Churn Creek
Encyclopedia
Churn Creek is a tributary
of the Fraser River
in the Canadian province
of British Columbia
.
and opposite the community of Dog Creek
and associated creek. Most of its lower course is a heavily-eroded canyon lined by benchlands, and is enshrine in Churn Creek Protected Area
, which also includes the ecological preserve of the Empire Valley Ranch.
Its source at 51°07′N 122°37′W, at a subalpine marsh forming a pass between Big Dog Mountain, the northernmost major summit of the Shulaps Range
, and Poison Mountain, a summit of the Camelsfoot Range
, forming a divide with Poisonmount Creek, an upper tributary of the Yalakom River
, the main north fork of the Bridge River
which divides those two ranges. From there it proceeds northwest, falling steeply from the high plateau between those two ranges, joining at the bottom of that grade with an unnamed creek from Swartz (Fish) Lake, one a chain of lakes in the area of the Mud Lakes Pass, at the divide with the basin of Tyaughton Creek
, also a tributary of the Bridge River
. From there it turns northeastward in its main trajectory, forming the northwestern flank of the northern Camelsfoot Range
. It is joined in its upper reaches by its two main left tributaries, Lone Valley Creek and Dash Creek, which drain the southernmost Chilcotin Plateau
just north of the edge of the Chilcotin Ranges
and the Spruce Lake Protected Area
(also known as the South Chilcotin Park, though park status has been revoked since its creation).
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of 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...
in the Canadian province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of 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...
.
Course
Churn Creek flows generally northeast, joining the Fraser River just south of the headquarters of the Gang RanchGang 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...
and opposite the community of Dog Creek
Dog Creek, British Columbia
Dog Creek is an unincorporated ranching settlement, located on the Fraser River, in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the northeast side of the Fraser's confluence with Dog Creek, it is opposite Gang Ranch on the west side of the river, which is connected by an old...
and associated creek. Most of its lower course is a heavily-eroded canyon lined by benchlands, and is enshrine in Churn Creek Protected Area
Churn Creek Protected Area
The Churn Creek Protected Area, is a provincial protected area in British Columbia, Canada. It is a mix of dryland canyon and steppe and adjoining rangeland flanking the canyon of Churn Creek and that stream's confluence with the Fraser River at the northern apex of the Camelsfoot Range. The...
, which also includes the ecological preserve of the Empire Valley Ranch.
Its source at 51°07′N 122°37′W, at a subalpine marsh forming a pass between Big Dog Mountain, the northernmost major summit of the Shulaps Range
Shulaps Range
The Shulaps Range is a subrange of the Chilcotin Ranges subset of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in southwest-central British Columbia. The range is 55 km NW–SE and 15 km SW–NE and 2,970 km² in area....
, and Poison Mountain, a summit of the Camelsfoot Range
Camelsfoot Range
The Camelsfoot Range is a sub-range of the Chilcotin Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia.* The range is c...
, forming a divide with Poisonmount Creek, an upper tributary of the Yalakom River
Yalakom River
The Yalakom River is a tributary of the Bridge River, which is one of the principal tributaries of the Fraser River, entering it near the town of Lillooet, British Columbia. In frontier times it was also known as the North Fork of the Bridge River, and joins the Bridge River proper at Moha, a...
, the main north fork of the Bridge River
Bridge River
The Bridge River is, or was, a major tributary of British Columbia's Fraser River, entering that stream about six miles upstream from the town of Lillooet.-Name:Its name in the Lillooet language is Xwisten , sometimes spelled Nxwisten or Nxo-isten)...
which divides those two ranges. From there it proceeds northwest, falling steeply from the high plateau between those two ranges, joining at the bottom of that grade with an unnamed creek from Swartz (Fish) Lake, one a chain of lakes in the area of the Mud Lakes Pass, at the divide with the basin of Tyaughton Creek
Tyaughton Creek
Tyaughton Creek, formerly gazetted as the Tyaughton River, also historically known as Tyoax Creek, is a 50 kilometre tributary of British Columbia's Bridge River, flowing generally southeast to enter the main flow of that river about mid-way along the length of Carpenter Lake, a reservoir formed by...
, also a tributary of the Bridge River
Bridge River
The Bridge River is, or was, a major tributary of British Columbia's Fraser River, entering that stream about six miles upstream from the town of Lillooet.-Name:Its name in the Lillooet language is Xwisten , sometimes spelled Nxwisten or Nxo-isten)...
. From there it turns northeastward in its main trajectory, forming the northwestern flank of the northern Camelsfoot Range
Camelsfoot Range
The Camelsfoot Range is a sub-range of the Chilcotin Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia.* The range is c...
. It is joined in its upper reaches by its two main left tributaries, Lone Valley Creek and Dash Creek, which drain the southernmost 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...
just north of the edge of the Chilcotin Ranges
Chilcotin Ranges
The Chilcotin Ranges are a subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains . They lie on the inland lea of the Pacific Ranges, abutting the Interior Plateau of British Columbia...
and the Spruce Lake Protected Area
Spruce Lake Protected Area
The Spruce Lake Protected Area, was a 71,347-hectare Protected Area in the British Columbia provincial parks system 200 km north of Vancouver. The area had been the subject of an ongoing preservationist controversy since the 1930s. Formerly known variously as the Southern Chilcotin Mountains...
(also known as the South Chilcotin Park, though park status has been revoked since its creation).
See also
- Big Creek Provincial ParkBig Creek Provincial ParkBig Creek Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada.It is adjoined on the south by the Spruce Lake Protected Area and on the west by Ts'il?os Provincial Park. Neighbouring on the east is the Churn Creek Protected Area.- References :...
- Hungry Valley Creek
- List of British Columbia rivers