Built by the CPR as part of the Columbia & Western Railway, this section of the line was amalgamated with the Kettle Valley Railway and saw service until the last train ran in 1991. Over the course of the next few years the tracks were taken up and the railbed eventually became a rail trail, managed by the Columbia and Western Trail Society (C&WTS). Here, the distinction between the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail has become blurred, as the signs on this section refer to the trail as the Kettle Valley Rail Trail or even simply the Trans Canada Trail, though the line was originally part of the Columbia & Western Railway. That's of no real consequence, though, as they're all part of the Trans Canada Trail now. On the Trans Canada Trail, this section is officially known as the Columbia and Western Trail (Grand Forks to Christina Lake).
Though it had actually been open for use for some time, an official opening and sod turning for this section of the Trans Canada Trail didn't take place until September of 2013. We didn't discover the particular access point where the sod turning took place until 2017. But we found this newspaper article on the event. The beginning is reproduced below.
MLA Larson and Mayor Taylor
turn the sod for Grand Forks
section of Trans-Canada Trail
by Craig Lindsay - Grand Forks Gazette
posted Sep 12, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Around 50 people, including Grand Forks Mayor Brian Taylor, most of council, and Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson, gathered outside Roxul for a sod turning ceremony to kick off the first phase of the Grand Forks portion of the Columbia and Western Rail Trail, which is part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
Phase one includes putting in a new paved surface for a 1.8 kilometre section of the trail from 68th Avenue in Grand Forks (by Roxul) to the Nursery Trestle.
The upgrade is part of a partnership between the Province and the City of Grand Forks for a 17-kilometre trail enhancement project from Grand Forks to Christina Lake. Phase one is expected to be completed this fall.
“This is the official opening of the trail head,” said Taylor. “The trails society has been pushing for paving this section from here to the trestle bridge. City council has approved the additional expenditure and we’re celebrating here today.”
Funding for phase one includes $100,000 from the Province’s Recreation Sites and Trails BC program for site and trail maintenance and improvements and $118,000 from the City of Grand Forks. The Grand Forks Community Trails Society and the Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary have been major players in getting the project to the final stages as well.
From the Grand Forks Gazette