National Hiking Trail directors were in Quesnel for HIKE BC’s 12th annual general meeting held July 15. HIKE BC is a member of the Outdoor Recreational Council of B.C.
The National Hiking Trail system is a series of existing trails and older roads, recreational, historic, mining and native routes, that cross British Columbia East to West and will soon connect to the Southern Mainland.
Approval is still being negotiated regarding use of old trails through Jasper National Park to connect trails that will take one to the start of the Goat River Trail just north of McBride. This trail will follow a route to Barkerville where it joins the 1861 Goldrush Pack Trail leading to the Keithley and Likley area. From here the trail will follow the Quesnel River downstream to Quesnel and will connect with the Quesnel Walking Trails to access the Telegraph Trail to the Blackwater River (West Road.) From here the trail will be using the Nuxall-Carrier Grease (Alexander MacKenzie) Trail to the coast.
Much of the Lower Mainland has many connecting trails leading from the U.S. border through the districts and cities leading into Whistler.
There are plans in the works to extend from the Whistler - Pemberton area through the Western Chilcotin region to join the trail near Tweedsmuir Park.