On August 15, the Capital Regional District re-opened official trails within Sea to Sea Regional Park as well as sections of Sooke Potholes Regional Park and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail after closures took place in July due to a wildfire.

As of October 1, the following area and park closures remain in place for public safety:

• The area in Sea to Sea Regional Park north of Peden Lake Trail and Empress Mountain Trail is closed
• Sooke Potholes Regional Park is closed north of Parking Lot 2
• The Galloping Goose Regional Trail is closed north of the Peden Lake Trail access
• The Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground in Sooke Potholes Regional Park remains closed
• Kapoor Regional Park remains closed
  

It is important to note that although the status of the Old Man Lake Fire is listed as ‘under control’ it is still active. Crews from the CRD continue to work in collaboration with the BC Wildfire Service to closely monitor the fire and will do so well into the fall months. For your safety, stay out of the closure areas and remain on official park trails at all times.

In closed areas, staff will continue to assess and mitigate risks to public safety, including factors like slope stability in steep terrain and danger trees. It is not clear at this time when re-opening closed areas will be feasible, however any updates, when available, will be made in this alert.

See the park and trail closure map.