Getting outside is practically mandatory in Hope, which is not only nestled between the Coast and Cascade Mountain Ranges, but handy to forest trails, lakes and rivers. Walking and hiking opportunities in the area range from an easy, half-hour stroll on the Rotary Nature Trail to a challenging, three-day trek along the Skyline Trail in
Manning Provincial Park. One of the most popular local trails is the Mt. Hope Loop & Lookout Trail, which climbs 500 m (1640 ft) up Mt. Hope to a viewpoint overlooking the town, Kawkawa Lake and the mighty Fraser River.
The gold rush may be long over but gold panning continues in Hope. Panning instruction is offered at the Yale Heritage Site and at the
Hell's Gate Airtram. While you're on the river's edge, you might also want to do a little rockhounding. Experts report that there are more than 600 varieties of rock to be found along the Fraser River, including jade, garnets, rhodonite and nephrite. The best time to rockhound is during the fall and winter, when water levels are low.
Other popular outdoor pursuits include soaring, horseback riding and mountain biking. Thermal air currents over Hope create such ideal conditions for soaring that the Vancouver Soaring Association is based at the Hope Airpark.
Some of BC's best horse trails are found in Manning Provincial Park, Cascade Recreation Area and Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Hire a horse at one of the local stables or bring your own and stay at the Whitworth Meadow campground, which is designated exclusively for travellers with horses. Finally, there are mountain biking trails for every skill level. Families and beginners will enjoy the Kettle Valley Railway Trail; experts will relish the rocky challenges of the steep Dogwood Mountain Trail.
There are a number of notable structures in the Hope area. The Othello Tunnels is a series of railway tunnels constructed almost entirely by hand. It was the most expensive mile of railway track anywhere at the time of its completion. Hell's Gate Airtram descends 152 m (500 ft) from Highway 1 to "Hell's Gate," a 35-m (110-ft)-wide gorge that the Fraser River surges through with awesome force. Christ Church Anglican was built in 1858 by the Royal Engineers, during the gold rush, while the Alexandra Bridge was built in 1926 to replace a gold rush-era toll bridge on the storied Cariboo Waggon Road.
The best historic sites in the Hope area are the Yale Heritage Site, the Othello Tunnels and the Hope Museum. The Yale Heritage Site is a designated BC Heritage Site featuring an historic church and a museum that deals with the gold rush, sternwheelers, and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Othello Tunnels were built in the early 1900s during the construction of the Kettle Valley Railway. The Hope Museum has exhibits on the Sto:lo Aboriginal people, fur trade, gold rush and more. You might also want to visit the Pioneer Cemetery in Yale, which has headstones that date from the 1858 gold rush.
There are striking works of art just about everywhere in Hope. It has an art gallery and an First Nations arts and crafts shop. There are also more than 30 large, wooden chainsaw carvings at various locations in town. You can take a self-guided walking tour of the carvings with the help of a map available from the Visitor Info Centre.
Despite its small size, Hope boasts a number of terrific attractions, something for every member of your family. These include: Yale Heritage Site's historic church and excellent museum; the Hell's Gate 152-m (500-ft) airtram descent; and the Othello Tunnels, a series of railway tunnels constructed almost entirely by hand nearly 100 years ago. If you enjoy the peace and beauty of formal gardens, head 20 minutes west to Minter Gardens, which has 11 themed gardens including a maze, topiary sculptures, fragrance garden, two aviaries and a Chinese garden. There is also an authentic Japanese garden in Memorial Park.
Children adore Dinotown, the dinosaur theme park at nearby Bridal Falls. The child in you will love the mini-golf, giant hot pool and the more extreme slides at the Trans Canada Water Slides, also in Bridal Falls.
Sources of entertainment in Hope include shopping for unique arts and crafts, listening to musicians jam at a local coffee house or attending a Hope Icebreakers Junior "B" Hockey game.
While 70,844-ha (175,000-ac) Manning Provincial Park is famous for its magnificent, midsummer displays of sub-alpine flowers, its rugged and forested mountains, deep valleys, alpine meadows as well as lakes and rivers are just as delightful. You can spend as little as 20 minutes or as long as several days on its trails. Skagit Valley Provincial Park's dramatic landscapes were carved by glaciers. It offers hiking, river fishing, camping and picnicking.
Wildlife abounds in this area, particularly in Manning Provincial Park. Keep an eye out for coyotes, deer, raccoons, bears, marmots, pika and squirrels, to name a few. Thacker Marsh Regional Park is the top spot for viewing spawning salmon, while the Cheam Lake Wetlands is unsurpassed as a bird watching locale (more than 100 species frequent the area). There's a popular viewpoint at the base of Hope Slide, 15 minutes east of town, and a truly spectacular 122-m (400-ft) waterfall in Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park.
There is a small spa in Hope that offers a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. As well, some local bed & breakfasts provide spa treatments for their guests.
Hope is known for its excellent fishing and river rafting opportunities; sockeye salmon fishing on the Fraser River is nothing short of legendary! You can fish for salmon, trout, steelhead and sturgeon year-round in the area. Spring through fall, tour companies offer guided rafting trips on the Coquihalla, Nahatlatch, Fraser and Thompson Rivers. These range from all-ages float trips to challenging, whitewater adventures. Other popular water activities include canoeing and swimming at Kawkawa and Silver Lakes, Lake of the Woods plus various spots along the Coquihalla River.
Hope is the perfect base for enjoying the many winter recreation opportunities available at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley. Manning Park Resort is southwestern BC's premier cross-country skiing destination. It's also a great place for downhill skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing and snow tubing. Take a guided snowmobiling tour of the Coquihalla summit area.