Hope Attractions
The township of Hope (42 m (138 ft)), amidst the often snowcapped Coastal Mountains, was originally a fort erected there in 1848/49 by the Hudson's Bay Company at the mouth of the Coquihalla River. The territory of the lower reaches of the Columbia River, the old route for the fur traders, was transferred to the USA with the Treaty of Oregon in 1846, and the Hudson's Bay Company was forced to find new ways into the interior. When gold was discovered on the Fraser River in 1858, a new town grew up next to the old trading post, which could now be reached by river steamers from Fort Langley. The first sawmills appeared, then in the 1870s silver deposits were found nearby and the first Waggon Road to New Westminster was built. The building of the railroad which started in the 1880s also acted as a boost to the whole region.
Nowadays the TransCanada Highway runs north from Hope through the Fraser River Canyon, and the wonderfully scenic Crowsnest Highway 3 goes east. A 134 km (83 mi.) stretch of mountain and valley road takes in several mountain ranges, from Hope to the 1352 m (4437 ft) Allison Pass in Manning Provincial Park. Coquihalla Highway 5, opened in 1986/87, also starts here. This new, four-lane highway which provides a 90 km (56 mi.) shortcut to Kamloops (toll road), goes round the Fraser Canyon and acts as a relief road to the TransCanada Highway, taking much of the through traffic. Surrounded by lakes, rivers and mountains, Hope is a great place for outdoor pursuits as well as being the gateway to Manning Provincial Park, the Canadian continuation of the North Cascades National Park in the USA.
The Crowsnest Highway starts in the west at Hope, about two hours drive from Vancouver, 18 km (11 mi.) from Hope the road passes Hope Slide, a massive landslip; 8 km (5 mi.) further on lies Manning Provincial Park.
Nowadays the TransCanada Highway runs north from Hope through the Fraser River Canyon, and the wonderfully scenic Crowsnest Highway 3 goes east. A 134 km (83 mi.) stretch of mountain and valley road takes in several mountain ranges, from Hope to the 1352 m (4437 ft) Allison Pass in Manning Provincial Park. Coquihalla Highway 5, opened in 1986/87, also starts here. This new, four-lane highway which provides a 90 km (56 mi.) shortcut to Kamloops (toll road), goes round the Fraser Canyon and acts as a relief road to the TransCanada Highway, taking much of the through traffic. Surrounded by lakes, rivers and mountains, Hope is a great place for outdoor pursuits as well as being the gateway to Manning Provincial Park, the Canadian continuation of the North Cascades National Park in the USA.
The Crowsnest Highway starts in the west at Hope, about two hours drive from Vancouver, 18 km (11 mi.) from Hope the road passes Hope Slide, a massive landslip; 8 km (5 mi.) further on lies Manning Provincial Park.
Christ Church
Christ Church, a few blocks down the street from the Hope Museum, is a wooden Anglican church dating from 1861 and one of the oldest churches in British Columbia.
If you want to see the inside of the church it's best to attend a service, which are still held at Hope's Christ Church. It is mostly of historical note rather than visually appealing.
If you want to see the inside of the church it's best to attend a service, which are still held at Hope's Christ Church. It is mostly of historical note rather than visually appealing.
Hope Museum (Hope Travel Information Centre)
The Hope Museum is also in the same building as the Hope Tourist Information Centre. The museum explores the history of Hope from the days of the fur traders and the Cariboo gold-rush. Outside of the Hope Museum and Tourist Centre is an old ore concentrator. Nearby is the Memorial Park with some unique wood carvings created with a chainsaw.
Hours
May 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Hope Surroundings
Cascade Lookout
It is well worth driving up to Cascade Lookout with its magnificent view of the Similkameen Valley and the surrounding 2000 m (6500 ft) mountain peaks.
Read More
E.C. Manning Provincial Park
E.C. Manning Provincial Park is an area of rugged terrain consisting of mountains, valleys, and forest.
Hope Slide
The Hope Slide, just under 20 km/ 12 mi away, is where a landslide caused by an earthquake in 1965 buried a 3 km / 2 mi stretch of the highway, filling in a lake in the Nicolum River valley as well. There is a plaque commemorating this natural disaster in a lay-by 55 m / 180 ft above the original road level.
The Hope Slide was one of Canada's largest landslides ever. Four people were killed in the event that saw 47 million cubic metres of rock come tumbling down.
The Hope Slide was one of Canada's largest landslides ever. Four people were killed in the event that saw 47 million cubic metres of rock come tumbling down.
