The Othello Caves, or Quintette Tunnels were part of the Kettle Valley Railway and navigated the line through the sheer cliffs of the Coquihalla Canyon just east of Hope. Close to the highway and the parking lot, you can literally be standing in the 95 year old train tunnels 15 minutes after exiting the Coqihalla.
The KVR in BC
The ribbons of steel that made up the Kettle Valley Railway are gone. All that is left are 16 km (9.9 mi.) of track, the odd station house and out buildings, a few relics and the history. The Kettle Valley Railway was the tie that bound the Kootenays to the rest of British Columbia. The Kettle Valley Railway started at Hope and went all the way to Midway, zigzagging throughout the south western sections of B.C. From Hope, the KVR made its way through the Coquihalla River gorge. It continued onward to Princeton, West Summerland, Penticton, along the south side of Okanagan Lake and finally south to Midway, for a total of 525 km (325 mi.). They constructed branch lines to Merritt and to Osoyoos, making the line complete.
Between two of the tunnels
Coquihalla River on the Othello Caves trail
A walking bridge has replaced the original train bridge between two of the tunnels
Part of the trail after the caves
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that’s really neat, and that river looks refreshing
I liike the pic of Mathers dancing in the tunnel the best
You know he practiced for hours to get that right!