Mt Seymour Recreation Access Management Plan

Feb 20, 2025: Update

This project remains in some limbo state. The editor of the Blueridge Community News has reached out multiple times asking for any update, and nothing has been provided. Without more detail, there isn’t much else to say. Should things get unstuck we will update this page.

Mar 25, 2022: Update

The BC government web page for this project has been revised to say:

Public engagement and stakeholder reviews were completed for the draft plan in fall 2021 through winter 2022. The draft is currently being revised with a goal to have a final plan available in Summer 2022.

Keep an eye on that web page for more information.

Jan 24, 2022: Survey Closed

This update is long overdue. The survey that was linked to below in the September 24, 2021 update was closed. The link has been removed. At this time, we are waiting to see the plan that is under development.

The project website says the draft plan should have been available in the fall of 2021 and the final plan by winter 2022. However, there have been no updates to the RAMP webpage since last September. An email has been sent asking for a status update, and should anything come back, it will be reported here.

Sept 28, 2021: Trail History

In October 2016, the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC), concerned about liability issues, posted no trespassing signs on trails through its land just north of Blueridge. This caused a lot of controversy and news coverage. Not too long after, CMHC agreed to remove the signs in return for a lack of liability, and access was restored.

These issues show why the BCA encourages residents to fill out the survey. Showing that we care and continue to use these trails extensively can only be a good thing for keeping them open in the long term.

Note: Near the end of the survey, you will be asked if you are a Blueridge Community Association (BCA) member. If you live in Blueridge or Mount Seymour, the answer is yes. All residents of the area (see the map if you aren’t sure of the boundaries) are automatically BCA members. Membership is free, and all Blueridge and Mt. Seymour residents are welcome in all our activities and programs.

Thank you for filling out the survey!

Sept 24, 2021: CMHC lands survey now open for Blueridge resident input

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a federal Crown corporation, owns the majority of public land on Mt. Seymour. The Province of BC has partial ownership. On behalf of all parties, the provincial agency Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) is taking on the management role of this area.

The property has a variety of trails for mountain biking, hiking, and equestrians, as well as a section of the Baden Powell Trail that traverses the North Shore. These trails were developed without authorization but are widely used and recognized as valuable public recreation assets. The property has no direct access by road, but trail users gain access from adjacent properties managed by BC Parks, Metro Vancouver, and the District of North Vancouver.

View the CMHC Mt. Seymour recreation area map (PDF, 2.8 MB)

The Recreational Access Management Plan (RAMP) will address trails on CMHC lands and will bring the trail network into a cohesive and well-managed trail system. This includes sections of Baden Powell and Bridle Path trails, as well as trails like Salamander, John Deer, and Good Sir Martin that are wholly located on CMHC lands.

Goals of the plan are to:

  • Establish management zones
  • Describe and classify existing trails
  • Establish a monitoring approach
  • Establish management actions for wayfinding, user conflict management, environmental protection, communication, partnerships and collaboration
  • Provide RSTBC management direction and the possible use of partnership agreements

The survey is open until Oct. 31, 2021. Here are two links:

The Blueridge Community Association urges all Blueridge residents to fill out the survey so that our community’s wants and needs are recognized in the planning process. Also, because this issue is critical, we encourage you to forward the survey – or this web page – to your friends living in Blueridge so we are better represented. Thank you!

This page will be updated with links to the plan as it becomes available.