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Open section of the Splatsin te Secwépemc / Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail along Mara Lake (Image Credit: RDNO, SDC, and CSRD)
Rail Trail Construction

Sections of North Okanagan Shuswap Rail Trail open to the public

Apr 14, 2026 | 1:45 PM

People looking to get outdoors to walk, run or ride have portions of a new trail to explore.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), Splatsin Development Corporation (SDC) and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) said in a joint release that construction of the 50 kilometre Splatsin te Secwépemc / North Okanagan Shuswap Trail from Armstrong to Sicamous was ongoing. But now there is approximately 19.8 km of trail open for public use.

The sections of trail accessible to the public involved:

  • Armstrong – A one kilometre completed stretch  offering a safer alternative to Highway 97A at the Landsdowne Road trailhead
  • Enderby – A completed test section for an out-and-back trip at the Belvidered Park trailhead
  • Sicamous to Mara Lake – A 14.3 stretch that was open with caution and subject to periodic closures for erosion repairs and bridge construction

The partners on the project noted that there was no through travel between the sections, and access south of Mara Lake remained closed as of time of publication.

They also said most of the trail remained closed for construction.

“The largest portion of the rail trail – particularly between Mara Lake and Enderby (km 15–42.6) – is currently under construction and not open to public access. Work includes trail building, erosion repairs, agricultural crossings, road crossings, signage, and environmental mitigation. Archaeological and environmental assessments are ongoing, as required,” the release stated.

“Additional delays at the northern end, related to Bruhn Bridge construction in Sicamous, mean that the full northern trailhead connection will not be complete until 2027, even after the main trail corridor is built.”

The partners also reminded dog owners to keep their pets on leash while on the trail, noting this requirement is a key part of the agricultural management plan to protect adjacent farms.

The majority of the trail was expected to be completed and open to the public by the end of 2026.

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