The cleanup has begun at Cape Split in the Annapolis Valley.
The popular Nova Scotia hiking trail was ravaged by post-tropical storm Arthur three weeks ago.
From sunrise to sunset, a three-man crew is removing the fallen trees and over hanging branches in hopes of returning the trail to its original beauty and to rescue the rest of tourism season.
The province has awarded the contract to start cleanup work on the trail for an unknown price tag.
"It's extreme damage, basically,” says contractor Trevor Burton. “You only have to go up the trail about 20 feet and there's another huge tree that's lodged into another one.”
Although the website warns the trail is closed, many hikers and tourists showed up to the split just to be disappointed, turn around, and change their plans.
We checked the website but we didn’t see anything about closed trails,” says Howard Ryant. “In fact, we used the website to figure out what we were going to do today"
The province isn't taking the closure lightly, putting up new warning signs around the parking lot and front entrance of the trail, warning hikers they could face a fine of $234 if they enter. A fine many are risking.
"That's one of our biggest challenges, trying to keep the people who aren't supposed to be here out," Burton says.
Businesses in the area are also feeling the effects of the trails closure.
Local business owner, Dee Cook says people from all over the world come to hike the popular trail, but since its closure she's lost a third of her business.
"People aren't coming through here because there's no reason to go up there,” says Cook. “They’re not passing by, and you take 30 percent of a small margin in a business and you're taking a lot. Pretty much cut out any profit I have."
Crews expect the trail should be cleared for public use by August 1st.
With files from CTV’s Amanda Debison
