Resource Road Access Survey.

Help identify the resource roads and road systems that matter most for outdoor recreation in British Columbia.

Much of B.C.’s backcountry is reached by resource roads. These roads were built mainly to support forestry and other resource industries, but they also provide important access to rural communities, trails, lakes, rivers, campsites, parks and other recreation areas.

Across the province, some roads are deteriorating, being deactivated or becoming difficult to travel. In many cases, there is no clear responsibility or funding for maintaining them for recreation access.

When industrial use ends, a resource road may continue to be maintained, be transferred to another user, receive little or no maintenance, or be deactivated. Public recreation use does not necessarily mean there is a government agency or company responsible for keeping the road open. As a result, access can deteriorate or be lost when maintenance stops, roads wash out, or bridges and culverts are removed.

The Resource Road Access Survey is gathering local knowledge to build a clearer provincial picture of which roads are important, where access is at risk and what solutions may be possible.

The survey will remain open until July 2027 so that reports can be collected from different regions, recreation activities and seasons.

Complete the survey

The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete, depending on the amount of information you provide.You do not need to have complete or technical information.

Local knowledge, best estimates, maps, photos, examples and personal experiences are all useful.

Supporting maps, photos or other attachments can be emailed to info@orcbc.ca.

Why resource road access matters

Resource roads form an important part of B.C.’s recreation infrastructure. They provide access to:

• trails and trailheads

• lakes, rivers and boat launches

• recreation sites and campsites

• provincial parks and protected areas

• hunting, fishing and wildlife-viewing areas

• climbing, mountaineering and backcountry skiing destinations

• snowmobile, off-road vehicle and equestrian areas

• remote communities and culturally important places

When a road becomes impassable or is closed, the effects can extend well beyond the road itself. Access may be lost to entire trail networks, recreation destinations, volunteer-maintained infrastructure and local tourism opportunities.

There is currently no government agency specifically responsible for keeping resource roads open for recreation. With the Province recognizing outdoor recreation as an important sector that supports quality of life and local and regional economies, there is an opportunity to consider a more coordinated approach to managing priority recreation access routes.

What we are trying to learn

The survey will help create a provincial inventory of resource roads and road systems that are important for outdoor recreation.

We want to identify roads that:

• are currently used to reach recreation destinations

• remain open but may be at risk of closure or deactivation

• have deteriorated or become difficult to travel

• were previously used for recreation but are now closed or inaccessible by vehicle

Where access has been lost, limited or threatened, we also want to understand:

• what is causing the problem

• which recreation destinations and users are affected

• how important the route is locally or regionally

• whether alternate access exists

• what maintenance, management or other solutions may be possible

The survey is not intended to suggest that every resource road should remain open indefinitely. Decisions about roads must also consider public safety, environmental impacts, wildlife, cultural values, Indigenous rights and interests, operational needs and the cost of maintenance.

The goal is to ensure that recreation access is better understood and considered when decisions are made.

What information is helpful

You can provide as much information as you have, including:

• the name and location of the road or road system

• the recreation destination it provides access to

• the activities that depend on the route

• the current condition of the road

• known closures, gates, washouts, bridge removals or deactivation plans

• the number or range of people who use the route

• whether another practical access route is available

• photographs, maps, GPS files or links

• possible solutions or organizations that should be involved

First-hand knowledge is valuable, even when exact road names, usage figures or technical details are unavailable.

How to report a road system

Please complete one survey for each recreation destination you are reporting.

You may submit multiple surveys for destinations reached by the same or different road systems.

When access involves several connected roads, for example, a main resource road followed by one or more branch roads, identify the full road system used to reach the destination.

Where possible, include enough detail to help locate the route on a map.

How the information will be used

Survey results will be used to build a clearer provincial picture of the resource roads and road systems that matter most for recreation access in B.C.

The Resource Road Working Group and its partners will use the information to:

• identify priority recreation access routes

• understand common access barriers

• look for regional and province-wide patterns

• explore practical management and maintenance options

• identify areas requiring further research or discussion

• support conversations about policy, planning and funding

The findings may inform discussions with the Province, First Nations, local governments, recreation organizations, industry, land managers, funders and others involved in resource road management.

The information may also support future advocacy, planning initiatives, partnerships and funding proposals aimed at maintaining or restoring important recreation access.

Early findings may be shared while the survey remains open, but conclusions will be clearly identified as preliminary until a fuller range of regions, activities and seasons has been represented.

Privacy and follow-up

Contact information will only be used if the working group needs to follow up to clarify or better understand a submission.

Survey findings may be summarized, mapped and shared with partners and decision-makers. Individual contact details will not be shared publicly.

Respondents should avoid including sensitive personal, cultural, archaeological or ecological information that should not be made public. Sensitive information can instead be discussed directly with the working group.

Who is leading this work?

The survey is being led by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC’s Resource Road Working Group, a collaborative group focused on understanding and addressing recreation access issues involving resource roads across B.C.

The working group includes representatives from:

• Outdoor Recreation Council of BC

• Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia

• BC Snowmobile Federation

• Four Wheel Drive Association of BC

• Quad Riders ATV Association of BC

• British Columbia Mountaineering Club

The project is also supported by the Service Road Atlas, which provides valuable information about B.C.’s resource road network.

Together, the working group and its partners are gathering information from recreation organizations, businesses, communities and individual outdoor users to help ensure that important recreation access routes are visible in future planning and decision-making.

Questions?

For questions about the survey or to provide supporting information, contact the Resource Road Working Group at info@orcbc.ca

Stay informed

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