Four Itchy Feet

July 4, 2025. Hope, British Columbia. Day 44 of 170

Today we visited the Othello Tunnels at  Coquihalla Canyon Park, near Hope, British Columbia.  In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided a route was necessary to link the Kootenay Region with the British Columbia coast by rail. The railway was built over three mountain ranges. In the Coquihalla Gorge, the river cut a 300ft-deep channel of solid granite.  A straight line of tunnels was built through it which are known now as the Othello Tunnels.

There are spectacular viewing opportunities available on the trail, through the tunnels, and on the bridges. This park highlights the Kettle Valley Railway grade that passes through the canyon and five tunnels which were built in 1914. Although there is ongoing work at the park we were still able to access three of the tunnels and take advantages of the beautiful view from the bridges onto the Gorge.

The tunnels were given the name by the chief engineer Andrew McCullough, an avid reader of Shakespearean literature.  He gave stations along the railway division of Coquihalla names such as, Lear, Jessica, Portia, Iago, Romeo, and Juliet.

Although our visit was short due to the closing of the bridges and nearby trails, we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to walk the tunnels in amazement of the engineering feat before our eyes.  This is solid granite mountain carefully carved with dynamites, picks and axes, a marvel human ingenuity in the early 20th century.  This unique opportunity to explore the Coquihalla Canyon from a great vantage point, as the trail brings you right through it, makes the Othello Tunnels a definite must-visit when you’re in Hope, British Columbia.