Chilcotin River
Encyclopedia
The Chilcotin River is a 241 kilometres (149.8 mi) long tributary of the Fraser River
in southern British Columbia
, Canada
. It drains the Chilcotin Plateau
, which lies between the Fraser River
and the Coast Mountains
. It starts northeast of Itcha Mountain
and flows generally southeast to join the Fraser about 22 km upstream from Gang Ranch
.
. Between the outlet of Itcha Lake and its confluence with its primary tributary, the Chilko River
, it is about 72 km in length, most of which the river is flowing generally southeast. Several portions of the upper and middle reaches, in particular the 12 km or so stretch starting from Itcha Lake, are very swamp
-like & slow moving. Chicotin Falls, a small cascade located about 23 km below its source at the head of a small canyon, is one of the few swift spots on the Chilcotin above its confluence with the Chilko. Chilcotin Lake
, a small, irregularly shaped swamp-like lake, is located about 44 km upstream from the Chilko.
The Chilko/Chilcotin confluence is unique in the sense that the Chilko is actually several times larger in volume than the Chilcotin, yet the Chilko still “joins” the Chilcotin.
Below the confluence, the Chilcotin is quite large and silty. It flows through three large canyons, Bull Canyon
, Big Creek Canyon
and Farwell Canyon
. It is about 83 km from the Chilko confluence to the Chilcotin’s mouth. Farwell Canyon is located about 15 km above the Fraser.
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
in southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It drains the Chilcotin Plateau
Chilcotin Plateau
The Chilcotin Plateau is part of the Fraser Plateau, a major subdivision of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia. The Chilcotin Plateau is physically near-identical with the region of the same name, i.e...
, which lies between the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
and the Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
. It starts northeast of Itcha Mountain
Itcha Mountain
Itcha Mountain is one of the two main volcanic peaks of the Itcha Range, which is located in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is in the Anahim Volcanic Belt, which formed when the North American Plate moved over a hotspot, similar to the one feeding the...
and flows generally southeast to join the Fraser about 22 km upstream from Gang Ranch
Gang Ranch
The Gang Ranch is a famous and historic Canadian ranch in the Chilcotin region of the Central Interior of British Columbia. It is located north of Clinton on the West bank of the Fraser River opposite the Indian Reserve community of Dog Creek. The ranch, near Alkali Lake was founded in 1863...
.
Course
The Chilcotin originates at the outlet of remote Itcha Lake, in Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial ParkItcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park
Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park is a provincial park in the Chilcotin Country of British Columbia, Canada. The park is 111,977 hectares in size and contains Far Mountain and Mount Downton, its two most prominent peaks.-History and conservation:...
. Between the outlet of Itcha Lake and its confluence with its primary tributary, the Chilko River
Chilko River
The Chilko River is a 75 km waterway in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, connecting Chilko Lake to the Chilcotin River. Its main tributary is the Taseko River....
, it is about 72 km in length, most of which the river is flowing generally southeast. Several portions of the upper and middle reaches, in particular the 12 km or so stretch starting from Itcha Lake, are very swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
-like & slow moving. Chicotin Falls, a small cascade located about 23 km below its source at the head of a small canyon, is one of the few swift spots on the Chilcotin above its confluence with the Chilko. Chilcotin Lake
Chilcotin Lake
Chilcotin Lake is a lake in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the Chilcotin River to the north of Puntzi Lake....
, a small, irregularly shaped swamp-like lake, is located about 44 km upstream from the Chilko.
The Chilko/Chilcotin confluence is unique in the sense that the Chilko is actually several times larger in volume than the Chilcotin, yet the Chilko still “joins” the Chilcotin.
Below the confluence, the Chilcotin is quite large and silty. It flows through three large canyons, Bull Canyon
Bull Canyon Provincial Park
Bull Canyon Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, protecting Bull Canyon on the Chilcotin River, which is below the confluence of the Chilko River with the Chilcotin. The canyon and park are located just west of the community of Alexis Creek. Bull Canyon is part of a...
, Big Creek Canyon
Big Creek Canyon
Big Creek Canyon is a canyon on the Chilcotin River, located around the confluence of Big Creek in the Chilcotin District of British Columbia, Canada....
and Farwell Canyon
Farwell Canyon
Farwell Canyon is a canyon on the Chilcotin River in the Chilcotin District of British Columbia, Canada, located around the confluence of Farwell Creek and the Chilcotin, between the confluence of Big Creek and the Fraser River. In the same area along the Chilcotin are the Farwell...
. It is about 83 km from the Chilko confluence to the Chilcotin’s mouth. Farwell Canyon is located about 15 km above the Fraser.
Major Tributaries
- Moore Creek – Joins the Chilcotin about 10 km below Chilcotin Falls.
- Punkutlaenkut Creek – Feeds the river about 7 km below Moore Creek.
- Clusko River – Hits the Chilcotin about 8 km above Chilcotin LakeChilcotin LakeChilcotin Lake is a lake in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the Chilcotin River to the north of Puntzi Lake....
. - Palmer Creek – Joins the river via the west end of Chilcotin Lake.
- Chilanko RiverChilanko RiverThe Chilanko River is a river in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.The name of the river derives from a Chilcotin word meaning "many beaver river".-Course:...
– Feeds the river about 15.5 km above the Chilko. - Chilko RiverChilko RiverThe Chilko River is a 75 km waterway in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, connecting Chilko Lake to the Chilcotin River. Its main tributary is the Taseko River....
– The Chilcotin’s largest tributary by far, the Chilko joins the Chilcotin about 5 km above Bull CanyonBull Canyon Provincial ParkBull Canyon Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, protecting Bull Canyon on the Chilcotin River, which is below the confluence of the Chilko River with the Chilcotin. The canyon and park are located just west of the community of Alexis Creek. Bull Canyon is part of a...
. - Big Creek – Joins the Chilcotin in Big Creek CanyonBig Creek CanyonBig Creek Canyon is a canyon on the Chilcotin River, located around the confluence of Big Creek in the Chilcotin District of British Columbia, Canada....
.