DEH CHO - The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is working on a project to enhance the visitor experience at Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park.

The department has proposed building a series of hiking trails complete with interpretive signs and a viewing platform to allow visitors to watch the Trout River gorge.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has plans to install hiking trails and a viewing platform at Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park so people can admire and explore the Trout River gorge. - NNSL file photo

"From experience (I know) a lot of people don't realize the gorge is there when they drive by," said Gerd Fricke, the department's regional superintendent.

"I consider the gorge to be one of the three major assets that park has."

The park, which is located on Highway 1, is better known for Sambaa Deh Falls and Coral Falls. The water in the Trout River flows over the two falls before winding through the gorge.

The proposed project takes into account input from tourists who have stated they'd like to have more things to do in territorial parks, said Fricke. If there were more activities visitors would be tempted to stay longer.

Tourists have also said they'd like to learn more about the area they're staying in and interpretive signs would in part address that request, Fricke said.

The current plans for the park include building approximately three kilometres of hiking trails that would start at the Trout River bridge and wind along the top of the gorge to the new parking lot that would be constructed approximately one kilometre west of the bridge. The parking lot would provide visitors with a safe place to park and turn around as opposed to the highway, Fricke said.

A short trail from the parking lot would lead to the platform overlooking the gorge. The interpretive signs would primarily be between the parking lot and the platform.

The project has been in the works for approximately three years and now has capital funding. Fricke declined to give an estimated cost for the work stating that some components could still change.

The entire project is dependent on the success of an application for a land use permit that was submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. As part of the process the board requires that consultation be conducted with surrounding communities.

Fricke plans to consult with Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake and Kakisa before the end of February. If the land use permit is granted the project could be completed by the fall of 2010, said Fricke.

Portions of the project will go out to tender. Fricke said he hopes to break the work into smaller portions so local contractors will be able to bid on and participate in the project.

"It's a good project," said Chief Jim Antoine of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

People are already exploring along the gorge so they should be provided with a safe trail to walk on, Antoine said.

"It's a nice, natural place for people to view."

Antoine said he'd like to see Nogha Enterprises Ltd., the band's economic arm, in conjunction with surrounding First Nations, awarded the contract for the project.

Chief Isadore Simon said Jean Marie River First Nation also approves of the project, particularly for safety reasons.

"Its nice scenery and everything but you have to be really cautious," he said.

People have died on the river around the falls in the past so it would be beneficial if there was a designated, safe path for visitors to follow. Caution signs should also be posted, said Simon.

Both the Liidlii Kue First Nation and the Jean Marie River First Nation have already written letters of approval for the project to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.