History
The Native Heritage of the Hope and Fraser Canyon area is rich in culture and tradition. The Sto:lo people can trace their heritage back between 9,000 and 11,000 years. That history goes hand in hand with life on the Fraser River.
Simon Fraser passed through in search of a waterway to the coast, and the Hudson Bay Company had a fur trading fort here. When gold was discovered, Hope, like many of the settlements in this region, suddenly became a bustling waypoint for traders and prospectors, bringing pioneers from all over the globe.
In 1929, Hope was incorporated as a Village. It became a Town in 1965, and finally, became the District of Hope in 1992.
Location
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers, 154 kilometres (96 miles) east of Vancouver. Hope is at the southern terminus of the Coquihalla Highway and the western terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, where they merge with the Trans-Canada Highway 1. It is considered to be on the cusp of British Columbia's Lower Mainland and Interior regions.
Places to See
- Hope Museum
Exhibits on Simon Fraser, the fur-trade and gold rush days of Hope, Sto:lo artifacts and a restored gold concentrator.
- Othello Quintette Tunnels
One of the world's greatest engineering feats, this series of tunnels was blasted for the now defunct Kettle Valley Railway. You can walk through these tunnels, where the Rambo-series movie First Blood was filmed, and over the two bridges that span the spectacular Coquihalla Gorge.
- Hope Land Slide
Just east of Hope on Highway 3, the remaining half of Johnson's Peak is an irresistible draw. The peak came tumbling down into the valley in January 1965 46 million cubic feet of earth, rock and snow traveling at more than 160 km/h (95 mph).
- Doc's Carving Gallery
This carving gallery with unique crafts and giftwares is a one of a kind collection created and maintained for your enjoyment by Hope's local chiropractor Dr. Robert Forde.
- Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park
In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided a route was necessary to link the Kootenay Region with the BC coast by rail. The railway was built over three mountain ranges. In the Coquihalla Gorge, the river cut a 300 foot deep channel of solid granite. A straight line of tunnels were built through it which are known now as the Othello Tunnels. There are spectacular viewing opportunities available on the trail, through the tunnels, and on the bridges. This park highlights the Kettle Valley Railway grade that passes through the canyon and 5 tunnels which were built in 1914. It contains a 135 hectare land base. It is a popular tourist attraction and provides viewing, walking, fishing, and picnicking opportunities. The hiking trail links to the historic Hope-Nicola Cattle Trail. The engineer Andrew McCullough was an avid reader of Shakespearean literature, and used characters such as Lear, Jessica, Portia, Iago, Romeo & Juliet to name stations of the Coquihalla subdivision.
Things to Do
- Birdwatching
Hope's unique blend of coastal and interior climates make it a haven for a large variety of birds. Over two hundred bird species have been recorded in Manning Park alone.
- Canoeing / Kayaking
Kawkawa Lake, Lake of the Woods, Silver Lake, and numerous other nearby lakes offer tranquil paddling. The Coquihalla River and the Fraser River at various times are good entry level kayking rivers.
- Mountain Biking
All the highways in the Hope area have ample paved shoulders for safe road cycling. The Coquihalla Toll Booths is a scenic challenge for the seasoned rider. Logging roads galore and the Kettle Valley Railway bed offer excellent mountain biking opportunities.
- Fishing
Lake fishing for trout, fly fishing for steelhead, river fishing for salmon, or fishing for sturgeon!
- Goldpanning
Millions of dollars worth of gold were gleaned from this local area during the gold rush. Come find the flakes left for you.
- Gliding
Visit the Hope airport and try soaring with the Vancouver Soaring Association. Hope is one of the best locations in the country for this sport.
- Helicopter Tours
Breathtaking vistas of the local area plus the experience of flying between the mountains while enjoying the live dialogue of a professional pilot at the controls. Well worth the time and experience.
Events
- International Chainsaw Carving Competition
Hope, the "Chainsaw Carving Capital", hosts carvers from near and far as they compete to create the best wood sculptures.
- Hope Brigade Days
Hope Brigade Days is truly an "end of summer" party that you can't miss. Featuring the famous International Chainsaw Carving Competition, live entertainment, a spectacular fireworks display, the Hope Hustle, a parade, and a demo derby.
Contact Information
District of Hope
325 Wallace Street
Hope, BC V0X 1L0
Telephone: 604-869-5671
Fax: 604-869-2275
E-mail: info@hope.ca
Website: www.hope.ca
