Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park Old Highway Route

The old Kettle Valley Railway grade cuts through some of the most dramatic canyon country in southern BC, where five historic tunnels punch through solid granite and the Coquihalla River churns 200 feet below. This route follows the abandoned rail bed from the Othello Tunnels parking area up into the high country, passing the famous Quintette Tunnels featured in countless Hollywood films. The technical challenge comes after Tunnel 5, where washouts and rockfall have created genuine 4×4 terrain requiring careful line choice through loose talus.

Moderate difficulty with a few expert-level washout crossings that’ll test your departure angles. Any stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles most of it, but the upper sections demand skid plates and recovery points. Best tackled May through October when snow clears the higher elevations. No permits needed, but respect the rail heritage – these tunnels are over a century old. The payoff is standing where steam engines once hauled ore through some of the most remote canyon country you’ll find this close to Vancouver.