INFORMATION RELEASE

Adra Tunnel within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is now open for public use. The 111-year-old Adra Tunnel is located on the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail above Naramata in Electoral Area “E”. At 487 metres in length, it is the longest tunnel on the trail and turns in a horseshoe shape, nearly 180 degrees in the mountain.

There are two preferred ways to access Adra Tunnel:

1. Glenfir parking lot

• 8 km ride or walk on the KVR to the tunnel
• The KVR Trail is intended for recreational use: bikes, horses, walkers, and licensed off-road vehicles (ORVs)

2. Naramata Creek Fire Service Road (FSR) parking area
The FSR is an unmaintained resource road and is narrow and steep, with rough conditions and loose rock.

• Drive 2.5 km east to the Smethurst staging area
• Vehicles travelling downwards have the right-of-way
• Please ensure vehicles are suited for off-road conditions (high clearance, proper tires)
• It is approximately a 750-metre hike from the Smethurst staging area to the lower tunnel, following the trail marked Sanchez to Adra Tunnel Service Road. Follow this service road to Adra Tunnel.
• Sanchez Trail is not fully accessible. The trail is shared use and supports motorized recreation (motorbikes and ORVs).
• Please stay on the marked trail to the tunnel and respect other trail users

For those visiting Adra Tunnel, please be aware there is the potential of falling rock and debris, cold and damp air conditions, and varying surface conditions. Be prepared before you enter the tunnel. There is no cellular telephone service and no natural light inside the tunnel (your phone flashlight will not be sufficient).

Within the tunnel, two-way cyclist and pedestrian traffic is in effect. Please be aware and respectful of other users. From the north entrance, there is a tunnel bypass route available 175 metres to the west or 500 metres from the south entrance.  

For further information, please visit the RDOS Regional Connections interactive website at rdosregionalconnections.ca.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contact:

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737

Map 1: KVR Glenfir parking route map  

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Map 2: Smethurst Rec Site parking route map

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Map 3: Smethurst Rec Site parking and KVR Glenfir parking route map

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