The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) corridor on snpink’tn Indian Band lands between Summerland and Banbury Green will remain closed to the public because of significant safety hazards and ongoing unauthorized access, according to the band and its municipal partners.
The snpink’tn Indian Band, City of Penticton, District of Summerland and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) said they are working together on a long-term plan for the corridor while supporting measures to prevent public access to the closed area.
“This land is part of our territory and we take that responsibility seriously,” Chief Greg Gabriel said. “We have a duty to protect the people who use this corridor, including our own community members, and right now the conditions are not safe.”
According to the partners, independent technical assessments have identified geohazards throughout the corridor.
Along the southern section near Skaha Lake, rockfall remains an active hazard. Officials said a boulder the size of a car fell from the cliffs above the trail earlier this year. Additional rockfalls have been documented in recent years and the volcanic rock in the area remains susceptible to weathering and failure.
The northern and West Bench sections also present risks, officials said, citing sinkholes linked to deteriorating buried railway infrastructure dating back to the 1920s, unstable ground conditions and numerous unauthorized access points.
The corridor has also experienced impacts from unauthorized use beyond trespassing. Officials said recent human-caused fires have been discovered and extinguished on or near the corridor, while illegal dumping has been documented at several locations. People leaving the trail are also accessing adjacent reserve lands, damaging sensitive habitat and creating additional fire and safety concerns.
Gabriel said the closure is intended to protect both public safety and the interests of the community.
“We also have a responsibility to our community to make sure that any decisions about the future of this corridor reflect what our people want,” he said. “snpink’tn, the RDOS, Penticton, and Summerland are working together on a long-term plan, and when it is ready, we will bring it to our community for consideration.”
Barriers and signs will be installed at targeted access points along the corridor to reinforce the closure. Officials said members of the public continue to enter the area despite existing warnings and barriers, and in some cases signs and barriers have been moved or removed.
Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said public safety remains the primary concern.
“Public safety has to come first,” Bloomfield said. “The hazards identified along this section of the KVR corridor are serious and ongoing, and we strongly support the snpink’tn Indian Band’s decision to close the area.”
Bloomfield urged residents and visitors to remain on open routes and respect the closure while local governments and the band work toward a longer-term solution.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said residents may continue to access the Trout Creek Trestle but should not proceed onto reserve lands.
“Summerland residents are welcome to go onto the Trout Creek Trestle to enjoy the views but are being asked not to proceed further onto snpink’tn reserve lands,” Holmes said. “Not only do the unstable banks and cracks in bedrock pose a safety risk to mountain bikers and hikers, it is disrespectful and illegal to trespass on reserve lands.”
RDOS Chair Mark Pendergraft said the closure reflects a shared commitment among the partners.
“The RDOS stands alongside the snpink’tn Indian Band, the City of Penticton and the District of Summerland in supporting the closure of the KVR corridor due to serious safety hazards,” Pendergraft said. “This coordinated approach reflects our shared responsibility to protect people, the land, and our commitment to working together collaboratively as we develop a long-term plan for the corridor.”
The snpink’tn Indian Band, RDOS, City of Penticton, District of Summerland, Trans Canada Trail and other partners are developing a long-term plan for the corridor that will address safety, trail rehabilitation, access management, and cultural and environmental protection.
In the meantime, officials are asking the public not to enter the closed corridor, remove signs, move barriers, bypass closures, light fires, dump waste or access adjacent reserve lands.
By respecting the closure, officials said, residents can help protect both public safety and the surrounding landscape while work on the corridor’s future continues.
The Channel walkway is not part of the closure and remains open for public use.
