Metlakatla to seek grant funding for Trail repairs

The Metlakatla First Nation is looking towards NDIT funding to help
towards repairs on the now closed Metlakatla Trail

One of the best kept secrets of the North Coast has been off limits for a couple of years now, with the Metlakatla First Nation having closed the Metlakatla Trail to users in 2015 after storm related damage and safety concerns with the structures left the trail in need of extensive repair.

The popular ten kilometre trail had been hailed for the experience it offered to explore the outlying area north of the Village towards Lax Kw'alaams, the trail featuring a number of stunning viewpoints, sandy beaches, as well as kilometre after kilometre of ancient forested areas that makes for much of the topography of the region.

Hopes of seeing the trail reopened one day, may get a boost this weekend as the North Coast Regional District receives a request for a resolution of support towards an application for grant funding by Metlaktala with the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

Their request of Regional District provides an outline of some of the damage that has been inflicted on the trail with the Bridges and Viewing Towers suffering the most difficulties, with an estimated cost of repair noted at 360,000 dollars.

Hazard tree removal, potential engineering oversight and contingency requirements add another 89,000 dollars to the bill, making for a 440,000 dollar budget for the project.

If funding from NDIT is approved and all goes according to plan, local residents could see work on the towers and hazard trees get underway this summer,  with the longer term goal that seeing the trail reopen to the public by May of 2020.

The popular Metlakatla Trail was closed in late 2015 with a number
of repairs required to bridges/view-towers and other part of the system

As part of the documentation for the funding request, Metlakatla notes how if the are able to return the trail to service, they will be able to generate employment for the community with up to ten positions, 2 permanent seasonal jobs as trail coordinators and 8 temporary jobs in construction or consulting to be generated by the repair project.

The quest to bring the trail back to life has been supported by a range of community and school groups, as well as local governments and tourism officials.

The application for NDIT funding includes background on the very positive feedback that Metlakatla received from visitors to the trail in the two years that it operated prior to 2015.

A full review of their documentation and background on the trail story can be reviewed from the Regional District Agenda on pages 165 to 177.

Some of our past notes on the trail can be reviewed below:

May 2019 -- Metlakatla Wilderness Trail to remain closed for 2019
May 2016 -- Popular North Coast trail closed for the season

For more items of interest related to the Metlakatla First Nation see our archive page here.