Discover the Spirit of 2010 Trail, B.C., Canada
Fresh Camping Experiences to be Found in Southern British Columbia
Oct 23, 2008
Seeking to offer experiences that are off the beaten track, organizers in British Columbia have inaugurated a 750-kilometer trail that spans six popular regions in the southern part of the province. Efforts to establish the trail network are in the spirit of excitement that is leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games to be held in Vancouver. This new venue for campers and visitors with recreational vehicles is being called the Spirit of 2010 Trail.
The Spirit of 2010 Trail encompasses the Kootenay Rockies, Thompson Okanagan, Vancouver Coast, and Vancouver Island regions. This trail system incorporates abandoned rail corridors to provide recreational access for camping, skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The territory covered by the trail is rich in public and private parks, campgrounds, and recreational sites.
Kettle Valley Rail Trail
A renowned rail trail in British Columbia, this track is found in the Kettle Valley District of the Thompson Okanagan region. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail covers some 455 kilometers through numerous tunnels and trestles from Grand Forks to Brodie. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands owns the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
Slocan Valley Rail Trail
Running 50 kilometers between the Village of Slocan and Slocan Junction, this trail is owned by Tourism British Columbia. Rail systems were developed in the region to access its wealth of gold, silver, copper, and lead. The trail follows the scenic Slocan River Valley that meanders through the region.
Great Northern Rail Trail
These 48 kilometers of rail trail connect the City of Salmo through the Salmo River Valley to the City of Nelson in the Selkirk Mountains. The whole trail is found within the Central Kootenay District of the Kootenay Rockies. The Province of British Columbia through its Ministry of Transportation and Highways owns this trail.
Cowichan Rail Trail
This portion of the Trail of 2010 is found on Vancouver Island. It follows what is known as the "Galloping Goose Rail Line" operated at one time by the Canadian Pacific Railway from Shawnigan Lake to the Town of Lake Cowichan. The trail is co-managed by the Ministry of Transportation, Cowichan Valley Regional District, and BC Parks.
Sponsors of the Spirit of 2010 Trail hope to encourage the development of sustainable tourism activity and infrastructure in regions of British Columbia that have been hard hit by the decline in the timber industry. The rails to trails movement is noted as a successful model for economic development and southern British Columbia's striking scenery and historic railroad corridors are an ideal match for the concept.
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