Quick Escape to Hope, BC: 4 Fun Little Adventures

Our consistently rainy, gray days have returned here in Seattle, and I’m reminded of a quick weekend trip we had last spring.

We were in need of a getaway and wanted Bergen to finally get the chance to use his passport, so we headed north to Hope, British Columbia.  We could have gone with the more obvious choice of Vancouver (or there abouts), but we were not only looking for a change of scenery.  We also wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle, and weren’t at all interested in crowded border crossings.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate as much as we had hoped.  It Rained.  Continuously.  Really.  It rained during our entire visit.  The skies never let up, but we weren’t going to let that stop us from exploring.  We armed ourselves with raincoats, rainsuits, hats, and boots, and braved the elements.  Thanks to some cozy spots to eat in town, we were always able to get a break to warm-up and refuel, and as for the outdoors, we managed 4 fun little adventures:

Chainsaw Carving Tour

Their mission to become a chainsaw carving capitol started in 1991, and now Hope has over 50 chainsaw carvings throughout their community.  Of course each one has its own unique story, significance, and style.  From mystical creatures to wildlife to pieces of local past, these carvings captured our attention, made us laugh, and even taught us a little bit about what makes the town of Hope tick.

Kettle Valley Railway/Othello Quintette Tunnels

Likely Hope’s most notable “attraction”, the old railway tunnels are located in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park (open from April to October) just outside of town.  The hike to the tunnels is easy (it’s railway grade!) and we enjoyed all the beauty that goes along with a wet and rainy day–green foliage that shines and sparkles, slugs to inspect, mini waterfalls, and plenty of sticks and rocks to collect and throw.  We also just so happen to have a tunnel-obsessed little boy, so walking through the the five tunnels was most definitely a special experience.  Plus, passing through the tunnels gave us a nice break from the rain!

Alexandra Bridge

While its technically not located in Hope, we found a visit to the Alexandra Bridge (40 km/25mi north of town) to be a great way to see a little bit more of the area.  The drive along Highway 1 is scenic, features several “working” tunnels, and it also allowed us to enjoy our surroundings without being completely waterlogged for the entire day.  From the parking area, just a tiny hike got us to the bridge that crosses the Frazier River and was originally built for the Cariboo Wagon Road back in 1863.  From 1926 to 1964 automobiles could pass over the bridge, but now it’s just for folks like us who want a white-knuckle thrill with their curious toddler.

Flood Falls

One last stop before cruising back to the “the states”, I was able to talk Slaed into a short hike (2km/1.25mi round trip) to Flood Falls.  Yes, we got soaked, and were nearly attacked by two loose dogs (good thing we had our own trusty pup with us to scare them off), but what a treat to get to view the falls in their full springtime glory! Bergen was able to hike on his own on the way to the falls, but in order to hoof it to the car to beat the showers, we packed him in the backpack carrier for a quick escape.

Though our trip to Hope wasn’t a recent one, I’d love to hear about your recent adventures!  Where have you been able to escape to lately?

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