Trail: Othello Tunnels
Trail Distance: Tunnels - 3.5 kilometres, Loop - 5.4 km
Trail Difficulty: Tunnels - Easy, Loop - Moderate
Directions: This trail is located in Hope. From Kelowna, follow the Okanagan Connector, Highway 97C/Highway 5A to the Coquihalla (Highway 5). Follow the Coquihalla for roughly 103 km to take exit #183 for Othello Road. Continue on Othello Road for 3.6 km and continue on to Tunnels Road, following the Signs for The Othello Tunnels.
Description:
From the parking lot, we followed the signs for the tunnels on a wide gravel path. As the pathway lead away from the parking area, the sounds of the raging water grew louder! The Coquihalla River is an amazing sight on its own, the beautiful turquoise color of the water is outstanding! Back in the day, this river had chiseled a 300-foot deep channel out of solid granite to create what is now known as the 'Coquihalla Gorge.'
Within 700 m, we came to the first of five tunnels. Walking up and through the tunnels, it's hard to not think about how these were made. Back in 1914, all they had were their hands, a few horse drawn scrapers and some black powder! It's truly amazing to see what they created with such simple equipment.
We continued on through each tunnel, enjoying every spectacular sight along the way! Once through the last tunnel, there are two options to choose from. First, you can continue on the trail to do the Tunnel Loop. The trail brings you up above the canyon to a beautiful viewpoint and some historic features. Second, you can end your hike here and make your way back through the tunnels and to the parking lot.
Always remember to be mindful of your surroundings, pack out what you pack in, stick to the trails and Happy Exploring!
Born and raised in the Okanagan, Kristy Draginda has always had a strong passion for the outdoors. Whether it be hiking to the top of a mountain or standing below a waterfall, she says there is no better feeling than being inspired by nature. Follow along as Kristy shares different hiking locations in and around the Okanagan. For more adventure photos, check out Hiking the Okanagan on Instagram or Facebook.
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