An iconic riverside trail in the N.W.T. that is known for its waterfall views has been closed to visitors due to substantial damage from soil erosion, the territorial government says.
There are no current plans to reopen the Twin Falls Park trail, it said in a news release issued Tuesday.
The entire trail system in the park has been forced to close due to soil erosion along the riverbank.
“This erosion creates a serious risk to the public,” it said.
The Twin Falls Park trail runs for five kilometres inside the park along the Hay River, offering views of the Alexandra and Louise Falls.
Twin Falls Park itself is located just under 75 kilometres north of the Alberta border and 50 kilometres south of Hay River.
The trail and viewing platforms at both waterfalls are all closed, the government said.
There’s currently no confirmed timeline for reopening the erosion-impacted areas because of the extent of the damage.
“A full geotechnical assessment of the area is required to understand what needs to be done in order to make the area safe enough to reopen,” the release reads. “Closures will remain in place until trails and infrastructure are improved and the area is deemed safe for public access.”
Doug Lamalice, a member of the Kátł’odeeche First Nation in Hay River, led tours on the trail for many years.
“I brought thousands of people from all over this world … on that tour,” he said.
In addition to being a popular tourist attraction, the trail followed a historic portage route used by Dene hunters, according to Lamalice. The area is sacred to the Dene.
“We still have cabins up there,” he said. “This is our land.”
Lamalice said he noticed large parts of the canyon wall crumbling and falling over the last several years.
“The dryness was just too much,” he said. “I would hear parts of the wall giving way and crashing into the water. It sounded like thunder. It was a horrible, scary sound.”
Lamalice said, with the trail likely damaged beyond repair, it will be important to rescue the interpretive signage along the route that tells the story of its use by the Dene.
“We don’t want that [place] falling into a [situation] where it’s never going to be understood again,” he said. “It’s been there as a teacher since time immemorial.”
A short section of undamaged trail located above Alexandra Falls is also temporarily closed due to high water levels, the release said.
The nearby Escarpment Creek area has also already been closed for some time for wildfire remediation work.
Bathrooms and picnic tables at both the Louise Falls Campground and the Alexandra Falls rest stop will remain available for public use, the release said.
