Columbia and Western Rail Trail Loses Provincial Funding
19 July 2025
The Columbia and Western Rail Trail runs from Midway, BC, to Castlegar, following 162 kilometres of old rail bed. A part of the Trans-Canada Trail, it joins up with the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in Midway, BC, creating a nearly 500-kilometre route accessible to hiking, biking, ATVing, and horseback riding.
The trail follows the route of the historic Columbia and Western Railway, originally built in the late 1890s to support the booming mining industry in the Boundary and Kootenay regions. As one of the earliest rail links connecting the mineral-rich interior of British Columbia to coastal markets, it played a vital role in the province’s economic development. Today, the trail preserves this legacy, offering a glimpse into the region’s industrial past through relics like trestles, tunnels, and old station sites scattered along the route.
Recently, the province downgraded its management of the section between Christina Lake and Castlegar to wilderness status, meaning there will no longer be any funding, planning, or maintenance done on the trail. This segment of the trail makes up 67 kilometres of the route.
In 2019, the trail was removed from the Recreation Trail system, but it was promised that there would be no change to access and stewardship. The recent downgrading of the trail status breaks that promise. Although immediate safety concerns on the trail will continue to be addressed, the lack of long-term maintenance and funding comes as a blow to communities.
Traditionally resource-based, many small communities have turned to tourism following a downturn in economic activity. Trails like the Columbia and Western Rail Trail are a major tourism attraction that draw visitors to these places. In short, the same communities that have been encouraged to develop tourism have now had funding withdrawn for one of their tourism drivers.
A petition has been launched by Christina Gateway, a non-profit organization in Christina Lake that supports economic development. You can sign and share it here.
The above image features the Kettle Valley Rail Trail near Hope, BC.
Cory is an outdoor writer and adventurer from British Columbia. She has worked as a kayak guide and wildlife rehabber, experiences that deepened her love for wild places and the creatures that call them home. Whether she’s hiking remote trails, paddling along the coast, or setting out on her next backcountry trip, she finds inspiration in nature’s untamed beauty. Through her writing, she shares stories of adventure, resilience, and the deep connection between people and the wilderness.
