The Coquihalla Highway was the only toll road in BC, until the toll was eliminated in 2008 after recovery of the construction cost of the Hope-to-Merritt section. Highway 5 travels 4 km (2.5 mi) through the eastern area of Merritt before reaching its northern junction with Highway 5A. The surrounding Merritt Forest District supports stands of Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and subalpine fir at higher elevations; Douglas fir and ponderosa pine are found on the lower benchlands. The highway was closed for avalanche control for a four-hour period on Saturday morning. Topping up in Chilliwack on the way there not only makes sure you'll make it, but gas is also cheaper out there because they don't have the gas tax we have in Metro Van... so it's a win win. A beautiful ride! Stay Up To Date on all the Travel and Camping News, View a previous Travel British Columbia Newsletter, BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association READ MORE: Mom of missing Manning Park hiker believes her son is waiting to come home, READ MORE: West Kelowna road crews seek public assistance in battling winter conditions, Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Hope, at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley, is the hub for three major routes leading north: Highway 1, Highway 3, and Highway 5. All rights reserved. Premier Listings for the Coquihalla Highway The Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) travels from Hope north to Kamloops via Merritt. Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. This is going to come in handy when the fog hits. Location: The Coquihalla Highway runs from Hope north to Kamloops via Merritt. I generally keep canned chili in the trunk along with Clif bars and a litre of water. Enjoy a splendid sleep in a quiet, convenient location. Falls Lake from Zoa Ridge, Photo by Connie Davis. Walloper Lake Provincial Park – Conveniently located just 37 kilometres south of Kamloops and just a few minutes off the highway, this 55-hectare park features a small lake surrounded by verdant pine trees. Even after the road reopens, Gilowski said drivers can expect lots of accumulated snowfall on the highway and plenty of delays. At least the roads are well plowed. Bottom line is that if you don't have to travel the Coquihalla in the winter, perhaps reconsider. 2. As you drive along the highway, you may notice some small signs in the shape of an old steam locomotive, with Shakespearean names. 3.75 Rounded up to 4★'s Setting The Scene : Elevation 1,244 m (4,081 ft) Traversed by Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) Location: Kamloops South to Hope, British Columbia, Canada Range Canadian Cascades Length 543.3 km[1] (337.6 mi) The Coquihalla climbed out of the Thompson valley and the temperature dropped. Your email address will not be published. A variety of gravel roads lead off into the bush on both the Hope and the Merritt sides of the Coquihalla Pass. The Kancamagus Scenic Byway goes from Lincoln, NH to Conway New Hampshire. Coquihalla Summit (el. said the depth of the avalanche was between half-a-metre and a metre. Sign in or register for your free account. Falls Lake/Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area – Situated just 45 kilometres north of Hope, this park is home to the popular Falls Lake Trail, just one kilometre west from the Coquihalla Highway on the Falls Lake turn off. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas. Get local stories you won't find anywhere else right to your inbox. For the latest on food and travel, connect with her on Twitter via @shelizawrites or visit her at www.copyprose.com. Where Does the Kancamagus Scenic Highway Start and End? As I grew up in the Okanagan I consider myself one of those vets; I've been driving the "Coke" regularly, since the idea of taking the toll booth out was but a twinkle in the Transportation Minister's eye. And it’s not just the different types of snow that are a problem, either – it’s how much that falls. Seasonal heated pool and large patio, gas barbecues for guests, and shaded picnic area. Classic Whitehall Spirit 1, Wolf Pack in British Columbia, Canada. The highway was designed and built to modern standards and thousands of vehicles safely travel this route every day. Often times it will hit like a brick wall and you'll have to slow from 120km/hour to 30 because you can't see 10 feet in front of you. “Avoid wooded areas to prevent injury from falling trees or branches. There are spun out commercial vehicles on Larsen Hill. A special weather statement is in place for the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) from Hope to Merritt, warning that rain is expected to switch to snow with another 10 centimetres expected to fall near the summit this evening (Tuesday, Oct. 13). Hwy 5 is closed in both directions due to a multi-vehicle incident. On top of this, the Fraser Canyon and Fraser Valley will see strong winds with potential to cause damage. The park is pet-friendly (with leashes), and includes pit and flush toilets. Watch CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe's video outlook, and catch her full forecast on CBC News Vancouver at 6. The next update is scheduled for 10 a.m. Repost from Steelhead, Summer camping adventures in British Columbia! Interesting and Exciting Start to a new series! Logan Lake For places to take a break along the Crowsnest Highway 3 and Sea to Sky Highway 99 in British Columbia check out these blogs. paramedics almost zero. The photo below is a mellow look at fog on the Coquihalla. Stretching across 1.5 kilometres, this trail offers some impressive views of an alpine lake. More than 200 centimetres of snow has fallen on the Coquihalla's summit in just over a week, said Gilowski. @newspaperphilLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Stretching across 1.5 kilometres, this trail offers some impressive views of an alpine lake. OR imagine you weren't stuck overnight and simply ran out of gas because you didn't realize the distance between Hope and Merritt is quite long. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. The Coquihalla (also known as Highway 5) stretches more than 500 kilometers, or about 300 miles, connecting the lush, green Lower Mainland with the hotter and drier Interior. Travelling at modern highway speeds it is difficult to imagine the formidable task of constructing a rail route through this rugged section of BC. A gust lifted the trailer up and dragged the truck that was towing it along with it, resulting in a pile up. For a map of the side roads, contact the BC Forest Service for a map of the Merritt Forest District: 1-800-665-1511. Even the most seasoned veterans of BC's highways were surprised last month when the conditions on the Coquihalla caused it to be closed overnight, stranding some passengers for much longer than they'd ever expect to be out there for. The growing city of Merritt is located at the hub of the Coquihalla Highway system, in easy reach of Vancouver, Kamloops and the Okanagan. Built to enhance regional tourism and to lighten traffic on the busy trucking routes, the 303 km, 4-lane highway has 3 segments. Regardless of how good your tires are, hitting a pool of water going 120km/hour can often result in a dragging feeling, and an inexperienced driver might overcorrect and put their car into a spin. 3. Even the most seasoned veterans of BC's highways were surprised last month when the conditions on the Coquihalla caused it to be closed overnight, stranding some passengers for much longer than they'd ever expect to be out there for. Pit toilets are available. Here: drivebc.ca. Highways 1 and 5 intersect here at the confluence of the Thompson and North Thompson Rivers. The Parkway is a free ride. (Tunnels are closed in the winter.) If you must do it, these tips from a vet should help! When does it start to get snowy on the Coquihalla Highway? Relevance. Even the most seasoned veterans of BC's highways were surprised last month when the conditions on the Coquihalla caused it to be closed overnight, stranding some passengers for much longer than they'd ever expect to be out there for. Your email address will not be published. Sheliza is a freelance writer and editor who enjoys blogging about her family’s adventures throughout British Columbia. However, drivers are warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary due to heavy snowfall and poor visibility, and to exercise caution due to narrowed lane widths and slow moving trucks over the Coquihalla Summit. #wolf #wol, A scuba diver and a California Sea Lion get to kno, Whitewater kayaking is extremely popular on the wi, Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies Circle Tour, Orca Dreams: Canada’s luxury whale watching base camp in British Columbia, Kayak the realm of the whales in British Columbia, EMR Vacation Rentals: Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria…. On average, expect to spend about one hour of hiking time depending on your pace. From there, the Coquihalla has three more interchanges and one mountain pass – the Surrey Lake Summit – in the 72 km (45 mi) between Merritt and its end at a junction with Highways 1 and 97. downtown Merritt. The reason for this should be obvious: to play Pokemon Go! See above. That'd be a long wait for help. Merritt is a hub, where three highways converge – 5, 5A, and 8. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. The following towns are located on or near the Coquihalla Highway (listed in order from south to north): Hope Set into the hills beside Logan Lake in the heart of the Highland Valley, the community of Logan Lake was originally established as a company town to support a copper mine, but has since bloomed into a beautiful rural destination and one of the more popular communities in the interior of British Columbia. Named for the Coquihalla River that it parallels near Hope and traversing the daunting Coquihalla Pass, the Coquihalla Highway undoubtedly provides the quickest route between Vancouver and Kamloops.