Amend the Red Mountain and French Mountain Motor Vehicle Prohibition
Last updated on January 12, 2026The public is invited to comment on the proposed motor vehicle restrictions described below.
Status: Proposed
Region: Region 3, Thompson
Management unit (MU): 3-32, 5-3
Regulation type: Motor Vehicle Restrictions
Species: Not applicable
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT
Current regulation:
Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 13MB)
Page 33 - Motor Vehicle Closed Areas:
Above 1920 m elevation in MU 3-16 and 3-32 in the following areas:
- Red Mountain - French Mountain
Page 43 - Motor Vehicle Closed Areas:
- Red Mountain and French Mountain Motor Vehicle Closed Area above the 1920 m elevation
Proposed regulation:
Amend the Red Mountain and French Mountain Motor Vehicle Prohibition by exempting the sections of the Poison Mountain Saddle Road and the Yalakom/Big Bar Road that cross through the closure to allow motor vehicle passage on these existing roads only, see map.
Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 13MB)
Page 33 - Motor Vehicle Closed Areas:
Above 1920 m elevation in MU 3-16 and 3-32 in the following areas:
- Red Mountain - French Mountain (excluding Poison Mountain Saddle Road and Yalakom-Big Bar Road)
Page 43 - Motor Vehicle Closed Areas:
- Red Mountain and French Mountain Motor Vehicle Closed Area above the 1920 m elevation. (excluding Poison Mountain Saddle Road and Yalakom-Big Bar Road) - consult map (PDF, 407KB)
Rationale:
The B.C. government proposes to amend the Red Mountain and French Mountain Motor Vehicle Prohibition in Wildlife Management Units 3-32 and 5-3 by exempting sections of two existing roads to provide access through the closure. This closure restricts the use of motor vehicles by all user groups year-round and was put in place to protect sensitive habitat. Previous versions of the map for this closure published in the Hunting and Trapping Synopsis and displayed on signage near the closure showed incorrect boundaries that mistakenly excluded the area around Poison Mountain. Existing roads on Poison Mountain have thus been used by multiple user groups to access Poison Mountain itself and to travel from one side to the other, not knowing that the area was closed to motor vehicles. This discrepancy between the regulation and the mapping has been identified, and the maps and signage will be corrected to include Poison Mountain in the closure as it was always intended to be.
It is proposed to exempt the sections of the Poison Mountain Saddle Road and the Yalakom/Big Bar Road that cross through the closure. The use of motor vehicles would remain restricted off-road and on other existing roads within the closure. By limiting motor vehicle use to these sections of roads, travel through the closure, for example from Big Bar Ferry to Yalakom, and to the Mud Lake Recreation Site, would be possible while also protecting habitat from off-road vehicle use and would align with broader access management plans in the area.