New trail links Vernon and Lake Country

Residents and visitors now have access to a new trail which connects Okanagan College in Coldstream with the Okanagan Rail Trail.

The Kal Crystal Waters Trail also provides pedestrians and cyclists with another way to reach Lake Country from Vernon.

Bob Fleming, area B director for the Regional District of North Okanagan, who helped build the trail, said it will give cyclists a safer option to cycling on the highway.

“I was inspired to build this trail to give people an option to avoid biking on the highway. I personally know people who, sadly, have been struck by vehicles on the highway while biking, and I think it’s important to offer safer ways to travel,” Fleming said.

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The new trail also offers a more challenging incline than the Rail Trail, with options for trail looping to provide a different perspective on Kalamalka Lake and the landscape.

“The view from Kal Crystal Waters and the ambiance of the trail are distinctive but complementary to the Okanagan Rail Trail, and together they create a fantastic way to experience Kalamalka Lake and nature in the North Okanagan,” Fleming added.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee approved the Kal Crystal Waters Trail in 2013, one year before the Okanagan Rail Trail.

“RDNO Parks staff have worked hard to secure the necessary permits from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and have worked with private landowners to provide the necessary lands for the trail corridor. We appreciate their dedication and time spent on this wonderful community asset,” Akbal Mund, chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, said.