for repairs following the unprecedented extreme weather events last year, which makes it more important than ever to plan ahead,” George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, said.

With files from Mike Lloyd