How a Floating Walkway Restored a Remote Wetland Trail in Pukaskwa National Park

Some of the best views in a national park are also the hardest to reach. That’s the problem Pukaskwa National Park in Ontario, Canada, was facing with a wetland hiking trail that had deteriorated over time. What was once a way for guests to experience a remote part of the park had turned into an eyesore, a threat to the surrounding ecosystem, and a safety concern for anyone trying to hike it.

In the fall of 2021, EZ Dock partnered with Pukaskwa National Park to rebuild the trail from the ground up — and to do it in a way that respected the land it sat on.

Why This Wetland Trail Needed More Than a Standard Fix

A deteriorating boardwalk in a wetland isn’t just a maintenance issue. As the old trail broke down, it put stress on the ecosystem around it and made footing unpredictable for the guests using it. Any fix needed to hold up in a wetland environment long-term, without introducing new problems for the plants, water, and wildlife it ran through.

Building in a Fragile, Remote, and Sacred Landscape

The location made this project anything but routine. There was no road access, so every piece of equipment and product had to be hiked in over a mile (1.5 km) of rugged terrain or flown in by helicopter.

The wetland itself added another layer of difficulty. To protect the ecosystem, the crew could only use hand tools or battery-operated equipment — petroleum-based tools were off-limits on site. On top of that, the team was working on land with deep historical and cultural significance, and had to plan around the park staying open to both guests and wildlife throughout construction.

Why a Floating Dock Walkway Was the Right Call

An EZ Trail floating dock walkway ended up being the most practical solution for a project with this many constraints. It’s built from virgin polymer — specifically rotational-molding-grade linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) — which holds up well in wetland conditions while staying lightweight enough to install without heavy machinery.

Compared to a traditional dock or boardwalk system, an EZ Trail walkway is faster to install and asks for very little ongoing maintenance, even through Ontario’s harsh winters. For a trail with no road access and a strict no-disturbance policy on tools, that combination of durability and low-impact installation made the difference.

Local Knowledge Made the Impossible Possible

Materials and equipment only tell half the story. Three local Indigenous community members joined the build, bringing knowledge of the land that no outside crew could have replicated — along with a strong work ethic and, by all accounts, some much-needed comic relief on a physically demanding job. Their involvement helped the team finish a project unlike anything they’d taken on before, and do it on schedule.

A Trail Blessed and Ready for Guests

Before the trail reopened to the public, a local elder blessed it — a fitting close to a project built on respect for the land as much as engineering. What started as a hazard and an ecological concern is now a wetland trail guests can experience the way it was meant to be seen.

Bring This Kind of Access Solution to Your Park or Property

Remote terrain, sensitive ecosystems, and tight installation windows don’t have to keep guests away from the best parts of your property. If you’re weighing options for trail, boardwalk, or waterfront access in a challenging environment, connect with your local EZ Dock dealer to talk through what would work for your site, or request a quote to get the conversation started.

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