Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint

Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint is a roadside pull-off on the Trans-Canada Highway, 7.4 km east of Field, where you look toward the railway’s lower tunnel inside Mount Ogden. It is one of two safe places to watch the Spiral Tunnels and read about the route through Kicking Horse Pass. Add it to a drive if you like railway engineering, but don’t plan around seeing a train. There’s no regular schedule, and tree cover can hide both the tunnel openings and trains.

The tunnels carry an average of 25 to 30 trains a day, but the traffic isn’t timed for visitors. If one comes through, a long freight train may appear at multiple levels as it follows the loop. From this lower viewpoint, visibility varies with the trees; the interpretive panels are the sure thing. It’s better as a stop you can enjoy even without a train.

Eastbound trains enter the 891 m Lower Spiral Tunnel in Mount Ogden, spiral left inside the mountain, and emerge 15 m higher. They cross back over the Kicking Horse River and enter the 991 m tunnel in Cathedral Mountain, which adds another 17 m. A long train can stretch across different parts of the loops at once, which helps explain the multi-level view.

Before the tunnels, the railway crossed the Big Hill on a 4.5% grade. The first train to attempt it derailed in 1884, killing three workers. Three spur tracks were built to divert runaway trains, and uphill trains needed extra locomotives. Assistant chief engineer J.E. Schwitzer modeled a gentler route on Swiss spiral tunnels. The tunnels opened in 1909; after 25 years, trains stopped using the old Big Hill.

Despite its rugged terrain, Kicking Horse Pass was chosen for the transcontinental railway because it was closer to the U.S. border and shortened the route to the Pacific. The railway brought tourists, and Canadian Pacific prompted the creation of Mount Stephen Dominion Reserve in 1886. The park was renamed Yoho in 1901; the pass became a National Historic Site in 1971.

From the viewing area, include the tunnel portal and lower track so a passing train makes sense against the forested slope. A long train showing at more than one level is the view that best explains the loop. Trees often screen the openings, so treat a train sighting as a bonus rather than a guarantee.