Image: B.C. Parks / A sought after destination east of Hope best known for its tunnels, stunning river views in the canyons below, and picturesque trails will partially reopen this summer. The B.C. government announced Wednesday morning (Mar. 27) that Othello Tunnels and Coquihalla Canyon Park will partially reopen this summer. Construction work will soon begin to repair infrastructure damaged by severe weather, the province said.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Othello Tunnels

Othello Tunnels in Hope to partially reopen this summer

Mar 27, 2024 | 9:54 AM

HOPE — A sought after destination east of Hope best known for its tunnels, stunning river views in the canyons below, and picturesque trails will partially reopen this summer.

The B.C. government announced Wednesday morning (Mar. 27) that Othello Tunnels and Coquihalla Canyon Park will partially reopen this summer. Construction work is slated to begin soon to repair infrastructure damaged by severe weather, the province said, though the government didn’t disclose an exact start date on repair work.

B.C. Parks had previously closed Othello Tunnels for all of 2023 due to significant damage to local access roads, park trails, tunnels and bridges following the atmospheric river events of November 2021. There were roughly 30 unique sites that required rehabilitation.

In order to partially open park premises, the repair efforts will happen in two phases so that British Columbians can visit part of the park in early July 2024. The first phase will focus on restoring facilities and access from the park entrance and parking lot to the end of tunnel two. The trail will be resurfaced and elevated to preclude similar damage from flooding. The rest of the park is projected to open sometime 2025, though the province did not disclose what part of the year it might reopen

“Council and I welcome the news, as this is an important part of our community that we share with our visitors,” said Victor Smith, mayor of Hope.

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In November 2021, heavy rain and severe flooding damaged more than 30 sites throughout the park, as well as all five of the historic Othello Tunnels, which were built in 1914. Bridge foundations were also adversely impacted, along with the stability of the canyon slopes above the tunnels, increasing the risk of falling rocks. Local access roads and trails were also eroded by flooding.

Coquihalla Canyon Park was once part of the route for the historic Kettle Valley Railway. Construction of the Othello Tunnels was an engineering milestone to create a route through the canyon. The park preserves an essential piece of B.C.’s railroad history.

The total cost of the project is approximately $4.5 million and is largely supported by the federal government’s Disaster Financial Assistance Fund. B.C. Parks is collaborating with First Nations and archeology and cultural heritage specialists to avoid potential impacts to archeological and heritage values during construction.

“The park is located right in our backyard and generates tens of thousands of visitors every year to our area. It played a huge role in the movie First Blood, which was shot in Hope in 1981,” said Brian McKinney, team lead, Hope, Cascades and Canyons Visitor Centre and Museum. “Whether you are a fan of John Rambo, a Kettle Valley Railway history buff or just B.C.’s beauty in general, this park has it all. This is welcome news.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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Othello Tunnels in Hope to partially reopen this summer

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