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BC Highway Itinerary: Hope to Kamloops via #5 Coquihalla

What to See & Do along the Coquihalla Highway?

This route was originally a toll-highway, built to get Canadians to Vancouver’s Expo 86, and divert heavy truck traffic from the at-capacity Trans-Canada route through the Fraser Canyon. East of Hope, detour to the Hope Slide (6 km east on Highway 3). The Coquihalla has some amazing rest stops, valley views, river crossings, and even an avalanche snow shed. At the north end the highway drops rapidly drop into Kamloops.

The Coquihalla Highway was flooded and damaged in several places on Nov 14, 2021, in the section between Hope and Merritt. With incredible effort, BC Transportation & Infrastructure was able to re-open the southern portion of the Coquihalla to trucker & bus traffic (there are 3,000 trucks a day using that route), though with significant limitations. Some sections have only a single bridge span necessitating one lane traffic and reduced speeds (down to 60 km/h) in those areas, as well as limited electricity and bathrooms along the way. NON-TRUCKER TRAFFIC TO-FROM VANCOUVER MAY USE HIGHWAY #99 SEA-TO-SKY AND CROWNEST HIGHWAY 3 ROUTES [SEE MAPS]

BC-Itinerary - Coquihalla-Hope to Kamloops

The broad Valley of the Thompson River at Kamloops

Here is the itinerary for the 204 km along the #5 Coquihalla (toll) Highway between Hope, BC and Kamloops, BC:

View of tight curves in Coquihalla mountains

Being a divided highway its generally faster than the #1 route between Kamloops and Hope. But with the high elevation of Coquihalla Pass, sometimes snowier in winter.

Travellers can save 75 minutes driving time between Kamloops and Hope. The road is fast, twinned (ie Interstate/Autobahn standards) and passes through spectacular rugged mountain scenery. Travelling northbound from Hope, Highway 5 follows the Coquihalla River until near the toll booth, then follows the Coldwater River to Merritt.

The Coquihalla Highway climbs to the summit of 1240 metre high (4068 ft) Coquihalla Pass and then crosses the top of the Thompson Plateau. Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. Avalanche guns mounted on platforms beside the highway battle the elements to keep the highway open in winter, just like at Rogers Pass and at Revelstoke, to the east.

View of Nicola Lake, to east of highway, in North CoquihallaThe forests here are home to Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and sub-alpine fir at higher elevations, with Douglas fir and ponderosa pine at lower elevations and on benchlands. The forests and the high plateau grasslands support moose, mule deer, bears, and grouse, with some elk and mountain goats in the south. There are lots of hiking trails for travelers to get out an enjoy the surrounding nature.

Merritt is a hub where three highways converge the 5, 5A, and 8. Using 5A, you can access highway 97C (the Kelowna Connector) to and from the Okanagan, at Peachland, just southwest of Kelowna.

As you continue driving north of Merritt, the highway climbs into the Thompson Plateau., and you pass some pretty lakes along the way beside  the highway (Surrey Lake, Walloper Lake , and Lac Le Jeune,  from S to N).  As you approach Kamloops, there is a steep drop, and you pass a massive open pit mine at the side of the highway. You continue dropping elevation  into Kamloops, first passing the Aberdeen Heights area of Kamloops (with shopping mall and visitor center) and dropping even further to the Downtown and Valleyview  areas along the South Thompson River.

Elevation Chart: Coquihalla Hope to Kamloops

Elevation Chart - Coquihalla - Hope to Kamloops
Elevation Chart - Coquihalla - Hope to Kamloops

Trans-Canada Highway History

Trans-Canada Highway Itinerary Map


Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on “+” or “” to zoom in or out. “Satellite” combines map & photo.
Note:

Itinerary Details

 

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
0Exit #374 Junction Yellowhead Highway (5) (Kamloops402

Shuswap Nation Tribal Council


Tkemlups of the Secwepemc band of the Shuswap First Nation


Access to downtown Kamloops, on exit further, Valleyview Rd (east) and Battle St/Columbia St (west into downtown)

4Peterson Creek, Glenfair Peterson Creek Park (Kamloops) 448.1

webcam facing north

6Exit #370 Summit Dr underpass, Exit WB only (Kamloops) 549.2
8Exit #369 Columbia Way (N) Exit EB only (Kamloops) 590.4
multiple gas stations north of highway, on Columbia St


Access to downtown, via Columbia Street, about 3 km from highway


Kamloops photos


south access to Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health District) about 2.7 km NE of highway

9Exit #368 Junction Princeton Kamloops Hwy (5A) (S), Hillside Way (N) (Kamloops) 630.9

Kamloops Visitor Centre, just north of highway


Aberdeen Mall, Kamloops 8 screen multiplex cinemas


Dream Lodge, just south of highway


Four Points Sheraton Hotel, just south of highway


Comfort Inn & Suites, just south of highway


Best Western Kamloops, just south of Highway


Aberdeen Inn, just south of highway


Travelodge Mountainview, just south of highway


Esso, Petro-Canada gas stations, south of highway


Maverick Motor Inn, just north of highway


Aberdeen Mall, north side of highway

10Exit #367 Pacific Way, exit to Kenna Cartwright Park (N) (Kamloops) 669.3

Greyhound-Kamloops Terminal, just north of highway


Grandview Motel, 1.3 km north of highway


Argus Motor Inn, 1.2 km north of highway


Alpine Motor Inn, south of highway


Pantry & Shell gas stations to south of highway


Access to Kenna Cartwright Park, natural area in the City of Kamloops

12Exit #366 Copperhead Dr (S) Hillside Rd (N) (Kamloops) 699.8

Access to Kenna Cartwright Park, natural area in the City of Kamloops


Petro-Canada Station, south side (EB) of highway

13Bridge over Coquihalla River (Hope) 211.5

Coquihalla River photos

16Exit #362 Junction Highway 1 WB744

Trans-Canada Highway Access west to Cache Creek, Lytton and Hope

19Sugarloaf Rd underpass769.9
23Exit #355 Sugarloaf Rd, tails to Sugarloaf Mountain E of hwy840.3
28Desmond Lake to W of highway1402.1
30Chuwheis Mountain Rd (W) Lac Le Jeune Rd (E) underpass (no access), Stake Lake to E of hwy, W to Lac Le Jeune PP, camping1350.3

Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, camping, day use, water sports, scenic views


McConnell Lake Provincial Park day use, with water sports and hiking

35Exit #336 Meadow Creek Rd W to Surrey & Sussex Lakes, E to Walloper Lake PP, camping1321.6

Walloper Lake Provincial Park, day use with water sports

44Surrey-Sussex Lakes to E of hwy1415.2
64Helmer Rd underpass1361.8
64Exit # 315 Helmer Rd & U-turn view of Helmer Lake to W of hwy1390.5

webcam looking north

80Exit #290 Junction Highway 5A (Voght St) Merritt, E to Merritt Airfield (1 kn), Nicola Lake (9 km), Zoht Indian Reserve 4 (10 km), Monk Lake PP (20 km) (Merritt613.3

Zoht Indian Reserve 4, member of the Lower Nicola Band

90Exit #286 Junction Highway 5A & 97C (Nicola Ave), W to town of Merritt (2 km), all services, access to Joeyaska Indian Reserve 2 (1 km), Nicola Mameet Indian Reserve 1 (8 km) (Merritt) 681.5

Joeyaska Indian Reserve 2, member of the Lower Nicola Band

96Exit #276 Comstock Rd access to Coldwater Indian Reserve 1 (10 km), and hiking trails987.9

Coldwater Indian Reserve 1, part of Nicola Band, 10 km from highway

115Exit #256 Coldwater Rd (N/W) access to Paul’s Basin Indian Reserve (15 km), Brookmere Rd (S/E)838.8
115Road overpass880.6
118Exit #250 Brodie Siding Rd (SE) & Fig Lake Rd (NW) observe sharp twist in rail track E of hwy999.4

webcam facing north

121Connecting Rd, access to Coldwater River PP, camping1012.2
Coldwater River Provincial Park, with hiking and fishing
132Crossing Coldwater River bridge, rapids N of hwy988.8
133Murray Lake Rd Exit WB/SB only1005.8
134Juliet Creek Exits, access to Juliet Station airfield1062.5
138Juliet Creek Rd overpass1060.4
141Exit to Nicola Provincial Forest1080.5
142Coldwater Lake, to West of hwy1176.8
144Exit #228 WB: Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area1111.9
Nicolla Lakes Rest Area, with scenic views
145Exit #228 EB: Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area1120.7
146Coquihalla [former] Toll Booth1129.6

webcam facing south


webcam facing north


Coquihalla Highway Toll Plaza


Rest Area with bathrooms

150Exit #221 Coquihalla Summit Rec Area1171.3
153Coquihalla Summit1280.2

webcam facing south

169Chain Up Area, Pull off1218
171Exit #202, Portia and U-turn584.6

Kicking Horse Bridge

173Exit #200536.8
177Exit #195 Caroline Mines Rd, turnaround374
179Exit #192 turnaround WB Exit, to Kettle Creek Railway trails at Boston Bar Creek349.3

Kettle Creek Railway – the segment still operating is short stretch west of Summerland, in the southern Okanagan


Kettle Valley Railway railtrail, hiking and mountain biking

180Exit #192 turnaround EB Exit, to Kettle Creek Railway trails at Boston Bar Creek327.1
access to Kettle Creek Railway, recreational pathway and railway trestle bridge
181Crossing Coquihalla River318.2
183Bridge over Deneau Creek320
18510 Mile Creek crossing277.4
190Peers Creek Rd underpass214.6
190Exit #183 Othello Rd exit, W to Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park and Othello Tunnels217
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, picnic area, hiking trails, about 2 km southwest of highway


access to Kawkawa Lake Resort, about 7 km E of highway

196Exit #177, junction with #5 Coquihalla Southbound interchange with Highway 3, Crowsnest Highway263.3
Complex intersection. South-westbound traffic wishing to visit Hope Slide exist west and then loop-around to head eastbound on the #3


Complex intersection. South-westbound traffic wishing to visit Hope Slide exist west (toward Hope) and then loop-around to head eastbound on the #3

197EB Exit #177, Highway #3 junction with Coquihalla Highway274.3
Crowsnest Highway #3, east to Princeton, Osoyoos and Penticton


Nicolum River Provincial Park, fishing, hiking, biking, about 5 km E


Hope Slide 1965 natural disaster, 10.7 km E, (access best westbound, tricky eastbound)

201Exit #173 Old Yale Rd (Hope) 128.3
East Access to Hope, all services
204Junction Highway 1 and Highway 3 (Hope) 72.2
204Exit #170 WB, to Old Yale Rd, and Trans-Canada 1 North (Hope) 144.5

Access to town of Hope


Community of Hope, BC


Panoramic VR image along Fraser River from Centennial Park (park in town, on east side of highway)


Hope photos

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)

 

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
0Junction Highway 1 and Highway 3 (Hope) 72.2
0Exit #170 WB, to Old Yale Rd, and Trans-Canada 1 North (Hope) 144.5

Access to town of Hope


Community of Hope, BC


Panoramic VR image along Fraser River from Centennial Park (park in town, on east side of highway)


Hope photos

3Exit #173 Old Yale Rd (Hope) 128.3
East Access to Hope, all services
7EB Exit #177, Highway #3 junction with Coquihalla Highway274.3
Crowsnest Highway #3, east to Princeton, Osoyoos and Penticton


Nicolum River Provincial Park, fishing, hiking, biking, about 5 km E


Hope Slide 1965 natural disaster, 10.7 km E, (access best westbound, tricky eastbound)

8Exit #177, junction with #5 Coquihalla Southbound interchange with Highway 3, Crowsnest Highway263.3
Complex intersection. South-westbound traffic wishing to visit Hope Slide exist west and then loop-around to head eastbound on the #3


Complex intersection. South-westbound traffic wishing to visit Hope Slide exist west (toward Hope) and then loop-around to head eastbound on the #3

14Peers Creek Rd underpass214.6
14Exit #183 Othello Rd exit, W to Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park and Othello Tunnels217
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, picnic area, hiking trails, about 2 km southwest of hihgway


access to Kawkawa Lake Resort, about 7 km E of highway

1910 Mile Creek crossing277.4
21Bridge over Deneau Creek320
23Crossing Coquihalla River318.2
24Exit #192 turnaround EB Exit, to Kettle Creek Railway trails at Boston Bar Creek327.1
access to Kettle Creek Railway, recreational pathway and railway trestle bridge
25Exit #192 turnaround WB Exit, to Kettle Creek Railway trails at Boston Bar Creek349.3

Kettle Creek Railway – the segment still operating is short stretch west of Summerland, in the southern Okanagan


Kettle Valley Railway railtrail, hiking and mountain biking

27Exit #195 Caroline Mines Rd, turnaround374
31Exit #200536.8
33Exit #202, Portia and U-turn584.6

Kicking Horse Bridge

35Chain Up Area, Pull off1218
51Coquihalla Summit1280.2

webcam facing south

54Exit #221 Coquihalla Summit Rec Area1171.3
58Coquihalla [former] Toll Booth1129.6

webcam facing south


webcam facing north


Coquihalla Highway Toll Plaza


Rest Area with bathrooms

59Exit #228 EB: Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area1120.7
60Exit #228 WB: Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area1111.9
Nicolla Lakes Rest Area, with scenic views
62Coldwater Lake, to West of hwy1176.8
63Exit to Nicola Provincial Forest1080.5
66Juliet Creek Rd overpass1060.4
70Juliet Creek Exits, access to Juliet Station airfield1062.5
71Murray Lake Rd Exit WB/SB only1005.8
72Crossing Coldwater River bridge, rapids N of hwy988.8
83Connecting Rd, access to Coldwater River PP, camping1012.2
Coldwater River Provincial Park, with hiking and fishing
86Exit #250 Brodie Siding Rd (SE) & Fig Lake Rd (NW) observe sharp twist in rail track E of hwy999.4

webcam facing north

89Exit #256 Coldwater Rd (N/W) access to Paul’s Basin Indian Reserve (15 km), Brookmere Rd (S/E)838.8
89Road overpass880.6
108Exit #276 Comstock Rd access to Coldwater Indian Reserve 1 (10 km), and hiking trails987.9

Coldwater Indian Reserve 1, part of Nicola Band, 10 km from highway

114Exit #286 Junction Highway 5A & 97C (Nicola Ave), W to town of Merritt (2 km), all services, access to Joeyaska Indian Reserve 2 (1 km), Nicola Mameet Indian Reserve 1 (8 km) (Merritt) 681.5

Joeyaska Indian Reserve 2, member of the Lower Nicola Band

124Exit #290 Junction Highway 5A (Voght St) Merritt, E to Merritt Airfield (1 kn), Nicola Lake (9 km), Zoht Indian Reserve 4 (10 km), Monk Lake PP (20 km) (Merritt) 613.3

Zoht Indian Reserve 4, member of the Lower Nicola Band

140Helmer Rd underpass1361.8
140Exit # 315 Helmer Rd & U-turn view of Helmer Lake to W of hwy1390.5

webcam looking north

160Surrey-Sussex Lakes to E of hwy1415.2
169Exit #336 Meadow Creek Rd W to Surrey & Sussex Lakes, E to Walloper Lake PP, camping1321.6

Walloper Lake Provincial Park, day use with water sports

174Chuwheis Mountain Rd (W) Lac Le Jeune Rd (E) underpass (no access), Stake Lake to E of hwy, W to Lac Le Jeune PP, camping1350.3

Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, camping, day use, water sports, scenic views


McConnell Lake Provincial Park day use, with water sports and hiking

176Desmond Lake to W of highway1402.1
181Exit #355 Sugarloaf Rd, tails to Sugarloaf Mountain E of hwy840.3
185Sugarloaf Rd underpass769.9
188Exit #362 Junction Highway 1 WB744

Trans-Canada Highway Access west to Cache Creek, Lytton and Hope

191Bridge over Coquihalla River (Hope) 211.5

Coquihalla River photos

192Exit #366 Copperhead Dr (S) Hillside Rd (N) (Kamloops) 699.8

Access to Kenna Cartwright Park, natural area in the City of Kamloops


Petro-Canada Station, south side (EB) of highway

194Exit #367 Pacific Way, exit to Kenna Cartwright Park (N) (Kamloops669.3

Greyhound-Kamloops Terminal, just north of highway


Grandview Motel, 1.3 km north of highway


Argus Motor Inn, 1.2 km north of highway


Alpine Motor Inn, south of highway


Pantry & Shell gas stations to south of highway


Access to Kenna Cartwright Park, natural area in the City of Kamloops

195Exit #368 Junction Princeton Kamloops Hwy (5A) (S), Hillside Way (N) (Kamloops) 630.9

Kamloops Visitor Centre, just north of highway


Aberdeen Mall, Kamloops 8 screen multiplex cinemas


Dream Lodge, just south of highway


Four Points Sheraton Hotel, just south of highway


Comfort Inn & Suites, just south of highway


Best Western Kamloops, just south of Highway


Aberdeen Inn, just south of highway


Travelodge Mountainview, just south of highway


Esso, Petro-Canada gas stations, south of highway


Maverick Motor Inn, just north of highway


Aberdeen Mall, north side of highway

196Exit #369 Columbia Way (N) Exit EB only (Kamloops590.4
multiple gas stations north of highway, on Columbia St


Access to downtown, via Columbia Street, about 3 km from highway


Kamloops photos


south access to Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health District) about 2.7 km NE of highway

198Exit #370 Summit Dr underpass, Exit WB only (Kamloops) 549.2
200Peterson Creek, Glenfair Peterson Creek Park (Kamloops) 448.1

webcam facing north

204Exit #374 Junction Yellowhead Highway (5) (Kamloops) 402

Shuswap Nation Tribal Council


Tkemlups of the Secwepemc band of theShuwap First Nation


Access to downtown Kamloops, on exit further, Valleyview Rd (east) and Battle St/Columbia St (west into downtown)

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)

Itinerary Details