South Okanagan’s historic Adra Tunnel officially open
The Adra Tunnel is open to the public after years of work restoring the historic piece of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
The 111-year-old, 487 metre tunnel is open for bikes, horses, pedestrians and licensed off-road vehicles, according to a press release from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
The tunnel is about 40 minutes from Penticton and the easiest access to the tunnel is by trekking eight kilometres from the Glenfir parking lot. People can also make a trickier journey from the Naramata Creek Fire Service Road parking area.
The Naramata Creek Forest Service Road isn’t maintained and the trip to the tunnel uses the Sanchez Trails which aren't fully accessible.
The regional district wants people to be aware that inside the tunnel rocks and debris could fall, the air is cool and damp, and the surface conditions vary.
There isn’t natural light inside since the tunnel is shaped like a horseshoe and cell phone lights aren’t sufficient. There’s also no cell service in the tunnel.
Folks who want to avoid the tunnel can use a bypass 175 metres to the west or 500 m from the south entrance.
Adra Tunnel was first excavated from 1913 to 1914 and closed to the public in the 1990s. Work to reopen the tunnel for people using the rail trail began in 2022.
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