If you enjoy a town with a mountain range and a river, this lovely spot in British Columbia will give double the enjoyment.
Hope and its vicinity offer natural beauty and a lot more. Explore the natural splendour of Hope, including desert canyons, waterfalls, lush meadowlands and rainforests. Two rivers snake between the mountains of the Coast and Cascade ranges.
Reach the Othello Tunnels on foot from Hope along the Kettle Valley Trail. Driving is an option, although parking is limited at peak periods. Walk through five of these man-made railway tunnels that were built in 1914 to connect the Kootenay Region with the Pacific Coast. As you walk through the tunnels, appreciate the nod to Shakespeare given by the project engineer. Trains stopped running in the late 1950s, leaving a pathway for pleasant walks. Views between tunnels are breathtaking. Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.
Look around the town centre and notice over 30 carvings that illustrate why Hope is called the Chainsaw Carving Capital. The town hosts the biennial International Wood Carving Competition. Hike up Hope Mountain to Hope Lookout and look down on the town and its rivers, the Coquihalla and Fraser. The climb is moderate and ascends to the lookout point at an elevation of 1,600 feet (500 metres). Take your camera and hike from town to Landstrom Ridge for another incredible view.
Hire a guide for white sturgeon sport fishing. You may hook a fish measuring up to 10 feet (3 metres). Within easy driving distance from town is the Hell’s Gate Airtram that ferries people over the raging Fraser River between the two mountain ranges.
Drive 30 minutes or less from Hope to several parks, including Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park where the Othello Tunnels are located, as well as picturesque Silver Lake Provincial Park. Near Hope airport is an easy hike to Flood Falls that features a waterfall.
Appreciate Hope’s natural beauty. You may feel like you’re part of a movie set. That’s not far from the truth as this is where the cult movie Rambo: First Blood was filmed, among other Hollywood productions.
