We’re currently suffering from a travel bug (the worst kind) and reaaaaaally just want to camp! Because we don’t have a camper at the moment, and Isla is so itty bitty (tenting is less than ideal with a six month old), we’ve decided to stick with checking out activities and popular tourist destinations that are closer to home. So, on top of *actual* travelling, I’ll do a series of posts about cool stuff to do in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley that are family-friendly!

PS: if you know of a camper/trailer/fifth wheel for sale that’s local-ish and a decent price (bonus points if it’s unique/cool/non-traditional!) please let me know, and I will be eternally grateful!

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On Saturday, June 9th, we decided to go on an adventure that’s relatively close to home. Since moving to Abbotsford, we’ve realized that a lot of things that seemed super far away are now a reasonable distance away. OK, let’s be real: with two kids, things are so much farther away than they are without kids, anyway. BUT, relative distance is definitely working in our favour – our old house (Surrey) is almost as far as Hope (!!!), which is, coincidentally, where this adventure took place.

We’ve wanted to go to Othello Tunnels for AGES, but never ended up doing it because it would’ve been like a 2.5 hour drive one-way from Surrey, and five hours in the car in one day didn’t seem reasonable (or fair to William) for an hour-ish walk. After having gone, however, we would totally go back in time and make the trip out there. They’re seriously so cool! We want to go back ASAP.

The tunnels were originally built in the 1880s as train tunnels to the Kootenays. They were super expensive to build, and didn’t hold up to weather particularly well, so they closed them down permanently in the 1950s.  The tunnels were formed by a combination of natural and anthropogenic elements – they’re a marvel, for sure!

Despite having a fantastic time, we weren’t as prepared as we could’ve been; it would’ve been helpful if we had known a bit more about the hike prior to going.

So, here are some things to know before you go: 

• The walk is stroller-friendly
  • We expected to have to wear Isla, which I ended up doing anyway in our Beluga Baby carrier (we also brought our structured Ergo as backup… lol), and we left the diaper bag in the car because we didn’t want to lug it around. However, we easily could’ve popped her and the diaper bag in the stroller. There were tons of parents with little beans, and there were an equal amount of strollers and carriers!
  • It’s pretty much all gravel, so a “city” stroller probably would be OK, but it would be bouncy! We have the Baby Jogger City Select Lux, and it has some SERIOUS shocks, so it’s a comfy ride for the bubs.

• The walk is toddler-friendly
  • William is 3.5, and he had an absolute blast. There are definitely places that require hand-holding, so if you have a runaway tot like ours, definitely keep them close (or on a kid leash/harness – no judgment here! We use this one for Disney trips).
  • It’s not hilly at all, so there’s not really a tripping hazard on the trail for smaller bubs who’ve just begun walking. Inside the tunnels, however, the ground is more uneven, so I’d suggest a carrier – or just carrying – for little ones who aren’t yet confident walkers!

• Bring a flashlight 
  • Travis is kind of the planner when it comes to deciding where/what we’re doing, and I’m the planner when it comes to what we’re bringing. “Be prepared” was drilled into my brain from an early age, so I’m great at packing when I know what to expect. I did not, however, do much research into the Tunnels prior to going (they just looked cool, OK?), so I didn’t realize we’d need flashlights. At the tunnel entrance, it says to use a flashlight. We didn’t necessarily need them at some points, but at other points, the phone flashlights weren’t sufficient. So, bring a flashlight. Like, an actual torch, not just your phone. Can you survive without? Definitely. Do you want to? No.

• You can bring your pup! 
  • Human parents and fur parents alike can enjoy this walk! We saw tons of doggos on our trek, and they were all having a great time. We didn’t bring our pups, but we know for next time that we can.

• Go early
  • This is a popular tourist attraction, and because it’s along the Coquihalla Highway, it gets busy during the summer. We weren’t even there in peak season, and at 1 pm we were circling for about 15 minutes to find parking. The parking lot is pretty small, to be fair, but that’s an even better reason to go as early as possible! There were people parking a bit further down, but we didn’t want to lug the kids down the street post-hike. There’s also designated RV/bus parking, so stopping by while you’re on a summer trip is totally feasible (and worth it!)

• Dress for the weather, but don’t stress it
  • We wore runners (#Nikefam), comfy pants, etc., but there were people walking in jeans and Chucks, so really, dress for your comfort level for an hour-ish long hike! Online, it says the tunnel hike is about 20 minutes one way, but I’d say it took us closer to 35 minutes.

• Watch your step
  • They are caves, after all, so watch out for water falling from above (puddles on the ground are a good way to avoid them) if you’re not dressed for getting wet.
  • There are a few areas where rocks jut out of the ground, and the ground is really uneven in other places, so be careful!

• It’s bike-friendly 
  • You can ride your bike on this trail, which is super cool. I’m not a bike expert, by any means, but I wouldn’t take a city bike – a mountain or hybrid would be necessary.

• Bring a camera
  • Take your own photos to look back fondly on memories of that time you visited abandoned train tunnels.
  • Phone camera definitely doesn’t work as well as an actual camera because of the lack of lighting.

• Bring water
  • Water is always mandatory, regardless of how long a walk is, and I know that people know this, but, I LOVE WATER, so, bring it (in a reusable bottle, preferably)!
• And of course, have fun!
  • It’s a gorgeous walk, and there are tons of people, so whether you’re hiking alone or with friends, enjoy yourself and super, natural, beautiful BC!

 

Also, check out some of the pics William took while he was riding on Travis’ shoulders:

He’s so cute, I can’t even deal.

 

Happy hiking!