Things to Do in Hope, BC: Epic Pit-Stop Between Vancouver and Kelowna
If you’ve ever blasted down the Coquihalla with Kelowna’s wineries or Vancouver’s sushi on your mind, you probably know Hope as the place where you grab gas, caffeine, and maybe a photo with a chainsaw-carved grizzly. I was the same until a “ten-minute stretch break” turned into a three-hour tunnel trek and then a sunset paddle the next trip. After ten years of calling British Columbia home I now plan my road-trip playlists around my things to do in Hope, BC checklist.
Below you’ll find my favorite stops, hikes, eats and quirky photo-ops sprinkled with local intel. I also a few side quests that pair perfectly with my Vancouver viewpoint guide and Kelowna weekend itinerary (I’ll link those as we go). Whether you’re a quick pit-stopper or a weekend warrior, Hope’s about to jump from “gas-station town” to “can’t-miss detour” on your travel map.
Where Is Hope & How to Get There
- From Vancouver: 153 km / 95 mi – just under two hours if you behave and the traffic gods smile. Expect dramatic Fraser Valley farmland followed by canyon walls that pinch the highway.
- From Kelowna: 206 km / 128 mi – about 2.5 hours via the Coquihalla. The stretch over the summit feels like driving across the roof of BC.
- Scenic Alternative: If you have daylight and a full thermos, loop via Fraser Canyon (Hwy 1). It’s slower but sees you spit out at Hell’s Gate Airtram (more on that below).
Pro tip: Download offline Google Maps. Cell service flakes out between Chilliwack and Merritt faster than my commitment to 6 a.m. wake-up calls.
Best Time to Visit (and When to Think Twice)
Spring (April–May): Waterfalls roar and the town smells like fresh-cut cedar (chainsaw chips everywhere). Pack a rain layer.
Summer (June–August): Tunnel walks, lake swims and that world-class chainsaw-carving competition during this time.
Fall (September–October): Gold trees on the mountain backdrop; salmon runs in the Coquihalla River.
Winter (Nov–March): Think twice during this time, as the roads are covered in snow so you must have winter tires or chains. The Othello Tunnels close each winter so aim before Halloween.
If you’re sniffing out seasons across Canada, my “Worst Time to Visit Canada (and When to Go Instead)” post dives deeper into weather curveballs.
Top 10 Things to Do in Hope, BC
1. Wander the Chainsaw-Carving Capital of Canada
Hope’s downtown is a free open-air gallery of 80+ cedar sculptures with eagles poised mid-strike, Sasquatch selfie magnets and a surprisingly regal baby Yoda. Every summer, the town’s Memorial Park buzzes with the shrill harmony of Stihl engines as carvers turn ten-foot logs into museum-worthy art in four days flat. Schedule your pit-stop to watch the chips fly; you’ll never side-eye a lumberjack again.
2. Hike (Part of) the Legendary Othello Tunnels
Built in 1914 as part of the Kettle Valley Railway, these granite-blasted tunnels string the Coquihalla River like pearls. Flood damage shuttered them in 2021, but three of the five tunnels reopened June 27, 2025, complete with a new suspension bridge and fresh trail surfacing. Bring a flashlight, as those ceiling-drip stalactites don’t care how TikTok-ready your camera night mode is.
I like to start early, when the shadows still feel like film noir. By 10 a.m. you’ll share the echo with strollers, dogs, and would-be influencers and their portable ring lights.
3. “Hope Hustle” Up the Lookout Trail
Think of Hope’s Lookout Trail as a mini Grouse Grind without the gondola fee. The 5 km return climb gains 480 m, tops out on a talus slope, and rewards you with a panorama that frames Kawkawa Lake, the Fraser and the Coquihalla Rivers, plus a great perspective of just how many logging scars patch the surrounding hills. I’ve done it in runners and regretted not packing poles, also the roots are slick after rain.
At the top you’ll find a park bench someone cheekily sharpied “I can’t believe we paid for therapy.” Sit, breathe, and feel smug about earning that butter tart you’ll devour downtown.
4. Paddleboard Sunset on Kawkawa Lake
The locals call it “the warm lake,” and they’re not wrong, by July the surface temp hits hot-tub-adjacent levels. Hope Kayak & Paddle Board Rentals delivers SUPs and tandem kayaks right to the boat launch.
We usually launch at 6 p.m. and watch the sun melt behind Mount Ogilvie. We also pack veggie samosas from the Coopers Foods deli which makes picnic-board paddling an elite summer sport.
5. Geek Out at Rambo: First Blood Filming Locations
Before Whistler stole Hollywood’s heart, Hope hosted Sylvester Stallone’s bandana in 1982. Pick up the self-guided “First Blood” map at the visitor centre and start your tour at the Hope Cascades & Canyons Visitor Centre.
Cold, rainy November drives are my favourite time for this tour; the gloomy weather nails that ‘80s moody filter.
6. Defy the Fraser at Hell’s Gate Airtram
Picture the mighty Fraser funneled from a broad valley into a stone throat barely 35 metres wide then drop a cable car straight into the roar. 40 Minutes north from Hope, the Hell’s Gate Airtram glides 500 feet down the canyon wall, its floor-to-ceiling windows framing churning jade water that moves more every second than Niagara at peak flood. The vibration feels like standing beside a freight train; the only thing louder is your own heartbeat when the gondola pauses mid-span for photos.
Once you touch down, follow the catwalk over the river to the salmon ladder interpretive centre. Here engineers and Elders team up to explain how metal baffles, underwater “fish elevators,” and sheer salmon determination let millions of sockeye muscle past the rapids each summer..
7. Cast for Rainbow Trout on the Silver-Hope Creek
Swap the steering wheel for a fly rod and head to Silver-Hope Creek, a glacier-fed ribbon that slips quietly into the Fraser just east of town. The water here runs gin-clear over polished cobbles, so you’ll spot crimson-striped rainbows flashing beneath the riffles before your line even hits the surface.
Buy a day licence online, skim the regs (closures change about as often as Coquihalla weather), and pack felt-soled boots, the rocks are slipperier than a Kelowna winery patio after a rosé flight. Dawn is prime time: mist lifts off the creek, mayflies hover like tiny drones, and the only sound is your heartbeat when a 14-inch rainbow torpedoes the fly.
8. Bike or Snowshoe the Historic Kettle Valley Rail Grade
The decommissioned rail bed threads the Coquihalla Summit like a gravel ribbon, gentle grades, ghost-town vibes, and the occasional railway trestle. In winter, rent snowshoes in Hope and shuffle under frosted timber beams. Summer sees me straddling my gravel bike, pretending I’m on an e-bike tour of Tuscany. Bring a bug spray either way.
9. Immerse in Indigenous Culture at Tuckkwiowhum Village
Thirty minutes north, the Nlaka’pamux-run Tuckkwiowhum Village invites visitors to explore pit houses, smokehouses, and summer lodges, guided by Elders who sprinkle language lessons and salmon-smoking wisdom between stories. Book in advance to join drum-making or berry-picking workshops.
After my first visit I’ve never looked at the Fraser Canyon the same way; knowing the Stó:lō name for the river (“the people of the river”) adds depth every time I cross its muddy coils.
10. Coffee & Craft Beer Crawl
- Blue Moose Coffee House – Grab an oat-milk latte and legendary carrot-cake muffin.
- Mountainview Brewing – Hope’s first craft brewery; try the Chainsaw Logger (see what they did there?).
One Perfect Day: Hope as a Vancouver-to-Kelowna Pit-Stop
| Time | Activity | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Leave Vancouver with a thermos | Beat bridge traffic |
| 09:30 | Ride Hell’s Gate Airtram | Morning light in the canyon & shorter ticket line |
| 11:30 | Blue Moose latte & muffin | Carbs for the climb |
| 12:00 | Hope Lookout Trail hustle | 2.5-hour fun workout |
| 14:30 | Grab veggie wrap or samosas to-go | Picnic fuel |
| 15:00 | Paddle board or relax at Kawkawa Lake | Lazy float & swim |
| 17:00 | Chainsaw sculpture stroll downtown | Legs loosen after paddle |
| 18:30 | Onward to Kelowna | Sunset over the Okanagan |
Pro Tip: If you are short on time swap Hells Gate with Othello Tunnels as it’s a ten minutes from downtown Hope and you’re walking inside history.
Pairing Hope With Nearby Gems
- West Kelowna Wine Trail: After your Hope pit-stop, sip Syrah overlooking Okanagan Lake. My map-heavy guide to West Kelowna wineries saves you navigation headaches.
- Kelowna Weekend Escape: Need brunch ideas, winery escapes or biking routes? My detailed Okanagan blueprint covers it all.
- Best Viewpoints in Vancouver: Heading the other direction? Treat your legs to a seawall spin or Cypress Mountain overlook.
FAQs About Things to Do in Hope, BC
Are all five Othello Tunnels open?
No. As of June 27 , 2025 three tunnels and the northern bridge are open while restoration continues on the remaining two.
Is Hope, BC worth visiting?
If tunnels, a lake paddle, craft beer, film history, and a mini Grind-style hike sound fun, then yes. My sample day packs it in comfortably.
What are some safety tips to keep in mind before visiting Hope, BC?
Check BC 511 before tackling the Coquihalla, rockslides happen or there could be heavy snow cover.
River Safety: Fraser currents can hit 750 000 cubic feet/second in freshet season, stick to shore.
How far is Hell's Gate from Hope?
Hell’s Gate is about 54 km (34 mi) north of Hope on Highway 1, and the drive usually takes 40–45 minutes.
Which famous movie was filmed in Hope?
Sylvester Stallone’s First Blood (a.k.a. the first Rambo) was shot in Hope.
Finally, Why Hope Deserves Your Handbrake
I used to treat Hope like an airport layover, necessary but forgettable. Then one foggy October morning, I pulled over for gas, followed my nose to the Blue Moose’s cinnamon buns, and wound up talking trail closures with a chainsaw artist named Warren. Ten years and countless pit-stops later, I’ve paddled under osprey dives, watched world-champion carvers turn logs into owls, and seen the Coquihalla burst its banks and heal again.
Next time you blast past the things to do in Hope, BC exit sign, remember there’s more than diesel and drive-thru coffee waiting. Stretch your legs, fill your lungs, and let this little canyon town surprise you.
