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History
Skookumchuck is located in one of our continent's truly unique features - the Rocky Mountain Trench. This
huge geologic feature represents a suture formed when the North American continent acted as a battering ram fending
off westward-drifting land masses as they crashed into our continent. In the area, the Rocky Mountain Trench is more
the result of normal faulting than collisions with exotic land masses.
The area was first traveled north and south along the Columbia and Kootenay rivers by a nomadic group who
fished and hunted sheep and went over the mountains to hunt bison in the lowlands of Alberta.
The first Europeans in this valley were looking for new worlds to explore and exploit, but found an old
world where cultures were robust and the people settled in their own traditions. In 1806, David Thompson journeyed
into the Rockies, engaging some natives to guide him across the portage from the Columbia River to the Kootenay River
at Canal Flats and down to the mouth of the St. Mary's River. Thompson continued to trade, explore and survey from
1807 to 1811, covering all trade sources in the southeastern part of British Columbia.
Prospecting and mineral exploration later brought more white men to this area. Gold was discovered on
Skoo Kum Chuck Creek (about 1864), and more mining developments started up and people converged on this corner of
BC. The wagon road from Galbraith's Ferry at Fort Steele to Canal Flats was made in 1886, and in 1887 a bridge was
built over the Kootenay River at Canal Flats.
The large expanse of land known as the Skookumchuck prairies was settled in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. People came to homestead and ranch; they were given grants of land to settle and grow wheat crops
and other produce to supply and feed the country. In the immediate area, mining, horse trading, logging and ranching
were the beginning of the influx of people. Mining camps were followed by squatters settling and land was granted
for homesteads. This was the way of life for the early settlers in the Wasa Lake, TaTa Creek, Skookumchuck and Canal
Flats area.
This information was taken from Kootenay Ripples, a publication of the Wasa & District Historical
Association. For more information, or to purchase a copy please call Brenda Rauch at 250-422-3335.
Location
Skookumchuck is located on Highway 93/95, at the spot where the Lussier and Skookumchuck Rivers join the Kootenay. It is
just 18 kilometres north of Wasa.
Places to See
- Skookumchuk Service Centre
The Skookumchuck Service Centre has long been popular as a stopping ground for travelers moving between the Columbia
Valley and Cranbrook, with a coffee shop, gas station and a scenic picnic area with a host of friendly ducks waiting
to be fed.
- Canal Flats Provincial Park
This day-use park is popular with swimmers, boaters and windsurfers. Great views of the Rocky Mountains and
Columbia Lake. Just north of Skookumchuck, on the east side of Columbia Lake.
- Wasa Lake Provincial Park
A family vacation destination since the 1950's, Wasa Lake village advertises the warmest swimming lake in the
Kootenays. Wasa Lake Park offers camping, swimming, hiking, cycling, boating and nature viewing opportunities. There
is an 8 km wheelchair and bike accessible trail around the lakeshore and a 2.7 km self-guided interpretation trail.
World class attractions such as Fort Steele Heritage town, guest ranches, ski hills and golf courses are
nearby. In addition to being a popular recreation spot, the park protects a representative grassland ecosystem. It
includes a portion of North America's most northern ponderosa pine forest set amid blue bunch wheatgrass meadows
that provide habitat for a wide diversity of animals and plants.
- Top of the World Provincial Park
Many archaeological sites are located here, in what was once the traditional home of the Upper Kootenay First Nation.
Forest cover is mostly spruce, pine, and some fir, and most of the plateau is carpeted with alpine flowers. Small
populations of large mammals inhabit the park, and an abundance of birds live around Fish Lake. This lake is noted
for its cutthroat trout and dolly Varden fishery, but you must have a valid BC fishing licence and a copy of the
park's fishing regulations before casting a line. There are backcountry campsites available and rustic cabins.
- Premier Lake Provincial Park
Nestled against the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Premier Lake is one of the key recreational fishing lakes
in the East Kootenay. The emerald green lakes of Premier and four smaller lakes, Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye and Quartz
offer a unique and varied fishing experience in a secluded and pleasant park atmosphere.
The area is rich in wildlife. Premier Ridge, west of the lake, is an important wintering range for elk, whitetail
and mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Forests of Douglas fir and western larch are common in the park.
Osprey, eagle, heron, king fisher, numerous forest birds and water fowl can also be seen.
Premier Lake Park, situated 72 km north of Cranbrook, contains 57 vehicle/tent camp sites and is located at the south
end of the lake. There are no drive-through sites. There is an information shelter located at the entrance to the
park but no telephone.
- Whiteswan Lake Park
Abundant fish populations within the Whiteswan and Alces lakes led to the establishment of this semi-wilderness park.
Both lakes are managed for high-yield fisheries. Rainbow trout have been stocked in the lakes since 1961, with annual
releases of about 30,000 fingerlings. Steps taken to make the fishery self-supporting include improvements to the
spawning channel, prohibiting motorboats on Alces Lake, and restricting angling to fly-fishing only. During May and
June, spawning rainbow trout can be seen in Inlet and Outlet Creeks, and in the channel between the lakes.
Recreational activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and hiking. There are 90 vehicle/tent
campsites at this park, as well as 3 wilderness/walk-in and 17 campsites that can accommodate two camping units.
Campsites are spread out among four locations in the park, primarily at Alces Lake Campground, Packrat Point
Campground and Inlet Creek Campground all easily accessed from the Whiteswan Forest Rd. More sites are located at
Homebasin Campground. Basic facilities are provided - picnic tables, pit toilets, fire pits, firewood and water - as
well as a sani-station. Some facilities are wheelchair accessible. A boat launch is also available. The campground is
open from May to September.
Notable Comments
- Tired of the meagre scraps of bread given to them by passing tourists, an enterprising trio of ducks at the
Skookumchuck Service Centre have opened their own lemonade stand. By charging a mere five cents per cup, these ducks
have been able to steal thirsty customers away from the local coffee shop. Though sales were slow during the first week,
their profits have been steadily increasing, and a new caffeinated lemonade has been attracking caffeine addicts.
Skookumchuck's local coffee shop, meanwhile, has hired a bear to sell orange juice.
- reported by Kimberley Fairmont, in her latest editorial, "What's Hot in Skookumchuck?"
- "I like Skookumchuck!"
- Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic nine-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information
Skookumchuck and Area Tourism Association
Highway 93/95, Skookumchuck
British Columbia, Canada V0B 2E0
E-mail: info@skookumchuck.net
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