BC Resource Road Access Survey

Help Protect Access to Resource Roads in and Around Mackenzie

Many of the forestry roads used throughout the Mackenzie area were originally built to support resource development and forestry operations. Beyond their industrial purpose, these roads provide important access for residents and visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, ATVing, and backcountry exploration.

As resource activities change over time, some roads may be deactivated, closed, or fall into disrepair. Currently, there is no single government agency responsible for maintaining resource roads solely for recreational access. As a result, access to some of the places we enjoy today may become more limited in the future, if not already.

To better understand which roads are most important to recreation users, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), in partnership with provincial recreation organizations, has launched the BC Resource Road Access Survey.

The survey is seeking input on:

• Resource roads that are heavily used for recreation
• Roads at risk of closure or deactivation
• Roads that are already difficult to access or have been closed
• Areas where continued access is important to local communities and visitors

How the Information Will Be Used

The information gathered through the survey will help create a provincial inventory of recreation-important resource roads and support future discussions with the Province, local and Indigenous governments, recreation organizations, industry, land managers, funders, and other partners.

The goal is to identify priority access routes, common barriers, and practical solutions that support more coordinated planning and investment in the roads that provide access to outdoor recreation opportunities across British Columbia.

As Monika Bittel, Recreation and Access Chair with the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, notes, local recreation groups and outdoor users often have the best information about what is happening on the ground. By bringing together local knowledge from communities across the province, the survey will help demonstrate the importance of resource roads and support informed decisions about future recreation access.

Who Should Complete the Survey?

The survey is intended for:

• Recreation groups and clubs
• Tourism and outdoor recreation businesses
• Local organizations
• Outdoor recreation users with knowledge of specific resource roads or road systems

Whether you enjoy the outdoors by ATV, snowmobile, mountain bike, vehicle, horseback, or on foot, your input is valuable.

Participants may submit more than one survey, with one submission for each recreation destination or road system. The survey takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on the amount of information provided.

You do not need to have perfect information. Local knowledge, best estimates, photos, maps, examples, and personal experiences are all helpful and encouraged.

Make Your Voice Heard

The survey will remain open until July 2027, allowing feedback to be gathered across multiple seasons and from a wide range of recreation users.

If there are resource roads in the Mackenzie area that you regularly use and value, we encourage you to participate and share your experiences. Your input can help ensure local priorities are recognized and that the roads connecting our community to outdoor recreation opportunities are considered in future planning efforts.

Take the survey HERE