THE RAILS TO TRAILS ODYSSEY

With the American owned Great Northern Railway entering Canada at Osoyoos and continuing on to Coalmont, the concept and need of a Canadian owned rail structure across Southern British Columbia was born. The new Kettle Valley Railroad initially started in Midway and wound through to near Kelowna, turned back to Penticton and continued on from there through the Trout Creek Valley, Osprey, Link and Chain Lakes, down the Hayes Creek Watershed finally arriving in Princeton on April 15, 1915. The operators of the KVR and GNR railways came to an unprecedented agreement, the GNR giving the KVR the rights to run on their tracks from Princeton to Brookmere. The two systems were joined in Princeton, the Weyerhauser Roundhouse commemorating the site of the “Last Spike”.

The CPR made the decision to discontinue use of the rail route in 1989, and proceeded to remove the infrastructure and components of the line, ceding the now abandoned rail bed right of way to the Provincial Government. In 1996 the dream of the Trans Canada Trail was born, and the Kettle Valley Rail bed was designated as a major component of this system. Stewardship groups were implemented in various sections. Since 1998 Vermilion Trails Society has had the mandate of maintaining and developing the Princeton Subdivision section of the Trans Canada Trail, a 113km section stretching from Osprey Lake to Brookmere. This dedicated group of volunteers and supporters have turned the Trail into a major feature and tourist destination with patrons from around the world enjoying the features and attractions of the Trail, as well as the natural beauty of spectacular British Columbia.