These B.C. parks are closed for the May long weekend, many because of 2021 extreme weather
While British Columbians may be ready to head outside and enjoy some spring weather this long weekend, the province is warning a handful of local parks remain closed, many because of last year's extreme weather.
The province says most B.C. parks will be open this weekend, but it's a good idea to check conditions before heading out.
"The camping and hiking season is here, and people from throughout our province want to get outside and connect with nature," said Environment Minister George Heyman in a news release.
"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."
Some of those extreme events include heat, flooding and wildfires that damaged trails and campgrounds in more than a dozen parks last year. While repairs are complete at many locations, some are still temporarily closed.
"We have been working diligently to restore as many parks and facilities as possible so they are safe for people to visit and enjoy," Kelly Green, parliamentary secretary for environment, said in a news release.
"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."
Many of the parks that were most impacted are in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. For example, repairs are still underway in the Maple Bay day-use area at Cultus Lake after floods moved rocks and debris through it.
Crews expect to be done repairs to the day-use area by the summer, but once it reopens, it's expected to have fewer picnic tables and a smaller picnic area.
"I’ve seen first-hand the recovery effort going on at Maple Bay day-use area at Cultus Lake, and it has improved leaps and bounds since November," said Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent.
"It will look a little different than we're used to when it’s ready, but I have no doubt that families will enjoy visiting just the same when it opens again early this summer."
Impacted campgrounds at E.C. Manning Provincial Park are expected to reopen for the summer season, though some trails in the park will need to be assessed once the snow melts. Other parks that are still fully closed include Skagit Valley Park, Nahatlatch Park, Coquihalla Canyon Park and Skihist Park, but other parks may have partial closures too.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.