A beloved trail in the Bella Coola Valley has received a major overhaul thanks to the efforts of local volunteers and some outside funding.
The Schoolhouse Falls Trail is situated in Hagensborg behind Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School.
"One of the problems with the original trail is that its start goes through a swampy area," said Hans Granander of the Bella Coola Trails Alliance.
In the past an elevated boardwalk was built over the swampy area, but it has become quite a challenge to maintain and become unsafe over the last few years, Granander explained.
Instead of trying to constantly repair the boardwalk, the alliance looked at building a new trail on drier ground over a new route.
In 2023, they started dismantling the boardwalk and installed three foot bridges.
"This year we have finished the new trail with the gravel covering cedar planking and geotextile," Granander said.
Next a series of new signs will be made to show the trail route as well as acknowledge various funders.
Earlier in July, the Schoolhouse Falls Trail project, through the Bella Coola Resource Society, received a $9,100-grant from the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC.
The alliance also received funding from the Salmon Enhancement Foundation.
Other funding came from BC Recreation and Trails.
"We also got quite a bit of in-kind donations from BC Wildfire crews on their down time they've been helping to do manual work, plus we've had crews from the Nuxalk foresty company and the Bella Coola Community Forest has done a lot of organization, planning and layout as well as contract management."
The trail has also been expanded for mountain biking, and is one of the most readily accessible, Garander said.
"It is used by a lot of locals for fitness, recreation and exercise all the time, but it is also close to the campgrounds for the tourists. It is one of the most popular trails in the valley from a tourism perspective."
Formed about six years ago, the Bella Coola Trails Alliance has an agreement with Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. to manage trails and look after them.
