Hope is an excellent home base to explore a number of parks for camping, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.
Manning Provincial Park's bio-diversity is a glorious mix of landscapes where Pacific rhododendrons hug the floor of lush coastal forests and where subalpine meadows give way to dry land stands of spruce and pine. The result is a year-round playground especially for camping, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.
Manning Park Resort operates various facilities, including a country store selling everything from fishing tackle to camping gear.
Lightning Lake lies nearby and is a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic, rent a canoe or mountain bike, fish, swim and hike. From here there are several hiking routes including the Skyline Trail that climbs up through the forest to scenic ridges.
For non-walkers, follow the paved road opposite the Resort to Cascade Lookout to view extensive sub alpine meadows - flowers peak in mid July to early August.
Other favourite trails include the botanically diverse Strawberry Flats; Rhododendron Flats, and the challenging Mount Frosty Trail to the park's highest peak. En route, watch for rare Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels and the Park's mascot, the Hoary Marmot.
Skagit Valley Provincial Park
Situated along the Canada-US border, the 27,948ha/69,061ac Skagit Valley Provincial Park is part of a large internationally protected area that includes Manning Provincial Park, the North Cascades National Park, and Ross Lake. It diverse ecosystem supports a proliferation of wildlife: watch for almost 200 species of birds (pick up a bird checklist from the Visitor Centre), Columbia black-tailed deer, beaver, snowshoe hare, Douglas squirrel and the occasional black bear, cougar, elk, and moose.
Ross Lake
Ross Lake is usually a showcase of butterflies. The self-guided interpretive trail at Chittenden Meadow meanders through prairie grasses and ponderosa pine while only 1km away, the Skagit River Trail cuts through lush coastal old growth, marshland habitat and groves of wild Pacific rhododendrons. There are no commercial facilities so whether it's camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking or fishing, come well prepared. Access to Skagit Valley Provincial Park is 3km/1.8m west of Hope along the Flood Hope Road.
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park
Built between 1911 and 1916 to complete the Kettle Valley Railway, the Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park are still considered an engineering marvel. They lice through solid granite cliffs beside a spectacular 91m/300ft deep river gorge. Today, the abandoned railway line is a trail of gentle grades that are ideal for biking and easy walking. They have been the backdrop to several movies including Rambo:First Blood, Shoot to Kill and Far from Home:Adventures of Yellow Dog.
The tunnels were named for the designing engineer's love of Shakespeare, as are several other bridges and waypoints along the Yellowhead-Coquihalla Hwy #5. This park is closed in winter.
Thacker Regional Park
Adjacent to Hope Golf Course, the 9ha/22ac Thacker Regional Park is an easy urban escape from Hope's downtown core. The 1km/0.6m walk winds through a marshland habitat, complete with walkways and bridges; it is part of the Trans Canada Trail that continues to the Othello Quintette Tunnels and beyond. From late summer to Fall the water channels are filled with spawning coho, pink and chum salmon.
Silver Lake Provincial Park
Situated in the scenic Skagit Valley, 12km/7.5m south of Hope, the lake is the focus of undeveloped, popular Silver Lake Provincial Park. Although there's a small campsite, most visitors come for the day to enjoy lakeside activities such as picnicking, boating and fishing. Swim with care as there are sudden drop-offs and no defined areas, wharfs or docks. There is only one short, 1km/0.6m trail which follows the west side of lake down an old road bed.
For more information on Parks in and near Hope, contact the Visitor Centre.
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