A new access to the Cup and Saucer hiking trails will be created, keeping the popular Manitoulin Island attraction open, the Manitoulin Expositor is reporting.
An emergency meeting was held by the mayor and council of the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands on Tuesday night in which a partnership was formed between the municipality and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) to create the new access.
The owner of much of the trail area (including the parking lot and entry point) — Casson Eadie, proprietor of Don Eadie Construction — closed access to Cup and Saucer as he seeks to find a solution to his current financial restraints.
Approximately 20 per cent of the former trail, which crossed the property belonging to Don Eadie Construction, will be lost with the new trail.
The Adventure Trail and lookout, however, are all part of the EBC properties.