Residents of Princeton appear to be confused on the status of a road that many wish to use for recreation or to hunt along. 

A section of Darcy Mountain Road, about 50 feet from the paved portion of the drive, was recently purchased by Copper Creek Ranch and the owners have now restricted access to the area. 

"The road has always been private, and is simply now closed because of accounts of abusive trespassing," stated Copper Creek Ranch in an email. 

However, several residents told The Similkameen Spotlight that they remember otherwise and believed the road to have been public. 

"Now Copper Creek has now put 'no trespassing' signs and installed a gate," said one resident who did not wished to be named. 

According to the Ministry of Transportation and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the road appears to be private and there have been no recent changes to the road designation. 

"The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has no records which would establish Darcy Mountain Road as provincial public highway. The ministry does not maintain the road, nor does it possess historical records of maintenance and operation," the ministry said in an email statement. 

In an inquire to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen also had no record of the road being public and stated that Darcy Mountain Road should be considered a private drive. 

Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne said he had no information about the road at this time.

"It is outside the town boundaries, so I would have no official comment about it," he commented.