
Driving the Wild 4x4 Road to the Lookout at Cornwall Hills in British Columbia
Canada, north-america
21.8 km
2,037 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Ever dreamed of conquering a seriously epic mountain road in British Columbia, Canada? Cornwall Hills is calling your name! This beast tops out at a whopping 2,037m (6,683ft), making it one of the highest drives in the country.
You'll find it nestled in the Thompson–Nicola Regional District, within Cornwall Hills Provincial Park. The summit? It's legendary! Hang gliders launch themselves into the wild blue yonder, and a vintage lookout tower (built way back in the 50s!) watches over everything.
Now, here's the lowdown: this isn't your Sunday drive. The road is entirely unpaved, rough as guts, and downright rocky. Seriously, a high-clearance 4x4 is a MUST. We’re talking a 21.8 km (13.54 miles) climb from the Trans-Canada Highway, gaining 1,575m in elevation – that's an average gradient of 7.22%!
Perched high in the Clear Range, Cornwall Hills is usually snowed in until at least the first week of June. And even then, watch out for deep mud holes – rainy days turn this road into a slippery, slidy mess. But hey, the views? Absolutely unbeatable. Get ready for some seriously stunning scenery!
Where is it?
Driving the Wild 4x4 Road to the Lookout at Cornwall Hills in British Columbia is located in Canada (north-america). Coordinates: 55.6896, -110.0628
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 21.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,037 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 55.6896, -110.0628
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