Popular Lions Bay trails re-open after rain reduces wildfire risk

Trailheads connecting to popular trails above Lions Bay will be re-opened to the public after rain this week dampened wildfire risk in the community.

The decision to re-opened the trailheads in the municipality was made Tuesday, a week after the village opted to close public access over heightened wildfire risk.

At the earlier meeting "council voted unanimously to close the trails due to the risk of wildfires,” wrote Lions Bay Mayor Ken Berry in an email. “The decision was taken after reflection that there were hundreds of fires in B.C. with the majority of them out of control …”

“Had a fire broken out during this period, it would have posed a grave risk to not only Lions Bay but the whole region, including West and North Vancouver,” Berry wrote.

Prior to the decision, an online petition had circulated in the community requesting that the trailheads on municipal land be closed.

Some local outdoors advocates questioned that decision.

Local hiking advocate Steve Jones said he doubted officially closing the trailheads would make the community safer. While he sympathizes with residents’ fears of wildfire, “I don’t think it’s the most effective way to manage risk,” he said last week. “The fact of the matter is hikers are not a cause of fires.”

Jones said lightning, motorized vehicles and industrial activity are far more likely to start fires.

That concern was also shared by North Shore Rescue team leader Mike Danks, who added the rescue team doesn’t support closing trails to the public.

“We need the public to be the eyes and ears for us,” he said.

Trailheads to several popular hikes, including Tunnel Bluffs, the west Lion, Centennial Trail, Brunswick Mountain and Mount Harvey start in Lions Bay.

The trailheads and limited parking area are on municipal land, although most of the trails themselves were originally built by volunteers on Crown land and connect to trails in Cypress Provincial Park.

After rain fell on the community Monday and Tuesday, combined with cooler temperatures, Berry said council decided to reverse the decision to close the trailheads, provided experts confirm it’s safe to do so.

“Recognizing that the trails above Lions Bay are a regional asset and important to the physical and mental health of so many, a motion was passed today to reopen the trails subject to consultation with experts confirming that conditions have improved and the risk is diminished,” Berry said.