Othello Tunnels — a Historic Attraction North of Hope, BC
This is a great place to stop when driving the Coquihalla Highway or a fun day trip from the Vancouver area. Unfortunately, due to the flooding in late 2021, this park is currently closed. Bookmark this for the future, though!
We drive the Coquihalla Highway #5 in British Columbia many times a year but have never stopped just north of Hope to see the Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park. We decided to do it this time, and it was worth the extra time on our trip!
In the early 1900s, Canadian Pacific Railway built these tunnels to connect more of the province to coastal BC. To cut these tunnels into the solid granite in the 300-foot-deep channel was an engineering feat, with workers risking their lives to complete it. You can read more at the link to the BC Parks website at the end of this post.
The engineer Andrew McCullough was an avid reader of Shakespearean literature, and used characters such as Lear, Jessica, Portia, Iago, Romeo & Juliet to name stations of the Coquihalla subdivision.
It’s hard to believe this beautiful gorge and the Othello Tunnels, rich with history, is right beside the main highway, and so many people miss this, just like me, by focusing on our destination instead of the journey. This park provides picnic tables, areas for fishing, and an easy 1.75km walk on rough gravel to view the tunnels. The path was the railway tracks and has been converted to a loose gravel path with a gentle slope. It is a bit rough for wheelchairs and bikes, but I saw both during my visit.
Tip: Bring a flashlight to walk through the tunnels, as the ground is uneven. When inside the tunnels, you will get dripped on. It’s water…we let our imaginations run wild and thought of the tunnel filled with bats watching us…not the case. 😉
You can read the detailed history on the BC Parks website, and there are photos of it below this location map!
Beautiful photos! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
BC is so freaking beautiful! Looove the park’s tunnel and green river! You should give us a tour of your home country or at least show us some more BC!
Yes Diana! I agree. I’d like to arrange a tour for some of our gorgeous BC locations.
Ohhh so many cool photos. It looks like a really pretty destination. Canada is so beautiful. I can’t wait to visit in a few weeks!
You’ll only see a tiny bit of Canada. Next time you can spend more time and explore!
Wow Sherri! I can’t believe that these photos were taken almost in your “backyard”! Beautiful Canada – someday I will visit and hopefully soon! It’s just too pretty to miss!
Thanks Grace! There is so much to see in just BC alone. Each part of Canada is so different. I hope you can visit soon!
Looks like a fun and popular adventure! I need to explore Canada… It’s so close yet I never get up there!
Yes you should! There’s so much to see and each part of Canada is so different!
WOW! These photos are beautiful! I didn’t get to venture much further east than Burnaby, but next time I’m in BC I’m definitely checking this out!! I love our country – Canada’s full of so many beautiful places 🙂
Thanks! Yes you need to go further than the Vancouver area, there’s so much to see all over BC!
The photos are beautiful! love the little fun fact about the stations being named after Shakespeare characters 🙂
Thanks! When driving the Coquihalla you can see all the names along the way. I always wondered why they were named that way, now I know!
This place looks incredible!!! I have to add this place to my list! Such beauty, I love nature like this and history. Thanks for the great post.
Thank you! There is so much like this to see in BC. 🙂
I loved it . do at least 5k in
Great idea, next time I will or maybe bring a bike!