Jasper Trails Project looks forward 

With the recent snowstorm, hitting the trails may not be a top priority, but keep in the mind that the multitude of wilderness trails surrounding the townsite are getting an upgrade by the Jasper Trails Project (JTP).  

According to Jennifer Dubois, project manager of the JTP, the plan has two main goals.  “It had to look at how we can make recreational improvements and how we make improvements to the trail network that would result in benefits for the ecological conditions, or improve the ecological integrity of the area.”

Currently, 95 per cent  of the plan, containing 104 predominantly multi-use trails, has been approved by Parks Canada. As far as the remaining five percent, “there were a number of trails that were recommended for incorporation into the trail plan that were in areas that were sensitive for wildlife,” said Marci DeWandel, spokeswoman for the JTP. “So we just need to hear back from some of the Parks specialists on those certain trails and those trails are located off the Marmot road and the Signal Mountain area for the most part,” she said.  

DeWandel is confident that the plan will receive approval within the next few weeks.  “They’ll [Parks Canada] look at the whole plan and determine if it’s all approved or if we have to make some adjustments to it,” she said.  

Once the trails plan receives approval, it will be subject to an environmental assessment, which will involve a three-week period when the public receives a viewing, DeWandel said.  

The JTP has involved members of the public the whole way through, establishing a working group of volunteers that worked in collaboration with Parks Canada over the three-year development process. Speaking with working group member Loni Klettl in March, she estimated that she put in more than 200 hours of work into the plan. “I’m from here, I’ve grown up here... and I thought I had a lot to offer from my local knowledge,” she said, adding that “it’s all worth it.”

As for plan priorities and the implementation time frame, “it’s an ambitious plan,” said Dubois. “It will be costly and it will take us a number of year to implement.” The priorities for the first five years are trail development, trail rehab and trail design, said DeWandel.  

Last year, 15 kilometres of new trails were built and there are two main projects going forward this year. Pedestrian crossings will be built at Highway 16 and the Moberly Bridge, Highway 16 and Highway 93A and at Highway 93 and Whistlers Campground. There will also be an addition to the new Bighorn Alley trail, which will take trail users from Moberly Bridge to Lake Annette.        

The plan encompasses about 200 kilometres of trails around the town site.

However, “as of right now... it’s status quo,” said DeWandel. “Everything is as it was before.  As things change we will let you know... Once things become formalized it will be communicated.” 

Volunteers are also key to the success of the JTP and Friends of Jasper National park will be holding trail volunteer day every Tuesday from June to September. To register for a volunteer day, call Friends at 780-852-4767.