The Province is taking action to restore portions of Elephant Hill that were severely affected by wildfires this past summer.

Effective Thursday, May 17, 2018, the area known as the Elephant Hill Wildfire area of the Thompson Rivers Natural Resource District and 100 Mile House Natural Resource District will be closed to motorized vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and all types of off-road recreational vehicles, except on existing roads. The closure will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2018, while restoration activities for the area are being planned and implemented.

A map showing the boundary of the closure is available online:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/download/532E8289B8BE44AF8A84C0BCAE9F2725

In the summer of 2017, the Elephant Hill wildfire burned an estimated 191,865 hectares. The fire itself and fire suppression activities, such as the creation of 1,200 kilometres of fire guards, have opened up areas that were previously difficult to access. The closure aims to support wildfire-recovery management strategies, and is in response to an anticipated increase of unmanaged recreational off-road vehicle use and camping pressures on sensitive ecosystems in the area.

Unauthorized off-road vehicle use can have many negative effects including soil compaction, erosion, increases in invasive plants, garbage accumulation and pollution from camper trailer holding tanks. This affects grassland health and wildlife habitat, as well as quality and availability of water for wildlife and livestock.

The closure will not apply to:

• Authorized users performing activities associated with agreements awarded pursuant to provincial statute, such as existing tenures.
• Snowmobiles operating on a minimum of 0.5 metres of snow.
• The following existing recreational trails:
  • Green Lake Snowmobile Trail (REC6246)
  • 70 Mile-Green Lake Trail (REC6897)
  • Interlakes Snowmobile Trail (REC6961)

Existing roads will remain open for public access into the closure area. Non-motorized uses are not restricted.

Please note that off-road vehicle owners need to register their off-road vehicle if it will be used or operated on Crown land, including resource roads, and need to comply with the registration and insurance requirements of the jurisdiction where the off-road vehicle is operated. 

Learn More:

For more information about the closure, visit:

• Thompson Rivers Natural Resource District Road Safety Information: http://ow.ly/cdzV30k21Rr
• 100 Mile House Natural Resource District Road Safety Information: http://ow.ly/eh5030k21WE

For more information about motorized closures under the Forest and Range Practices Act, visit:
http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_02069_01#section58

For more information on off-road vehicle requirements, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource-use/land-use/crown-land/crown-land-uses/off-road-vehicles