Ashnola River
Encyclopedia
The Ashnola River is a tributary
of the Similkameen River
, rising in the northeastern part of the North Cascades
in Washington, United States
, and flowing north into British Columbia
, Canada
to join the Similkameen River
about halfway along that river's course between the towns of Princeton
and Keremeos
. The river crosses the international boundary at 49°00′00"N 120°19′37"W and transits Cathedral Provincial Park. It has one main tributary, Ewart Creek, which is about 25 km in length and begins virtually at the border and is entirely within Cathedral Park.
A gravel road from its junction with BC Highway 3 at the locality of Ashnola flanking the river is the main, and virtually only, road access to the park. The locality of Ashnola was that of a mining camp from the days of the many gold rushes in the Similkameen Country
and also the site of the Ashnola Indian Reserve (attached to the Lower Similkameen Indian Band
).
, 1871. An article in BC Motorist magazine claims that the meaning of Ashnola is "white waters" but other sources say the meaning is unknown.. British Columbia Place Names, a semi-authoritative work on the toponymy of British Columbia, says thee original form of the name is that of the Indian village formerly at the Ashnola Indian Reserve, which in the modern spelling system of the Okanagan language is rendered Acnulox.
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 Similkameen River
Similkameen River
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States. The river is approximately long, and its drainage basin is in area...
, rising in the northeastern part of the North Cascades
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
in Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and flowing north into 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...
to join the Similkameen River
Similkameen River
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States. The river is approximately long, and its drainage basin is in area...
about halfway along that river's course between the towns of Princeton
Princeton, British Columbia
Princeton is a small town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, Canada. It lies just east of the Cascade Mountains, which continue south into Washington, Oregon and California. The Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers converge here...
and Keremeos
Keremeos, British Columbia
Keremeos is a village in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The name originated from the Similkameen dialect of the Okanagan language word "Keremeyeus" meaning "creek which cuts its way through the flats" referring to Keremeos Creek which flows down from the Upper Benchlands to the...
. The river crosses the international boundary at 49°00′00"N 120°19′37"W and transits Cathedral Provincial Park. It has one main tributary, Ewart Creek, which is about 25 km in length and begins virtually at the border and is entirely within Cathedral Park.
A gravel road from its junction with BC Highway 3 at the locality of Ashnola flanking the river is the main, and virtually only, road access to the park. The locality of Ashnola was that of a mining camp from the days of the many gold rushes in the Similkameen Country
Similkameen Country
The Similkameen Country, also referred to as the Similkameen Valley or Similkameen District, but generally referred to simply as The Similkameen or more archaically, Similkameen, is a region roughly coinciding with the basin of the river of the same name in the Southern Interior of British Columbia...
and also the site of the Ashnola Indian Reserve (attached to the Lower Similkameen Indian Band
Lower Similkameen Indian Band
The Lower Similkameen Indian Band is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located in the town of Keremeos in the Similkameen District. They are a member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance....
).
Name variants and origin
Older name-variants includes Nais-nu-loh and Ashtnolow (both from Lord, 1960), Ashtnoulou (1861), Ashnoulou River, TrutchJoseph Trutch
Sir Joseph William Trutch, KCMG was an English-born Canadian engineer, surveyor and politician.-Early life and career:...
, 1871. An article in BC Motorist magazine claims that the meaning of Ashnola is "white waters" but other sources say the meaning is unknown.. British Columbia Place Names, a semi-authoritative work on the toponymy of British Columbia, says thee original form of the name is that of the Indian village formerly at the Ashnola Indian Reserve, which in the modern spelling system of the Okanagan language is rendered Acnulox.
See also
- Ashnola PassAshnola PassAshnola Pass is a mountain pass in the North Cascades of northwestern Washington in the Pasayten Wilderness. See Ashnola River for name information....
- Ashnola MountainAshnola MountainAshnola Mountain is a mountain in the Okanagan Range of the North Cascades in Washington state, located near Ashnola Pass and the headwaters of the Ashnola River, which flows north into British Columbia, Canada, to join the Similkameen River....
- List of rivers in Washington
- List of British Columbia rivers