Since visiting all the hidden gems in our last post, you may be thinking to yourself, "Okay, I have finally seen it all!". Well for those of you still thirsty for adventure, we have great news for you! If you are willing to venture a little ways out from Vancouver's bustling city center, there lie 5 more fantastic places to explore. We would highly recommend tackling the first three in one day as they are all very close to one another. 

1. Ladner Creek Trestle

Constructed in the early 1900's, this trestle once served as a bridge for the Kettle Valley Railway. Closed and abandoned in 1961, it now serves as an awesome relic to explore. This one is a little tricky to get to, but well worth the trip. Heading east from Vancouver and Hope along highway 5, drive until you reach exit 202 (Portia U-Turn Route). Take the exit and turn around heading back west toward Hope. Drive for about 3.5 km and right before you go over Ladner Creek Bridge, take the dirt pullout on the right where you can park. From here, it is a scramble up some loose rock then a fairly wide and clear path, less than 1 km, to the trestle. Please use extreme caution around the bridge as most of the wood is quite rotten. Also be sure to bring your drone for some great aerial shots! 

2. Othello Tunnels

Once part of the same Kettle Valley Railway network as the trestle, and constructed at the same time, the Othello Tunnels are yet another historical must-see landmark. Located in the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, this stretch of old railway is less than 1 km and consists of 5 tunnels. This is a short 20 minute drive from the trestle if you want to see it before or after. There is even potential to make a whole day out of it as the Kettle Valley Bike trail (one of the nicest bike trails in the province!) passes right through the park and tunnels and continues for hundreds of kilometers through the canyon and along the Fraser River. 

3. Alexandra Bridge

Once an old wagon bridge over the Fraser River, the original Alexandra Bridge was constructed in 1861. The bridge was destroyed by rising waters and floods in the late 1800's and remained abandoned until 1912. The bridge we see today was completed several years later and supported automobile traffic through the Fraser Canyon along the new (at the time) Cariboo Highway.  After it was closed to traffic in the 60's, the bridge became a provincial park and a popular site for tourists to get a glimpse into the past. The Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park, located 30 minutes north of Hope along highway 1, is open year round. The park offers many activities including fishing and biking and has lots of private picnic spots and great photo opportunities. 

4. Cascade Falls

Being situated in such an amazing geological location, the Vancouver area is home to a wide array of beautiful waterfalls.  One of our favorite, smaller, lesser known ones is Cascade Falls. Located just a few minutes from Mission off of Sylvester Rd, this one could easily be hit either on the way to or from the first three on the list. Once you arrive at the parking lot, it is a short 5 minute walk to the falls. There is a cool suspension bridge there and several wooden viewing platforms. If you want to stay the day and are into off-roading, this area is also perfect for that with several driving trails around Stave Lake. Be sure to check them out after seeing the falls.

5. Tunnel Bluffs

Finding a hike in and around Vancouver that isn't extremely crowded and busy is becoming increasingly difficult these days. Tunnel Bluffs is one of our favorite tucked away hikes that still offers both a challenge and stunning view points without all the traffic. To get to the trail head and parking lot you will have to be heading east along highway 99 towards Vancouver. If you are coming from the city there is a u-turn route at the Porteau Rd exit. Once you backtrack about 7.5 kms you will arrive at the parking lot, which will be a small pullout on the right, signs for Tunnel Point. Cross the highway at the north end of the lot (be careful with traffic!). Once you are on the other side you should clearly see the trail-head. Give yourself about 4 hours to complete this 8 km round trip hike. Don't forget plenty of snacks, water and your camera for the top :) 

This concludes another series of some of our favorite spots in and around the Lower Mainland. As always, we'd love to hear about your experiences at these places. Tell us about where you like to explore that's off the beaten path too. Thanks for reading and please let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below!

Happy adventuring,

Slade