An artist's rendering of a new bridge to cross Benson Creek is one of several pending safety improvements at Benson Creek Falls Regional Park. (RDN)

By Ian Holmes

take a hike

Safety improvements, new parking lot inbound for Ammonite Falls and Benson Creek Falls Regional Park

May 21, 2020 | 5:52 AM

NANAIMO — Regional District of Nanaimo officials say drastic improvements to the well used nature park leading to Ammonite Falls are beginning to take shape.

Yann Gagnon, manager of parks services for the RDN, told NanaimoNewsNOW the entire project, including stairs to Ammonite Falls, should be complete in time for next year’s busy spring hiking season.

Up first are numerous improvements to the Wiegles Rd. side of Benson Creek Falls Regional Park, including a new trailhead, kiosk and 40-stall gravel parking lot near the currently undersized lot.

“It’s pretty clear the site is very popular, that the current parking lot is full and we have lots of vehicles on the side of the road right now,” Gagnon said.

He said the new Wiegles Rd. parking lot and trail head, located 100 meters past the existing lot, are on track to be completed this summer.

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Safety amenities to lead hikers down the treacherous steep gorge to Benson Creek are also forthcoming and should be done this fall, Gagnon said.

Stairs with railings and a cable will aid trail users reaching a narrow steel bridge spanning the rushing creek.

This will replace a narrow switchback trail spiraling down the steep ravine. A large log is currently used by hikers to get across Benson Creek, downstream from Ammonite Falls.

Stairs, railings and cables will replace the narrow switchback trail encased into a steep gorge above Benson Creek off Wiegles Rd. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Gagnon said safety has long been a concern throughout the park, particularly on the Wiegles Rd. side.

“By formalizing (safety plans), including better signage, we’ll be able to direct people to the designated trail. That way we’ll be able to offer a much safer experience than right now.”

A highly anticipated new staircase to assist the the descent to Ammonite Falls on the Jameson Rd. side of Benson Creek is expected to open by early March, 2021.

Gagnon said a recent contribution of $103,000 from the Island Coastal Economic Trust ensures sweeping upgrades to the park can be done within a year.

The budget for the entire project is $700,000.

The number of hikers visiting picturesque Ammonite Falls near Nanaimo has exploded over the last several years. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

RDN board chair Ian Thorpe said the pending upgrades to the area are an important investment in a sometimes dangerous local treasure, particularly at Ammonite Falls.

“We have discouraged people from using the slippery path with the rope along the bank, but people still wanted to access the beauty of the area,” Thorpe said.

The RDN had hoped to upgrade park amenities earlier, however other initiatives such as a new parking lot for Mount Benson took precedent.

The 80-acre forested regional park just west of Nanaimo city limits includes a mix of flat and steep hiking and mountain biking trails dissected by pristine Benson Creek.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes