Barkerville Cemetery Accessible Trail Officially Open

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

The historic town of Barkerville is the most recent community in the Cariboo Chilcotin to unveil a new accessible trail. The Barkerville Cemetery Accessible Trail was built in partnership between the Cariboo Regional District, the Barkerville Heritage Trust, Friends of Barkerville, Northern Development Initiative Trust, Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition and the provincial government through the BC Community Recreation Program.

“The completion of this new accessible trail adds another great feature to the popular historic town of Barkerville. I applaud the work and leadership of the Cariboo Regional District, and the many businesses and individuals whose support and financial contributions have made this new trail a reality. Together, you have created a valuable public gathering place for individuals of all levels of mobility to enjoy for years to come,” said Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Approximately 750 metres long, the Barkerville Cemetery Trail follows along of a portion of the old Cariboo Wagon Road, providing a unique route between the Barkerville town site and the Barkerville Cemetery. Visitors of all mobility levels can enjoy this picturesque trail with access to the historic cemetery.

“It is with great pleasure we are able to officially open another trail in the Cariboo Chilcotin and take the next step towards developing the region as an accessible and inclusive tourism destination,” stated CRD Electoral Area C Director John Massier. “Partnering with Barkerville, the province, NDIT and CCBAC has helped us expand access to this site to those with limited mobility and I know it will be an outdoor attraction for both residents and tourists.”

Five rest stops are interspersed along the trail route and an informational kiosk is provided for users’ convenience. The trail has a packed, six foot wide crushed gravel surface with a gentle grade and sections of moderate difficulty.

“The official trail opening is the completion of a vision to connect the Barkerville site and the Barkerville Cemetery in an inclusive way,” stated Barkerville Historic Town’s Chief Executive Officer, Ed Coleman. “The Barkerville Heritage Trust is very excited to provide an additional opportunity for people of all mobility levels to enjoy Barkerville’s rich history, and we would like to thank everyone who helped make this trail a reality.”

“The Barkerville Cemetery Accessible Trail means that more people will be able to learn about and enjoy the incredible history behind B.C.'s Cariboo region. Northern Development is proud to have played a small role in helping to make this first-class attraction more accessible,” states Janine North, CEO of Northern Development Initiative Trust.

“The Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition is excited to be a part of this regional project,” stated CCBAC Chair, Bob Simpson. “It is an excellent example of how partnerships, cooperation and collaboration can achieve great results. Projects such as the Barkerville Cemetery Accessible Trail improve our communities by making our region accessible to all and enhance the visitor experience in the Cariboo Chilcotin.”

The Barkerville Cemetery Accessible Trail is located 81 kilometres east of Quesnel on Highway 26. Ongoing management of the site is provided by the Barkerville Heritage Trust.

For further information about the growing list of accessible trails within the Cariboo Regional District, visit us online at cariboord.ca and look under services/recreation.

About the Community Recreation Program
The $30-million Community Recreation Program was developed to address the unique challenges faced by communities in the Province with respect to meeting their recreational infrastructure needs. The program invests in local government capital projects that make communities healthier, more active places in which to live. Through the duration of the program, the B.C. government provided grants for 98 recreation projects throughout B.C. – to help fund everything from bike paths, trails, fitness facilities and walkways to playgrounds and recreation centres.

About the CRD Accessible Trail Network
The CRD Board passed a resolution in 2006 to work towards developing the Cariboo Chilcotin as a world leader in accessible outdoor recreation and tap into niche tourism markets for persons of low mobility. Other wheelchair accessible sites within the CRD include Tatlayoko, Kersley, Cottonwood Historic Site, 108 Mile/Sepa Lakes, Lac La Hache, Horsefly Salmon Spawning Trails, Gavin Lakeshore Trail, and most recently the Dugan Lake Accessible Trail which was officially opened in May 2015. There are currently six other accessible wilderness trails being developed by the CRD, some of which were funded through the Community Recreation Program.