Coquihalla Canyon and moving on

July 6: After two days we leave reluctantly from our sunny site by the water. After once again swimming and sunning only later in the morning we continue our trip westbound. The most scenic part of the route is between Osoyoos and Keremeos.

The road from Princeton to Hope is leading most of the time steeply uphill and downhill with lots of turns. There are lots of views, but no possibility to stop there, and after a while it is no real fun for the driver anymore.

In Hope we visit Coquihalla Canyon. After a few minutes walk we arrive at the Othello Tunnels. Here in Hope the Kettle Valley Railway starts; on a part of the track we had gone on a bicycle ride in Kelowna. At the start already the track leads through five tunnels and over several bridges through the canyon high above the rapid water.

In Harrison Hot Springs in the afternoon (on Friday) we head to Sasquatch Provincial Park with three campgrounds. They are all full; even the private campgrounds in Harrison Hot Springs are full. The next campground at Kilby Provincial Park is closed (probably due to flooding, as it is located right on the river). Via Mission we head on to Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge; it has three campgrounds with more than 400 sites. And they are all full.

We already start thinking about a parking lot at a Walmart or at the ferry to Vancouver Island, but then on the access road to the Golden Ears Park we find the Maple Ridge RV Park. A campground on a meadow, surrounded by large trees, showers and toilets, full hook up and Wifi, and all that for $28.

So far we always stayed overnight in State (County/City) Parks or in Canada in Provincial Parks, but in British Columbia we have doubts if that is the right thing to do. Often the parks are located in dense forest with little light, have nothing but a pit toilet and cost $21 or 30. Some private campgrounds offer more for the same money, when one does not chose one directly by the road.