A portion of British Columbia’s railway history comes to life during a walk through the Adra Tunnel near Naramata.
The tunnel was built in 1913, during the construction of the Kettle Valley Railway. Today, the railway is gone and the rail bed has been converted to the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
The tunnel had long been closed because of safety concerns, but extensive restoration work has now been completed and the tunnel reopened in late May, 2025. We decided to check it out for ourselves, so we put on our hiking boots, filled our water bottles, packed up the dogs, and drove out to Naramata.
The Adra Tunnel is 487 metres long and is the longest tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. It does not follow a straight line, but has a horseshoe shape.
Inside, motion-sensor lights come on and there are sounds of steam trains, from the days when this tunnel and the trail provided rail service. At the mid-point, there is a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, adding a unique ambience to the experience.
Although the tunnel has motion-sensor lights, it’s suggested to carry flashlights or bring a headlamp. The light on your cell phone will not be bright enough to illuminate the tunnel. When we were walking through the tunnel, there were a few e-bikes with lights, and also enough other people setting off the motion-sensor lights, so it was rarely pitch black for us.
“It was such a hot day, we were so happy to enjoy the cooler temperature inside the tunnel.”
Mikki and Merlot
It’s also worth noting that there is no cellular service within the tunnel, although there is reception outside at either end of the tunnel.
Inside, the tunnel is cool, making it an ideal hike for a hot summer day. It was probably close to 20 degrees cooler inside the tunnel. When we hiked here, it was quite a warm day, and we appreciated the reprieve from the heat.
When you get to the far end of the tunnel, (or the north entrance), keep walking a short distance and check out the spectacular view overlooking Okanagan Lake.
This is a hike we recommend, and one we will do again. All four of us really enjoyed it.
Getting to the Adra Tunnel
To access the Adra Tunnel, turn right from Naramata Road onto Smethurst Road and drive 1.7 kilometres to the Little Tunnel parking lot. From there, cross the cattle gate, then follow as the road turns slightly left and becomes the Naramata Creek Forest Service Road. About 2.5 kilometres along this road, you’ll find a parking lot at the Smethurst Staging Area Recreation Site. There’s a trailhead with a map, an outhouse, and also a picnic table.
The drive to the Little Tunnel parking lot is uphill, but smooth. However, the forest service road to the Smethurst Staging Area Recreation Site is narrow, rough and steep. It is best for high clearance vehicles with all-wheel drive.
From the staging area, there are signs to the tunnel. The hike is around 750 metres with a decent elevation gain. The path through the forest is good. This took us to the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, just a few meters from the south entrance of the tunnel.
“As we exited the tunnel, a couple was hanging out by the entrance. They said they had walked in maybe 50 meters into the tunnel, but they were a bit intimidated by how dark it was, so they walked back out. We explained that it was well worth it and not scary at all. Our advice? Just keep walking, and the motion-sensor lights will keep coming on.”
Kim
After completing our time at the Adra Tunnel, we returned to the forest trail. We took a wrong turn on the way back down to the parking lot, but there are a few options that all lead back to the same spot. Our total out-and-back hike was 3.08 kilometres from the parking lot, up to the trail, from one end of the tunnel to the other, and then the corresponding return trip.
At the north entrance of the tunnel there is a small parking lot. We aren’t quite sure how to access this parking lot, although it’s apparently accessible from one of the forest service roads. It would be worth checking out this alternate parking lot if you are looking for a shorter walk, you need accessible access, or you don’t want to do the extra climb up and down from the parking lot.
Here is a link to a map showing how to get to the tunnel.
The history of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
The trail and the tunnel help to preserve a part of the history of the area. In the 20th century, the railway was an important transportation link in the Okanagan Valley, connecting this valley with the rest of the province and the rest of the country.
The Kettle Valley Railway provided passenger train service from 1915 to 1964. Freight trains continued to use the track until 1989.
Today, the track has been removed, except for a 16-kilometre section in Summerland, where you can take a ride on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Everywhere else, the railway bed forms the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, offering plenty of places for hiking and cycling. The trail has an easy grade and offers plenty of scenic viewpoints along the way.
There is lots of activity along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and it is popular among hikers, cyclists, and dog-walkers.
To learn more about the Adra Tunnel project, have a listen to this podcast.
