A sign for Terrace Mountain

HIKERS AND BIKERS using the Terrace Mountain trails may have noticed something new.

A colourful trailhead sign is up at the Johnstone St. entrance of Terrace Mountain thanks to a partnership with Kermodei Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

“The government of B.C. is pleased to be part of an ongoing project for Kermodei Tourism to encourage visitors and residents alike to get out there and enjoy the scenic wonders and physical challenges of Terrace Mountain,” said tourism minister Bill Bennett.

“I’m proud of local staff members, particularly Carl Johansen who has worked on this project for quite some time.”

The new sign has details like hiking and biking routes, difficulty level, safe hiking tips, and a map of the maintained trails.

Kermodei Tourism project manager Krystal Miller says the tourism body is trying to provide visitors and residents with opportunities to get out and enjoy the wonders of the area.

Several organizations pitched in to make the project possible.

The sign kiosks for the trailheads were built by students at Parkside Secondary School.

Ongoing work on the trails on the mountain has been provided by the Terrace Off Road Cycling Association (TORCA), Parkside Secondary students, Rotaract members, Ministry of Forests Protection staff and Coast Tsimshian Resources crews.

“We were able to approach these associations to help ensure content accuracy and enhance the experience of visitors,” Miller said.

The main project involved the construction of seven kilometres of mountain bike trails on Terrace Mountain.

The trail system also includes a four kilometre hiking trail and the area is co-managed by the City of Terrace and the tourism ministry.

That work was supported and partnered with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the tourism ministry and TORCA.

“Earlier on in the year we produced a Terrace trails guide,” says Miller. “This trailhead sign goes hand in hand with the guide.”

The hiking guides have been available at the visitor information centre since March.

A trails guide for the Kitimat area should be ready for distribution sometime this month.

This is the first in a series of signs for Terrace; a similar sign is to be put up on Munthe Ave.

Kermodei Tourism will be working with the ministry again when it starts developing a trailhead sign for Thornhill Mountain.

First, though, will be a sign describing the trails of the Ferry Island campground in a partnership with the City of Terrace.