Seymour trail users given OK to access CMHC land

Hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers can get back onto the trails passing through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) land on Mount Seymour, about two weeks after 'no trespassing' signs suddenly popped up.

One of the organizations that manages and maintains the trail network on Seymour, theNorth Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA), met with CMHC on Thursday to discuss the trail closures and how the land would be managed in the future.

• Landowner closes most of Mount Seymour's mountain bike trails
• PHOTOS: Forested photo gallery documents efforts of North Shore trail builders

North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaiteposted a note on social media announcing that CMHC and the province, which jointly own the 644-acre piece of land, were prepared to allow trail users back into the area.

The note reminds trail users that people using the land,"do so entirely at their own risk, and that the owners are not responsible for any damage or loss to property, or personal injury."

For VinceBasse, president of NSMBA, the development is entirely positive.

"Right now, it's a great benefit to the community and we're glad that the CMHC and the province support the will of the residents and they've allowed access to the trails," saidBasse. "It's definitely a big plus, not just for the NSMBA, but for the other land managers in the community."

Thornthwaite's office said CMHC is working to replace the signs and that will happen soon whileBasse says his organization now has a formal relationship with the CMHC whereas before it did not.

Now Basse'slooking forward to getting back into the area.

"Definitely for me, when those signs came up, we asked our members to respect it so I haven't been on those trails since the signage went up," he said.

"They're some of the best trails we have, so I think everybody's going to be pretty stoked to be able to go walk, hike, go walk their dog, mountain bike on some of the best trails the planet has to offer."

Follow Rafferty Baker on Twitter: @raffertybaker