A must-see destination in the Hope area is the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, especially if — besides being a fan of the outdoors — you’re a fan of rail history and movie history.
This park, commonly known as Othello Tunnels, is part of the now decommissioned Kettle Valley Railway.
Its five tunnels and series of bridges go through a rugged gorge with the thundering Coquihalla River.
It seems like the area has always had either a direct or indirect connection to the entertainment industry.
Its name — Othello — comes from the railway’s original engineer, who was a fan of the theatre and named several significant passes after Shakespearean plays.
In more recent history, the canyon was used in Sylvester Stallone’s First Blood, Shoot to Kill, where he hangs off a cliff while been shot at from a helicopter. Other movies filmed at the location include Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog, Cabin in the Woods and War for the Planet of the Apes .
The park is closed in the winter because of unstable rock conditions, and it closed during the COVID-19 crisis. Check this website for its current status when planning your trip.
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