Cathedral Lakes area...

[TW_rider]

Has anybody ever driven up to the Cathedral Lakes area? This place has interested me for some time and I was planning a hiking trip with some friends, until we found out the cost for transport to and from was a bit "prohibitive"...
I'm just curious if John Q. Public is allowed to drive up there on their own and make use of the amenities...

[thumpdumper]

That's funny, I was just up there today looking at some tree work...

No, you can't drive the road in, its only for the usage of resort vehicles. And its bumpyier than hell, took me just over an hour to get out, in 4 low (its about 17km, i think).
You can hike in in about 4 or 5 hours, and until Thanksgiving, the Parks contractor is up there so he will hit you for $10/head for camping. But its a beautiful spot (camp at Lake of the Woods), and the larch are all turning right now...

Oh yeah, bit of snow again today...

[TW_rider]

I was just curious about heading up there on bike, maybe next summer...I didn't think they could restrict usage of a road to a Provincial Park.

[thumpdumper]

Actually they can.
First of all, its a private road. They spend big dollars on keeping it open. Secondly, the base camp trailhead and parking lot are behind chain-link fences across the bridge, you can't get around on foot, let alone the moto. The other access point (Lakeview Trailhead) involves going across a bridge with structures that keep motos and quads (and horses) out. And you may be able to get up the trail on a beta (maybe), but I would be pretty confident you couldn't get back down it without launching off into the abyss.

If you got caught in there, two things could happen. If Mark caught you, a stern look and warning (he's a rider). If Darren or Sarah caught you, impounded bike, fine for unauthorized vehicle, and likely a bill for repairing any ruts that you make.

Its a bit of a shame because both it and Manning are beautiful spots (we get to quad around them for work), but they are definite non-mechanized areas.

Go up the other side towards Apex on the moto, lots of trails up there. Or hike in, its really not that bad.