Closed for three decades due to safety concerns, the historic 487m long Adra Tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail is once again open to cyclists and hikers. Thanks to the hard work of local volunteers, this 100+ year old, horseshoe-shaped tunnel has been brought back to life.
Originally completed in 1913, the Adra Tunnel was a remarkable feat of engineering for its time – and today, it’s once again a highlight of the trail.
The inky dark expanse of the tunnel is a sight to behold, illuminated only in sections as you draw near. The rugged walls, shaped by raw, blasted rock, bear the scars of over a century of history. The newer timber sections are impressive, especially when you notice a chandelier sparkling on the ceiling.
Around the half way mark, a train sounds its approach. The Kettle Valley Railway lives on!
Whether you choose to hike or bike it, visiting the Adra Tunnel is a sensory experience like no other – part adventure, part time capsule, and a standout feature of the KVR Trail.
Combine it with a trip to the nearby Little Tunnel or check it out as a dedicated trip. Either way, it’s a worthwhile destination.
In this post, I’ll share more information about the newly reopened Adra Tunnel, how to visit (by foot and also by bike) as well as some essential tips for visiting.
What is the Adra Tunnel?
Stretching 487 metres, the Adra Tunnel is the longest along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) Trail. Built in 1913, this horseshoe-shaped tunnel was an engineering feat at the time.
The Kettle Valley Railway line was completed in 1915 and spanned almost 500km between Midway to Hope in British Columbia, Canada. While primarily built to serve mining interests and to secure Canadian sovereignty in this southern border area, it was also used to transport fruit and passengers.
Constructed over 20 years, the KVR was not actually in service for very long. Sections of the railway began to be discontinued in the 1960s and was entirely abandoned in the 1980s.
Since then, the rail bed has transitioned to become a popular multi-use trail, open to cyclists, hikers and horse riders. Some stretches can be explored by licensed motorised vehicles as well.
The Adra Tunnel was closed in the 1990s due to safety concerns. Deliberately set fires caused additional damage in 2010 and 2012, causing more structural instability and further delaying any potential reopening.
In 2023, a multi-generational local volunteer group called the Woodwackers 2.0 initiated a plan to reopen the Adra Tunnel. The project received support from local residents, businesses, Sites and Trails BC, and the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District.
Rock stabilisation was a priority, with other work involving floor resurfacing, the addition of drainage ditches, timber arches, motion sensitive LED lighting and even a train sound effect.
The Adra Tunnel was finally reopened in May 2025. Thank you so much for all of the volunteers for their hard work!
Additional landscaping and improved amenities are in the works for the fall, including picnic areas, washrooms, more signage and parking.
Visiting the Adra Tunnel
The Adra Tunnel is situated on the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) Trail, in the hills above Naramata in BC’s Okanagan Valley. To visit, prepare to hike or bike to one of the entrances – read on to discover how to do that!
Please note that amenities are limited at the Adra Tunnel at this time (June 2025). More facilities and signage are planned for Fall 2025.
Entering the Adra Tunnel from the south, there is some light from the entrance…but not for long. Natural light soon disappears. The tunnel stretches out in front, with the bumpy, rocky walls rising high above. The floor is also a little uneven.
Venturing further in, the first LED light clicks on, providing about 20m of visibility ahead. The tunnel starts to curve, leaving the entrance behind. Further in, notice the wooden and cement supports, one boasting a sparkling chandelier on the ceiling.
Just over halfway, a train starts to approach. Wait, what? Yes, the Kettle Valley Railway lives again, with the sounds of a train barreling towards you in the tunnel.
Not long after, the light of the northern entrance appears. The steep rock walls on the other side are covered in moss. Return the same way, unless you’re continuing on to Chute Lake.
It takes around 7-10 minutes to walk through the tunnel with no stops.
Hiking to the Adra Tunnel
The hiking trail to the Adra Tunnel is short (only 750m one-way) but access to the trailhead requires driving on a fairly steep, unpaved road.
Be sure you have an appropriate vehicle to do so. High clearance and good tires are preferable. While we made it in our Yaris, I would take our high clearance van next time.
- First drive to the Smethurst Road parking lot near Naramata (also the Little Tunnel trailhead).
- Continue on Smethurst Road, stay right at the junction with Cottonwood Lane. Look for yellow Adra Tunnel signage.
- Smethurst Road transitions to the unmaintained Naramata Creek Forest Service Road (FSR). The road surface deteriorates and becomes rocky, with steep switchback turns. Downhill traffic has priority.
- Park at the Smethurst Staging Area (again, look for Adra Tunnel signage). Total distance from the Smethurst Road parking area to the staging area is 2.5km. There is a kiosk and outhouse.
- Follow the 750m long trail (about 10-15 minutes) to the Adra Tunnel from the southwest corner of the parking area. It is part of a longer multi-use trail, so listen out for dirt bikes and quads. Watch for the yellow Adra Tunnel signs
- The Adra Tunnel trail has about 80-100m of elevation gain and can be muddy in places
- The last section of the trail crosses a rough road and then links up with the KVR Trail. Turn right to head to the Adra Tunnel’s southern entrance
If you feel like a longer hike, the alternative way to reach the Adra Tunnel is from the Glenfir parking lot. It’s 16km return, so expect to spend around 4 hours or more. I believe licensed off-road motorised vehicles are also able to use this route.
Trail finding is very easy – just follow the wide KVR Trail to the east. Access to the Glenfir parking lot is also via an unpaved road but this one (Chute Lake Road) is regularly maintained.
Cycling to the Adra Tunnel
Cyclists have a multitude of options when it comes to visiting the Adra Tunnel, especially when using an e-bike. The KVR Trail is a straightforward ride. The rough time estimates below are for cyclists on regular bikes.
- The closest parking area is the Glenfir parking lot, on Chute Lake Road. The return distance is 16km – allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes with some time exploring the tunnel. Please note that Chute Lake Road is an unpaved but maintained road.
- For a half day ride, head to the Smethurst Road parking lot near Naramata. This is the same parking area for the Little Tunnel – it is accessible via a paved road. The total distance is 34km return, so allow at least 4 hours. The gradient is slightly uphill on the way to the Adra Tunnel, about 2%
- Embark on an all-day adventure from Penticton. Park at the lot at the corner of Poplar Grove Road and Naramata Road (50km return) OR somewhere close to the Vancouver Place trailhead* (58km return). Again, there is a 2% uphill gradient all the way there, with a few steeper hills near the cemetery
*If you’re going to be cycling all day, please consider parking on Vancouver Avenue or Cambie Street rather than Vancouver Place. Parking is limited in this area and it gets very busy on weekends and in the summer months.
On your way back to Penticton from the Adra Tunnel, consider stopping at a winery or two – there are several located just off the KVR Trail (such as D’Angelo Estate Winery, Hillside Winery and Origin Wines). Prefer beer? Check out Abandoned Rail Brewing.
Hiking and biking tips
- As mentioned, there are motion sensitive lights in the Adra Tunnel. In case of failure, please be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp. The tunnel is pitch black and is 487m long (about 7-8 minutes walk!)
- Fallen debris and rocks are possible at any time. The floor surface is uneven in places. Sections of the tunnel walls and supports jut out. Enter and explore at your own risk
- The Adra Tunnel is located at around 960m elevation. For this reason, it can be a little cooler here in spring and autumn than Naramata and Penticton (385m elevation). Temperatures in the tunnel itself are a few degrees lower
- Not keen on actually walking through the tunnel? There is a bypass route! It is 175m from the west entrance and 500m from the south entrance
- This section of the KVR has more shade than some other areas but I’d still recommend to bring plenty of water, a sunhat and sunscreen
- The Adra Tunnel and the KVR Trail are open all year round. Snow is possible from November to March. The Naramata Creek FSR is unmaintained (no snow removal!)
- Technically, the Adra Tunnel is open between 6am to 10pm only. There is no gate, but using the tunnel is prohibited outside of these hours
- Bring bear spray (recommended, especially if alone). Black bears and cougars live in this area
- There is no phone signal around the Adra Tunnel. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return home
- Don’t have your own bike? There are bike rental options at Chute Lake and in Penticton. Pedego, for example, rents e-bikes for 4 or 6 hour self guided trips
1 thought on “Adra Tunnel KVR Trail: Hiking and Cycling Guide”
Comments are closed.