Okanagan Rail Trail (photo credit: Community Foundation North Okanagan)

By Pete McIntyre

Rail trail link

Under highway connection to Rail Trail south of Vernon now done: GVAC chair

Dec 11, 2023 | 6:30 AM

A safe link between the Okanagan Rail Trail and Bailey Road south of Vernon has now opened to the public.

Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Bob Fleming, who is also the director for RDNO Area B (Swan Lake/Commonage), said a new passage connects to the Crystal Waters Trail in Kekuli Bay Park and the Rail Trail.

“It is utilizing a passage under the highway that was there for cattle and has now been adapted for people to use for trail access,” Fleming told Vernon Matters.

Fleming said the connection allows trail users to safely cross the highway, adding it can be used by people at Predator Ridge Resort to access the Rail Trail.

“That was one of the main things. It’s all about trail connectivity, and really when you go through Predator, there is now connections coming out of Ellison Park as well.”

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Fleming said GVAC directors have not received user statistics for the Rail Trail this year as yet, but said that should be coming in the new year.

“Anecdotally, I would say it had more use than ever.”

Fleming said an agreement is still not finalized for the “missing section” of the Rail Trail on Okanagan Indian Band land near Duck Lake.

“I understood there was things in place that might see that happen sooner rather than later. I was told it was going to happen this year, but it didn’t quite make it, so that’s a federal government issue. All the paperwork I guess hasn’t been concluded.”

Fleming said once that is done, the trail will become a commuter link all the way from Coldstream to Kelowna.

“And it would be off-highway, so you would never have to be in traffic,” he added.