Ottomite Mountain Trail

Ottomite Mountain Trail is a solid, no-nonsense outing just off the Coquihalla near Hope, BC, and it’s a good pick if you want a moderate half-day in the mountains without brutal steep sections. The route is about 7.7 km out and back with roughly 340 m of gain, topping out around 1,464 m, and most hikers wrap it up in about two and a half hours. It’s not a big summit mission, more of a steady forest climb with a bit of a workout and a quiet feel.

The Ottomite Mountain Trail starts from the area by the washroom building and follows an old forest service road for much of the way, so the grade is pretty consistent and easy to follow. You’ll get “peek-through-the-trees” views of the surrounding Coquihalla peaks rather than a huge panorama, and many hikers say the final viewpoint is decent but not mind-blowing. A small highlight is the creek around 1.5 km in, where you can scramble up the rocks to a neat little waterfall and pool when it’s not buried in snow.

Recent reports from late winter and early spring mention deep snow, slush, and sections where you’ll be breaking trail, so snowshoes or at least microspikes are strongly recommended until the melt is well underway. Expect wet brush and undergrowth soaking your legs on damp days, limited visibility at the top in bad weather, and very few people around, which can be a plus if you like solitude. Ottomite Mountain Trail is usually best from July to October for dry footing and easier navigation, while winter and shoulder seasons turn it into more of a snowshoe workout with modest views but a good, quiet day in the forest.