Cisco Bridges

Cisco Bridges sits in a tight Fraser Canyon narrows about 12 km south of Lytton on the Trans-Canada Highway (BC Highway 1). Two Class I railways — CPKC and CN — exchange sides of the Fraser River here, creating one of North America's most compelling railfan vantage points. A rest stop on the northbound side of Highway 1 provides easy parking. From there, you can walk across the road to view both bridges from above. For closer access, a narrow gravel lane descends about 250 m and 30 m in elevation to a flat area beside the CN siding — keep your vehicle and yourself well clear of the tracks.

The directional running agreement through the Fraser and Thompson Canyons means westbound trains (both CN and CPKC) use CN tracks, while eastbound trains use CPKC tracks, between Matsqui Junction and Coho. At Cisco, this produces a constant flow of trains in both directions on both bridges. Scanner enthusiasts can monitor CN frequencies (161.415 MHz Ch 1, 161.205 MHz Ch 2) from the okthepk.ca Ashcroft Subdivision listings. Both bridges are visible simultaneously, and patient railfans can photograph trains on both bridges at once during peak traffic windows.

Cisco lies in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains, where the Fraser River cuts a deep, semi-arid gorge through ochre-coloured rock. Sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and bunchgrass cling to steep slopes, and the landscape more closely resembles the interior plateau than coastal BC. Summer temperatures regularly reach 30°C with strong sun reflecting off the rock walls — Lytton holds Canada's all-time heat record of 49.6°C set in June 2021. Winter brings occasional snow at river level but rarely accumulates.

The setting is remote and quiet between trains — just the sound of Fraser River rapids and wind through dry grass. Each approaching consist announces itself with air horns echoing through the canyon well before locomotives come into view. The Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) people have inhabited this area for millennia; the name "Siska" means "uncle" in the Nlaka'pamux language. The Siska First Nation community is located nearby.

Cisco straddles two subdivisions under a directional running agreement:

CPKC Cascade Subdivision — Eastbound traffic uses CPKC tracks through the canyon. Expect mixed manifests, potash unit trains, grain trains bound for Vancouver terminals, and high-priority intermodal. The black 160 m CP truss bridge crosses at the downstream (southern) position.

CN Ashcroft Subdivision — Westbound traffic uses CN tracks. Double-stack intermodal dominates, along with coal, sulfur, and grain. The orange 247 m CN truss arch bridge crosses at the upstream (northern) position, soaring 67 m above the Fraser River and passing directly over the CPKC right-of-way.

A 2000 Transportation Safety Board report documented an average of 38 trains per day through this corridor. Current traffic is likely higher given growth in intermodal and bulk commodity volumes. Rocky Mountaineer passes through Cisco on both its "First Passage to the West" (Vancouver–Banff) and "Journey Through the Clouds" (Vancouver–Jasper) routes — the bridges are a signature highlight announced to passengers. VIA Rail's "The Canadian" also traverses the canyon (westbound on CN, eastbound on CPKC) but typically passes through at night.

Highway 1 Rest Stop (main viewpoint): From the rest stop on the northbound side of Highway 1, you get an elevated, three-quarter view of both bridges with the Fraser River canyon as backdrop. Morning sun (08:00–11:00) lights eastbound trains on the CPKC bridge; afternoon light (15:00–18:00) favours the CN bridge. A 70-200mm lens captures individual bridge compositions, while a wide-angle (24-35mm) fits both bridges and the canyon walls.

CN Siding Access Road: A gravel lane descends from near the rest stop to track level beside the CN siding. From here you are close enough to feel the ground vibrate as trains cross above on the CN arch. Wide-angle shots looking up at the CN bridge with the canyon walls create dramatic compositions. Do not park or stand between the CN siding and the main track.

River Level (south bluff trail): An informal, unpaved path descends further toward the Fraser River, offering wide-angle compositions where both bridges and the river fit in one frame. Use caution — the terrain is steep and loose. Late afternoon golden light on the canyon walls creates the best atmosphere for long-exposure river shots.

The original CP bridge at Cisco was pre-fabricated in England by Hawkes, Crayshay and Company of Gateshead and shipped to Canada in 1883. Designed by engineer Charles Conrad Schneider, it was one of the longest cantilever truss spans in North America at the time. The San Francisco Bridge Company assembled it on site, and it entered service in 1884 as part of the transcontinental CPR mainline.

When the current 160 m three-span Parker truss bridge was built at Cisco in 1910, the original cantilever span was relocated to Vancouver Island to cross Niagara Creek Canyon on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway — where it remains in use today, making it possibly the oldest surviving cantilever truss bridge in North America.

The Canadian Northern Railway (later CN) built its own crossing approximately 100 m upstream, completed circa 1913. The 247 m truss arch bridge stands 67 m above the Fraser River and its northwest end abuts into a near-vertical rock face. The southeast end passes directly over the CPKC tracks before touching down on the opposite bluff. Because the CP engineers had first choice of route, CN was forced to build along the more difficult side of the canyon.

In June 2015, a CN-caused fire destroyed forest near Cisco, and in June 2021, a devastating wildfire destroyed 90% of nearby Lytton, killing two people. The village remains in slow reconstruction as of 2025.

Cisco Bridges is one of the very few locations in North America where two competing transcontinental railways physically cross each other while simultaneously crossing a major river, all within a 400 m stretch. The directional running agreement adds further interest: both CN and CPKC trains can be seen on both bridges, so the variety of motive power and rolling stock is exceptional. The proximity of the two bridges — roughly 100 m apart — makes it possible to photograph trains on both structures simultaneously.

The location is a signature highlight on two Rocky Mountaineer routes, meaning the bridges appear in countless tourism photos and railway documentaries. The original 1884 CP bridge survives on Vancouver Island, creating a tangible historical link between Cisco and the E&N Railway. Few railfan spots offer this combination of dual-railway action, canyon scenery, accessible highway viewing, and deep historical significance — all without an admission fee or any formal infrastructure.