Kettle Valley Railway from Othello Tunnels

The Kettle Valley Railway from Othello Tunnels in Hope, BC follows a historic rail corridor along the Coquihalla River, but right now it’s officially closed. Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, including the Othello Tunnels, is shut down due to storm damage, and the main parking lot is also closed, so plan on this being off-limits until BC Parks gives the green light.

When it’s open, this 10.8 km out-and-back route is an easy, mostly flat walk with about 251 m of gentle gain, topping out around 232 m. The old railway grade makes for a wide, straightforward path with a few solid views down to the creek and canyon, though you’ll hear steady highway noise for much of the way as you head away from the Othello Tunnels along the Kettle Valley Railway.

Under normal conditions, hikers clock this in around 2 hours 45 minutes, and it’s a popular family and beginner-friendly outing when the tunnels are accessible. Right now, though, access is blocked, and the Othello Tunnels also have their usual winter closure on top of the storm impacts, so don’t count on sneaking in via side trails or road shoulders. Before you plan a trip to the Kettle Valley Railway from Othello Tunnels near Hope, check the latest updates on the BC Parks Coquihalla Canyon page and wait for an official reopening rather than risking fines or unsafe conditions.