A new seven site camping area has opened at Kager Lake as an extension to the Burns Lake Mountain Bike trails on Boer Mountain.
Lynn Synotte, Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society (LORS) president said the Kager Lake camp sites and surrounding trails are an example of what community volunteers, partnering with government and other funders, can accomplish to showcase the recreational potential of the local area.
"The trails are well used in all seasons and the further enhancement of trails and the campsite expands the diversity of the area. Hikers, bike riders, cross country skiers, snow shoers, kayakers, canoeists, campers and many other users have benefitted from this development," Synotte said, adding that she feels recreational opportunities, like the Kager Lake camp site adds to the attraction and retention of families and professionals in the community.
"Economically, the community has benefitted from this project, More out of town people are learning about the facility and coming to test their skills on the bike trails and end the day camping in the campground. Organized activities taking place, such as the Big Pig, will spread the word and further add to the attraction of our area," she said.
Both Kager Lake and Boer Mountain are B.C. recreation sites and according to Kevin Eskelin, Recreation Sites and Trails district recreation officer, the Kager Lake recreation site is managed locally, under an agreement with Recreation Sites and Trails, by the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association. (BLMBA)
He said Recreation Sites and Trails has made a capital investment of approximately $150,000 to the Boer Mountain area, which includes the Kager Lake site, over the past four years.
"This money has been used for trail building and for leveraging external grants for trail building, signage, planting, infrastructure such as outhouses, a dock, a deck, picnic tables, fire rings, maps and other improvements."
Part of this investment was the recent addition of vehicle camping at Kager Lake.
Construction of the camp sites began in 2011 and is now open to the public.
Each of the seven camp sites are accessible from the main Kager Lake parking lot.
In addition to the camp sites there is also overflow parking and walk-in camp site parking. Two additional outhouses have been constructed and all sites have fire rings and picnic tables.
"It is our intention to continue to refine and even expand the Kager Lake Recreation Site to provide amenities for local recreation and tourism,” he said.
Eskelin said that all aspects of the Boer Mountain based projects and stewardship of the area has been a collaboration between Burns Lake Community Forest, BLMBA, and LORS.
Synotte added, "I must acknowledge the vision, leadership, dedication and skills of BLMBA volunteers and the many people that assisted BLMBA. They have committed hours of time to the establishment of this world-class facility."