According to Tim Croston, president of the Grizzly Valley ATV club, logging operations are planned for the winter of 2027 or 2028 out in the Bulley Creek area.
Logging in the Tumbler Ridge area is nothing new. Indeed, logging roads provide access to many of the area’s most popular destinations.
And that, says Croston, is the problem. “According to a BC Forest Service employee I spoke with, once the logging is complete, the Forest Service Road is expected to be deactivated.
The Bulley Creek area is a significant recreational area for Tumbler Ridge residents and visitors, and the Bulley Creek Forest Service Road provides access to “numerous exceptional trails and outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Indeed, the road provides access to some of the area’s most dramatic, hard-to-get-to locations, from Bulley Glacier and Blue Lakes to the road itself, which is a popular ATV and horseback riding destination.
“I believe our community needs to be proactive in preparing for this potential change in the use of the road and surrounding area,” writes Croston in a letter to town council.
“We are all aware of what occurred with the Wolverine Forest Service Road and the condition the deactivation left it in from a recreational access perspective. I hope we can learn from that experience and begin discussions with the Province, BC Forest Service, and any other stakeholders well in advance to ensure recreational access is considered before any decisions are finalized.”
A few years back, the bridges were pulled from the Wolverine Forest Service Road past the mine. This means that places like Albright Ridge—once a popular hiking destination—is all but inaccessible. And while the area remains open to snowmobiling, access can be difficult without the bridges, and impossible in the summer for ATVers.
“I am not opposed to responsible resource development, but I do believe it is important that recreational access and tourism opportunities are protected wherever possible,” says Croston. “Early engagement may provide opportunities to preserve public access once forestry operations are completed.”
Croston encourages council to engage with “the appropriate agencies” before the road deactivation process moves forward.
If you are concerned about these closures and want to get involved, go to trora.org.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
