Cheakamus River
Encyclopedia
The Cheakamus River is a tributary of the Squamish River
, beginning on the west slopes of Outlier Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park
upstream from Cheakamus Lake
on the southeastern outskirts of the resort area of Whistler
. The river flows into Cheakamus Lake before exiting it and flowing northwest until it turns south and enters Daisy Lake. Between the outlet of Daisy Lake and its mouth, much of its length is spent going through Cheakamus Canyon, where the river flows through swift rapids and even one good sized waterfall. The river flows south from the lake and through the canyon before joining the Squamish River at Cheekye
, a few miles north of the town of Squamish
. The river's name is an anglicization of the name of Chiyakmesh
("people of the fish weir"), a village of the Skwxwu7mesh people and a reserve of the Squamish Nation.
The c. 70 km (c.44 mi) length of the Cheakamus is followed by British Columbia Highway 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Highway and the British Columbia Railway. The Cheakamus is a whitewater rafting and kayaking
route, and is known for its steelhead and salmon
fishing. Much of the flow of the upper Cheakamus is diverted from Daisy Lake beneath the mountains to the west to the Cheakamus Powerhouse on the Squamish River. Notable just north of Daisy Lake is Brandywine Falls
. The Nordic events complex of the 2010 Winter Olympics
is to be located on Callaghan Creek, a tributary of the Cheakamus just upstream from Brandywine Creek
.
Six years, a local Vancouver News channel reported on the return of the fish to the river. Stay tuned...
Squamish River
The Squamish River is a short but very large river in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its drainage basin is in size. The total length of the Squamish River is approximately .-Course:...
, beginning on the west slopes of Outlier Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park, also called Garibaldi Park, is a wilderness park located in British Columbia, Canada, about 70 kilometres north of Vancouver. The park is located to the east of the Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler and covers an area of over 1,950 square kilometres...
upstream from Cheakamus Lake
Cheakamus Lake
Cheakamus Lake is a lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park on the southeastern outskirts of the resort municipality of Whistler, British Columbia. It has an area of 5.7 km²...
on the southeastern outskirts of the resort area of Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
. The river flows into Cheakamus Lake before exiting it and flowing northwest until it turns south and enters Daisy Lake. Between the outlet of Daisy Lake and its mouth, much of its length is spent going through Cheakamus Canyon, where the river flows through swift rapids and even one good sized waterfall. The river flows south from the lake and through the canyon before joining the Squamish River at Cheekye
Cheekye
Cheekye is an unincorporated locality on the Cheakamus River just upstream from its confluence with its parent stream, the Squamish, and just north of Brackendale, British Columbia, which is part of the District of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada....
, a few miles north of the town of Squamish
Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway...
. The river's name is an anglicization of the name of Chiyakmesh
Chiyakmesh
Chiyakmesh is a village/community of the Indigenous Sḵwxwú7mesh, located near Squamish, British Columbia. The name of the Cheakamus River comes from the name of this village, which is located on Cheakamus Indian Reserve No. 11. Chiyakamesh translates into People of the Fish Weir. A chiyak is a...
("people of the fish weir"), a village of the Skwxwu7mesh people and a reserve of the Squamish Nation.
The c. 70 km (c.44 mi) length of the Cheakamus is followed by British Columbia Highway 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Highway and the British Columbia Railway. The Cheakamus is a whitewater rafting and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
route, and is known for its steelhead and salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
fishing. Much of the flow of the upper Cheakamus is diverted from Daisy Lake beneath the mountains to the west to the Cheakamus Powerhouse on the Squamish River. Notable just north of Daisy Lake is Brandywine Falls
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located adjacent to BC Highway 99 between Garibaldi and Whistler, British Columbia....
. The Nordic events complex of the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
is to be located on Callaghan Creek, a tributary of the Cheakamus just upstream from Brandywine Creek
Brandywine Creek (British Columbia)
Brandywine Creek, also formerly known as the Long John River after a local prospector and trapper, is a tributary of the Cheakamus River in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, entering that stream via Daisy Lake, just below Brandywine Falls...
.
Largest Tributaries
- Callaghan Creek
- Brandywine CreekBrandywine Creek (British Columbia)Brandywine Creek, also formerly known as the Long John River after a local prospector and trapper, is a tributary of the Cheakamus River in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, entering that stream via Daisy Lake, just below Brandywine Falls...
- Cheekye RiverCheekye RiverThe Cheekye River is a river in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It flows west into the Cheakamus River and north of Squamish.-References:...
Cheakamus River derailment
On August 5, 2005, a long Canadian National train, heading inland from Brackendale, derailed and nine empty lumber flat cars along with one tank car of sodium hydroxide crashed off the main bridge, falling into the river. The tank car spilled its contents into the river, killing an estimated 500,000+ fish.Six years, a local Vancouver News channel reported on the return of the fish to the river. Stay tuned...
See also
- The BarrierThe BarrierThe Barrier is a lava dam retaining the Garibaldi Lake system in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is over 300 m in thickness and about 2 km wide where it impounds the lake....
- Cheakamus Valley basaltsCheakamus Valley basaltsThe Cheakamus Valley basalts are a sequence of basaltic lava flows at the Cheakamus River in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the Garibaldi section of the Cascade Volcanic Arc and were produced during an episode of volcanic eruptions from an unknown vent...
- List of British Columbia rivers
- Mount Cayley volcanic fieldMount Cayley volcanic fieldThe Mount Cayley volcanic field is a remote volcanic zone on the South Coast of British Columbia, Canada, stretching from the Pemberton Icefield to the Squamish River. It forms a segment of the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt, the Canadian portion of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, which extends from Northern...