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Othello-Quintette Tunnels - Hope - B.C. - Journey Through the Old Kettle Valley Railway Tunnels (LOCALISM FEATURED)

Set in the THE COQUIHALLA CANYON PROVINCIAL PARK minutes from the town of Hope are what could be one of B.C.'s best kept seccrets. Here I've lived in Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley for the past eight years and NEVER I mean never have I seen the Othello Tunnels - a series of abandoned railway tunnels and bridges that will take your breath away!

As you take the windy logging rode up to the Park a large parking lot awaits you (pay parking)...From there its a 10 minutes walk along a beautifully treed gravel path.....leaves starting to turn into their autumn wonder....by your side is the babbling rush of the Coquihalla River...It's an exhilerating walk.....knowing that soon...around the corner you'll face your first tunnel....

The hike is pretty easy. There's a bit of an uphill climb to get to the tunnels, but its short. Once you get to the former railroad tracks its pretty easy going. The tunnels themselves don't take long to hike... an hour at most. But the hike is spectacular!

Designed by engineer Andrew McCulloch, the tunnels were built from 1911 to 1916 to complete the Kettle Valley Railway. Cost of building the railway was approx. 136,000 per mile - 5x the cost of normal railway construction at the time - 13 tunnels - and 43 Bridges 22 million board feet of lumber and 56 tons of steel.

The history of the tunnels is interesting... an architectural marvel in that dynamite had to be set into the mountain rock via long ladders from the top of the mountain, and those lighting the dynamite had only seconds to scamper back up the ladder to the top without being blown up. Yet all the caves form a uniform arch.

The biggest challenge was finding a way to get through the Coquihalla gorge where the river had cut a 300,000 gorge where the river had cut a 300 foot deep channel in a wall of solid granite.

"Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heavens"....William Shakespeare

Unfortunately after it was completed, there was washout after washout with rockslides plaguing the railway continuously. Eventually the Line was to close in 1959.

The tunnels are huge, exciting and eerie at the same time, and a little flashlight definitely comes in handy. Everytime you step out of a tunnel theres a wooden bridge with incredible views.

The Coquihalla flows freely through the gorge amidst the granite backdrop ...that'll take your breath away!

*The tunnels are located less than two hours from Vancouver, close to Hell's Gate, Minter Gardens, and Bridal Veil Falls.

More links:

Map to Othello Tunnels

Kettle Valley Steam Railway

Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park

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Check out my other posts about the Hope Area!

The Hope Slide - Canada's Largest Rock Slide, Hope, B.C.

The Friendship Garden - Tashme Japanese Internment Camp - Hope, B.C.

Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World - Hope

Kawkawa Lake - Hope's Hidden Gem - B.C.

Sunshine Valley - Hope, B.C. - A Little Bit of Sunshine !

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you' would like more information please give Liz Moras a call! Managing Broker and Team Leader - 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Posted by Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack,Hope,Langley,Abbotsford on 09/18/2008 12:43 AM

Comments (49)

Othello Caves in the ActiveRain Channel

othello tunnels, kettle valley railway, hope, coquihalla river, coquihallacanyon provincial park

Originally posted at: "Singing in the Rain!": Othello-Quintette Tunnels - Hope - B.C. - Journey Through the Old Kettle Valley Railway Tunnels (LOCALISM FEATURED)

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49 Comments on Othello-Quintette Tunnels - Hope - B.C. - Journey Through the Old Kettle Valley Railway Tunnels (LOCALISM FEATURED)

SEP

2008

Liz - Very beautiful photos and it really looks like you had a relaxing weekend. thanks!

Hey Robert - I was looking at my cluster map and it sad u.s. las vegas.......and i thought it must be you! Thanks >)

Liz: Beautiful pics! Even though I've never gotten further west than Waterton and Banff, Western Canada has some of the most beautiful places on the planet. I'll probably be distracted most of the day thinking about them. Thanks!

Regards, John Bethell

Liz, Great post and very interesting. The pictures are beautiful too. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful pix! Thanks for the eye candy and lesson.

Beautiful pictures, I love this kind of setting.

Liz what a spectacular place - thank you for sharing. You always seem to provide a reason for me to make a trip to your area - one of these days I will have to do just that - I will put it on my bucket list! ~ Anne Marie

John - well you've seen Banff and that has to be one of the most beautiful of places - and keep us on your list - and one day you'll make it..:-) Yesterday I picked my daughter up from the airport (returning from Japan) ...and she said she was in awe of coming home...as the plane flew overhead as she saw all the mountains - she felt like they were welcoming her home.....its good to see with 'fresh' us the beauty that surrounds us!

Bob thanks! Its weird how you can live close to something and yet never have seen it...:-)

Jane - I have to say it was a gorgeous day....i felt transported by the beauty of it all!

Melody - It was a lesson for me too! :-)

Anne Marie - I have to update my 'bucket list' too! I'd love to have you come out and visit..:-)

Liz, these abandoned tunnels and again the stunning nature and views in your area amaze me. It would be great for the big explorer in me. I am amazed you hadn't found these before but you have provided us all now with a great walking tour. I like the bridge coming out of the tunnel.

WOW! How cool is that? I LOVE your pics, my friend. I felt like I was traveling through those old tunnels. I'd love to see them in person, but your post is the 2nd best thing to being there.

GBU, Liz!

Gary - yes well i had driven by and driven by and always meant to......and now that i look at everything around me as 'localism' it has a different appeal! :-)

Thanks Elizabeth - :-) Thats the whole thing with photo - we can travel and visit vicariously through them ..right? :-)

Nice post, Canada should give you an award for promoting tourism, how can anyone resist after your visual and verbal tour.

I feel like I'm there already... I'd love to visit those tunnels... it looks like a great way to spend some time.

Liz-Isn't it amazing that most of the things in our own backyards are what we neglect to see and appreciate. By looking at your pictures, I know you are happy you finally got a chance to vist the tunnels.....and then share them with us.

Paul - Ya Think?....:-) Perhaps a 2nd job? Thanks Paul! :-)

Chuck - it is a photographer's mecca, great stealhead trout fishing, hiking, cycling......picnic? You name it...:-)

Kathy - you know I love to travel- but until such a time as we can get those 80 days off work, I decided I'd travel and explore in my backyard....:-)

SEP

2008

Nice photos! I love the bridge/tunnel!

Ben - even as a child I used to love the tunnels we used to go through on driving holidays......you know the old hold your breath till you get to the other side............and always the thrill....of whats on the other end! Thanks for commenting on several of my posts tonight! :-)

Liz, Beautiful pictures. Makes you wish you could have taken that train ride through the tunnels. We loved Canada, at least the parts we saw. Plenty of beautiful places. Thanks for sharing these.

Liz - got to get up your way. That's what I love about your area and also Washington - Did I forget to tell you how much I love river gorges...oh and my favorite is waterfalls (tell me where to see those too!) The tunnels are really cool. Your description and photos are fabulous!

Charlie - what part of Canada have you been in? Train trips are awesome - I haven't done as many as I'd like to but a few..its a whole different way of experiencing travel.........thanks for commenting!

Thanks Jessica - you're not far away. :-)..there are a couple of upcoming posts i'll be doing on Bridal Veil Falls and Hell's gate ........so I'll dedicate a couple of those shots to you! :-)

OMGoodness, that is sure pretty country!!

Liz - spectacular ... amazing ... wow .... how in heck are you going to find time to take me around to all these places when I visit? Which ones do we visit first? (Well, first Vancouver ... after that, anywhere....) :)

Congratulations on another star, Liz... you certainly deserve it.

Thank you for the amazingly beautiful photos! The last time I was in Vancouver was in 1971 for my honeymoon... My, time has passed. I hope to get back again someday in the near future.