June 16, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Hudson's Hope, Parks
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We were looking for a short walk to take while in Hudson’s Hope and it was suggested that we take in the scenery at Alwin Holland Memorial Park.
The park is located on the Peace River, 3km south on Highway 29 from Hudson’s Hope. Alwin Holland was a graduate of McGill University and was the first teacher in Hudson’s Hope in the 1940’s. He was devoted to Hudson’s Hope, bought land at the glen and willed it to be used as a public park. By way of his generosity we can all access this spot on the river.
From the parking area there is a trail to the left that leads to the river. On the way to the river are the most fantastic rock formations, looking like the ancient river has smoothly carved out cubby holes in the cliffs that tower thirty feet above as you wind your way through this maze of mini canyons.
From the river’s edge it looks like great fishing and I wasn’t surprised to see two eagles perched on a huge spruce tree on one of the river’s many islands. And not 100 feet away a huge rock looms in the middle of the river. I guess the rock to be forty feet high and that much again in diameter.
The rock walls are striated and beckons us climbers, the top of the rock has a cap of shrubs and grass. At times the river is low enough to walk to the rock and scale it, but I understand it is not advisable as the water can come up so fast (from the dam upstream) that rock climbers have been stranded on their perch making rescue very difficult.
Upstream there are huge expanses of flat rock that carry on into the river and create a healthy set of rapids. I wish I had brought my fishing gear as the river just past the rapids is reputed to be great fishing. We instead set ourselves onto the rock that was warm from the noon day sun.
Although this is not a well know destination, we met some friendly locals that brought their sun hats, tackle box, picnic basket and dogs. How lucky they are to have this spot not five minutes away from their homes in the town of Hudson’s Hope.