Kilometre Zero gateway added to Okanagan Rail Trail in Coldstream

Photo: Okanagan Rail Trail

Kilometre Zero of the Okanagan Rail Trail has a new entrance focal point welcoming visitors to the scenic trail.

Located just off College Way in Coldstream, at the northern end of the trail, has a new interpretive structure serving as a gateway to the trail, which stretches south along Kalamalka and Wood lakes, all the way to downtown Kelowna with the exception of a disputed section north of Kelowna Airport.

The kiosk features large maps of the whole trail route and acknowledges the First Nation history along the lakes.

Signage also tips a hat to the many donors who made the trail happen on the decommissioned former CN Rail line.

The structure was funded through a grant from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative and community donations to the Km 0 sunflower campaign.

Kelowna Pacific Railway ceased rail service in 2013, and CN began the formal process of decommissioning the line.

With financial support from the provincial government, local and municipal governments stepped forward to purchase the corridor.

Beginning in 2016, a two-year community fundraising campaign along with several grants raised the $7.8 million needed to develop and open the trail.

It now sees more than 500,000 users a year.