Have you watched First Blood? And would you visit Hope to see the locations yourself?
Did you know that one of Hollywood’s most famous action movies was filmed in the small mountain town of Hope, British Columbia, Canada?
In 1981, Sylvester Stallone arrived in Hope to film First Blood, released in 1982. More than four decades later, thousands of movie fans continue visiting the town to retrace John Rambo’s footsteps.
We’ve visited Hope many times, but this time we decided to follow the famous Rambo filming locations ourselves!
After breakfast at our favourite Blue Moose Coffee House, we collected a free self-guided map from the Hope Visitor Centre and set off on our own Hollywood adventure.
In this video, we’ll take you back to the original movie scenes, comparing several memorable locations with how they look today. From the sheriff’s station and dramatic motorcycle chase to Rambo Bridge and the spectacular Othello Tunnels, there’s an amazing amount of movie history to discover.
🎬 FIRST BLOOD FILMING LOCATIONS — YOUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR
1. Rambo Meets Sheriff Teasle — Water Avenue
The confrontation that starts everything! Sheriff Will Teasle, played by Brian Dennehy, encounters John Rambo on Water Avenue near the former Gardner GM dealership. The sheriff attempts to drive Rambo out of town, setting the entire story in motion.
2. The Motorcycle Railway Jump — Third Avenue
After escaping from the sheriff’s station, Rambo steals a motorcycle and races through Hope. One of the film’s famous stunts takes place at the railway crossing on Third Avenue, where the motorcycle launches over the tracks. The railway crossing remains today.
3. The Famous H-Tree — Hudson Bay Street
During the motorcycle chase, Rambo passes a distinctive tree formation on Hudson Bay Street near Fifth Avenue. The unusual H-shaped arrangement has become one of the smaller but memorable landmarks for film enthusiasts.
4. The Sheriff’s Station — Wallace Street & Third Avenue
The fictional police station stood in front of Hope’s District Hall at 325 Wallace Street. The station was a temporary movie set, but the surrounding streets and buildings remain recognizable. This is also where Rambo escapes custody and the motorcycle chase begins.
5. Mountain Savings — 800 Third Avenue
During the film’s dramatic final scenes, Rambo fires into several downtown storefronts. The fictional Mountain Savings location, at 10–800 Third Avenue, was one of the businesses featured in the destruction sequence.
6. The Motorcycle Chase — Wallace Street
Rambo races along Wallace Street on a stolen motorcycle, weaving through traffic and pedestrians while pursued by Sheriff Teasle. Walk along this downtown street and compare the buildings with the movie footage.
7. The Outpost Gun Shop — Third Avenue & Commission Street
The gun shop was a temporary structure constructed specifically for the film. During the movie’s final action sequence, Rambo attacks the shop and it is destroyed in an explosion. The set no longer exists.
8. Welcome to Hope Arch — Old Hope Princeton Way
Rambo walks into town beneath the original Welcome to Hope and Gateway to Holidayland signs. Remnants of the original wooden arch can be found near the Hope Lookout Trail entrance.
9. The Gas Station Explosion — Old Hope Princeton Way
One of the movie’s biggest explosions takes place when Rambo destroys a gas station during the final confrontation. The building was constructed for filming and deliberately destroyed.
10. Rambo Bridge — Kawkawa Lake Road
One of the film’s most recognizable locations. Sheriff Teasle drops Rambo off at the bridge and orders him to leave town. Instead, Rambo turns around and walks back.
The original bridge was replaced in 2011, but visitors can still see the crossing and its surrounding landscape.
11. Chevron Gas Station — Water Avenue & Hudson Bay Street
During the motorcycle chase, Rambo rides through the Chevron station. The roofline of the building now occupied by Hope Pizza Place can be recognized in the film’s background.
🎥 BONUS FILMING LOCATION: OTHELLO TUNNELS
Our final major stop takes us approximately 15 minutes outside downtown Hope to the spectacular Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park.
This dramatic canyon was used for the famous scene in which Rambo leaps from the cliffs while being pursued by a helicopter.
Today, visitors can explore historic railway tunnels, bridges and magnificent views over the rushing Coquihalla River when the relevant sections of the park are open.
This is one of our favourite outdoor destinations in the Fraser Valley!
MORE RAMBO ATTRACTIONS IN HOPE
Don’t miss the incredible chainsaw carvings of John Rambo and Sheriff Teasle near Wallace Street, along with the many other carvings scattered throughout town.
You can also visit the former sheriff’s station structure, which was relocated to Douglas Street and became associated with the Canyon Golden Age Club.
Key Details:
⏱ Duration
2-3 hrs
📍 Locations
Hope, B.C. Canada
🎥Format
Discovery Travel/Movie Video
What You’ll See in This Video:
- Rambo Meets Sheriff Teasle — Water Avenue
- The Motorcycle Railway Jump — Third Avenue
- The Sheriff’s Station — Wallace Street & Third Avenue
- Rambo Bridge — Kawkawa Lake Road
- Dramatic canyon used for famous scene in which Rambo leaps from the cliffs
- The Motorcycle Chase — Wallace Street
- Street scenes of Hope and Othello Tunnels
Filming Locations Featured:
This video features Hope B.C. locations. Full Story Here
Travel Tips from This Journey:
You’ll need a car to get around Hope, however there are many places to explore by foot. Make sure you start at the Visitor Information Centre and take some time to view the chainsaw carvings.
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