Representatives from Bowen Island Municipality, Metro Vancouver and Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. recently got together to celebrate the opening of a new trail.
The trail was a collaborative effort between the three levels of government: the Municipality coordinated construction of the trail and Metro Vancouver and the Province provided the land.
Aptly named the Mt. Gardner Connector, the trail connects the existing trail networks in Crippen Regional Park and Mt. Gardner, starting in the meadow across from Killarney Lake and intersecting with Skid Trail close to Hiker’s Trail Road.
Previously, hikers would end up walking along Mt. Gardner Road and up Hiker’s Trail Road, creating a potentially dangerous situation when drivers and hikers met on the narrow streets. Now, hikers have access to over 30 km of trails in two of Bowen Island’s most visited recreation sites without ever having to leave the forest. The trail also helps to alleviate parking and ferry congestion by giving tourists another reason to leave their cars at home.
The trail is just over 1 km long but goes a long way towards improving user experiences for residents and tourists alike. The easy grade through lush, coastal western hemlock forest is inviting to any trail user and makes exploring Mt. Gardner a little more accessible; not just reserved for those who can make it to the top!
