Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park Access Road

The old Kettle Valley Railway carved these tunnels through solid granite in 1915, and now you’re driving the maintenance road that parallels the abandoned grade. This 18-kilometer route splits off Highway 5 near the Coquihalla River bridge, winding through dense coastal forest before dropping into the canyon where four tunnels pierce the rock face. The Othello Tunnels — named after a Shakespearean-obsessed railway engineer — are the highlight, but getting there means navigating washouts, creek crossings, and sections where the roadbed has simply slumped into the canyon.

This is moderate 4WD territory requiring high clearance and decent approach angles for the steeper descents. Summer through early fall gives you the best shot at passable conditions, though winter storms regularly reshape the route. No permits needed, but bring recovery gear and extra fuel — cell service dies once you drop below the highway. The payoff is having these historic tunnels mostly to yourself, plus legitimate backcountry camping along the river. Worth the scratched paint for the railway history alone.