Mayne Island, BC – A new pedestrian and bike trail on Mayne Island is giving residents and visitors alike a safer, more enjoyable way to get around.

The Mayne Island Regional Trail – a 2.3 km, two-way gravel surfaced trail that connects the Village Bay ferry terminal and Miners Bay village officially opened to the public on October 16, 2024.

“I am thrilled about the opening of this new regional trail and the overall expansion of our CRD regional trails system,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “Projects like these not only contribute to the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors in the region, but they also help to contribute to local and national climate action targets by giving people a greener way to travel around the places they live and visit.”

In 2017, the Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan, approved by the CRD Board in early 2018, identified conceptual routes for CRD regional trails in the Gulf Islands. Mayne Island Regional trail was selected as the first phase of a multi-year project to contribute to a network of trails on the Gulf Islands and connect the capital region’s communities and key destinations. The project has served as a pilot to inform future regional trail development on the Gulf Islands.

Work on the Mayne Island Regional Trail design was undertaken in the years following the approval of the plan, and construction on the trail began in late 2022.

“Development of safe and purpose-built active transportation routes like this on the southern Gulf Islands is key to supporting the needs of residents and visitors alike as well as economic development in the region,” said Paul Brent, Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area Director. “I am thrilled this project is complete and I look forward to what the future phases of the Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan hold for these communities.”

The project was funded through the CRD’s regional parks service, however both federal and provincial funding were integral to the project, with a $2.8 million grant coming from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and $500,000 in project funds from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program. Total project costs were $4.5 million.

The CRD operates and maintains nearly 100 kilometers of regional trail on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands between Mayne Island, the Galloping Goose, and the Lochside regional trails as well as the E&N Rail Trail – Humpback Connector.

More information on the Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan can be found online, here: https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/mayne-island-regional-trail.

The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and government partners to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.

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