Section of Kettle Valley Rail Trail near Princeton to be decommissioned

A flood-damaged section of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail near Princeton will be permanently decommissioned.

The process will start in the spring of 2026, according to the Ministry of Environment and Parks.

The 67-kilometre stretch between Princeton and the Coquihalla Highway has been closed since November 2021 after heavy rain and flooding destroyed sections of the trail bed and severely damaged trestles, retaining walls and culverts. In some areas, waterways have shifted and now run where the trail once existed.

The province estimated repairs and long-term maintenance would cost about $60 million due to the remote terrain and aging infrastructure. Decommissioning the route is expected to take two to three years.

The trail remains part of the Trans Canada Trail network, with users directed to an alternative route using local roads to bypass the damaged section. The Trans Canada Trail organization is also reviewing options for a permanent reroute.

The cost of decommissioning is estimated at $20 million, with most of the funding expected to come from the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.

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