Media Advisory
September 4, 2025
Trail partners are pleased to announce a community ribbon cutting to celebrate the reopening of the Splatsin te Secwépemc / Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail along Mara Lake, beginning at Kilometre Bridge and accessible at km 0.5.
The celebration takes place Wednesday, September 10, from 10 AM to 12 PM. The Sicamous Ferry Society will provide shuttle service across the Narrows from downtown Sicamous to the ribbon-cutting site at KM 0.5. A light stand-up luncheon will follow at the Sek’emaws Health Centre in Sicamous, hosted by leadership from Sicamous Economic Development and the Sicamous Ferry Society.
How to Attend:
- Park: Please use one of the new Sicamous parking lots on Finlayson Street or Main Street just off Riverside Avenue.
- Shuttle: Walk or bicycle south down Riverside Avenue to the Martin Street ferry shuttle for transport across the Narrows to the event site at km 0.5. Note: there is NO public parking on Martin Street.
- Timing: Shuttles operate between 10 AM and 12 PM for the event.
The Sicamous Ferry is expected to run through September and, with community support, may continue further into the fall, ensuring ongoing access to KM 0.5 of the Rail Trail. Donations to help keep the ferry running are gratefully accepted on site.
Enjoy the Trail — Safety & Etiquette:
Public access for walking and bicycling is open along this section. Pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted. Please:
- Yield to pedestrians and keep cycling speeds to 30 km/h or less.
- Stay on the trail, obey all signage, and use at your own risk.
- Watch for hazards and poison ivy along trail edges.
- A temporary toilet is located at the km 2.8 Folland Road rail-trail crossing.
- No motorized vehicles are permitted, except those authorized for maintenance.
- There is currently no access south of Mara Lake; construction within the Agricultural Land Reserve remains on hold.
Construction & Next Steps:
Further erosion repairs are required along this section and will proceed in the fall/winter once environmental reviews are complete and low-water window permits are in place. Due to the delayed construction of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge on Highway 1, full access from Sicamous to the rail trail is anticipated in 2027.
A Public Information Bulletin with access details, maps, and construction updates is available at shuswapnorthokanaganrailtrail.ca. We thank everyone for their patience and continued support as we work toward completing the Rail Trail.
