K.V.R. - Naramata to Chute Lake

KVR Naramata to Chute Lake

The Kettle Valley Railway or Trans-Canada Trail from Smethurst Road to the old Chute Lake Station is 28.9 kilometres. Most of this section is multi-use, so please keep trail etiquette in mind. Once you leave Naramata there are no amenities until you reach the lodge at Chute Lake, so take plenty of water and trail snacks. (During the hot months Voulunteers have set up a watering station near the rock ovens)

It’s four kilometres of beautiful lake views to the small tunnel. Just before reaching the tunnel, the Horseshoe Trail heads uphill to the next level of the old railway line coming out at the Rock Oven Park. If my memory is correct, there is an oven a short distance along this trail.

Once through the tunnel, the lake views gradually become less spectacular and more treed. At 8.2 kilometres the old track bed loops around and heads back south. Here there is easy access from the Chute Lake road, which passes only metres from the trail. Once the Glenfir Station was only a few hundred metres further along.

This level, while a bit lacking in the spectacular lake views, passes the Rock Oven Park, which has a good collection of ovens made from rock which were used to cook for the railway work crews. Most are in remarkably good condition. These are situated between where the power lines and natural gas lines (11.7 km) cross and the north branch of Smethurst Road (13.2 km) crosses the track.

Shortly before reaching the lower end of the Adra Tunnel at the 17.6 km mark, there is a road off to the left taking you up to the upper entrance and the South Fork of Smethurst Road which goes over top of the tunnel to a network of roads above.
Continuing north from the tunnel the remains of the Adra Station are found at the 19.3 km mark. Here one can see the foundations of the station and the water tower and the odd domestic flower still can still be seen blooming. There is also another road that heads off up the hill to join the network of roads that connect with the south branch of Smethurst Road.
The next access point at 20.6 km is the north fork of Smethurst Road. Taking this rough downhill road will bring you back to the middle level of the trail and the Rock Oven Park. Heading up the road is quite rough going and could be tricky under either wet or extremely dry conditions. This would take you to Naramata and Elinor Lakes before coming out at Chute Lake.

There is a road that crosses at 27.3 km that leads uphill to a communications tower and downhill a few metres to the Chute Lake Road. The next 2.4 km of line crosses many small trestles until the Elinor Lake Forest Service Road intersects at 29.7 km. At this point you can spot the lake and resort through the trees.
Once over the bridge you are onto the Chute Lake Resort Property and the location of the old Chute Lake Station. This is a great place to stop and refresh and perhaps rent a boat to try your luck at catching some nice rainbow trout for supper. Or, many check out the accommodations for a mid-week or weekend getaway.

Early in the spring you might want to keep you eyes out for fiddlehead ferns, particularly near where the trail crosses creeks. Later in the year there are some good wild raspberry patches, and once the first frost has hit in the fall, wild rose hips are ready to pick. The wild rose hips can be used for either teas or for rose hip jelly; our attempt turned out like wild rose taffy, but I’m sure the jelly would be good too.