This trail is interesting because it appears to go by two names. The parking lot was full and we got what appeared to be the last space (when we finished, a tour bus was there plus vehicles were parked for nearly a mile outside the park). From the parking lot we saw this large sign but the small sign below it shows it as the Tunnels Loop. And it says 5.4 kilometers, but everyone we met agreed that their and my pedometers all show it closer to 5 miles.
It was a very nice trail that went uphill continuously for the first half mile, then mostly level for a mile or so before going up another half mile to reach the high point.
Along the way, the Tunnels Loop Trail name got dropped off the signs.
And then we came to a junction that had the old name, Hope Nicola, on a sign lying on the ground. The good news is that there were small orange colored squares every 100 yards or so on trees, so we could figure out which way to go.
The confusing signs pointed you to where the trail ended at what appeared to be a gravel pit.
We followed the trail for the second uphill segment and got to the high point where there was a historical marker and benches, and we took a short break there.
Then it was downhill for about a mile, with benches at viewpoints where you can look across the canyon at mountains and down through the woods to the river.
After nearly four miles, we came out on the old railroad bed and went a kilometer to the tunnels. There is a great sign telling how they managed to map, plan and dig the tunnels to allow the trains to pass through the canyon.
And then we walked through the cool canyons and across the connecting bridges with great views of the river below.
It has been hotter than expected, with temps in the 80s and forecast to be in the 90s. Many, many people were out, both at the Coquihalla and other parks on the way back to our hotel - so we ended up having our late lunch back at the hotel.
It was a very nice trail that went uphill continuously for the first half mile, then mostly level for a mile or so before going up another half mile to reach the high point.
Along the way, the Tunnels Loop Trail name got dropped off the signs.
And then we came to a junction that had the old name, Hope Nicola, on a sign lying on the ground. The good news is that there were small orange colored squares every 100 yards or so on trees, so we could figure out which way to go.
The confusing signs pointed you to where the trail ended at what appeared to be a gravel pit.
We followed the trail for the second uphill segment and got to the high point where there was a historical marker and benches, and we took a short break there.
Then it was downhill for about a mile, with benches at viewpoints where you can look across the canyon at mountains and down through the woods to the river.
After nearly four miles, we came out on the old railroad bed and went a kilometer to the tunnels. There is a great sign telling how they managed to map, plan and dig the tunnels to allow the trains to pass through the canyon.
And then we walked through the cool canyons and across the connecting bridges with great views of the river below.
It has been hotter than expected, with temps in the 80s and forecast to be in the 90s. Many, many people were out, both at the Coquihalla and other parks on the way back to our hotel - so we ended up having our late lunch back at the hotel.
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