Birken, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Birken is an unincorporated community, located at Birken Lake
in the Gates Valley
of the Lillooet Country
in the Southern Interior of British Columbia
, Canada
, approximately midway in the route known as the Long Portage or Pemberton Pass
, which connects the Pemberton Valley
to the Fraser Canyon
via Anderson and Seton Lake
s via the Seton River
. Birken, and Birken Lake (officially Gates Lake), are at the summit of that pass, which was part of the important Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
-era route known as the Douglas Road
.
Birken's name is derived from that of the Birkenhead River
and adjacent Birkenhead Peak
(aka Mount Birkenhead, or Mount Birken), which overlooks the settlement and lake from the northwest.
Located at Birken are the Birkenhead Lodge, just by the lake and adjoining train station, and the Whispering Falls Resort, just northeast.
Birken Lake
Gates Lake, also known as Birken Lake, Tenass Lake, Halfway Lake, and Summit Lake, is a small lake located at the summit of the Pemberton Portage area of the one-time Lakes Route through the Coast Mountains, located at the summit of a low pass connecting the Upper and Lower Lillooet Country of the...
in the Gates Valley
Gates Valley
The Gates Valley is a valley and group of communities in the Lillooet Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, located between the summit of Pemberton Pass and the head of Anderson Lake at the community of D'Arcy...
of the Lillooet Country
Lillooet Country
The Lillooet Country, also referred to as the Lillooet District., is a region spanning from the central Fraser Canyon town of Lillooet west to the valley of the Lillooet River, and including the valleys in between, in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Like other historical BC regions, it...
in the Southern Interior of British Columbia
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
, 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...
, approximately midway in the route known as the Long Portage or Pemberton Pass
Pemberton Pass
Pemberton Pass, , also formerly known as Mosquito Pass, is the lowest point on the divide between the Lillooet and Fraser River drainages, located at Birken, British Columbia, Canada, in the principal valley connecting and between Pemberton and Lillooet...
, which connects the Pemberton Valley
Pemberton Valley
The Pemberton Valley is a valley flanking the Lillooet River upstream from Lillooet Lake, including the communities of Mount Currie, Pemberton, British Columbia and the agricultural district surrounding them and flanking the river as far upstream as the Pemberton Meadows area...
to the Fraser Canyon
Fraser Canyon
The Fraser Canyon is an 84 km landform of the Fraser River where it descends rapidly through narrow rock gorges in the Coast Mountains en route from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia to the Fraser Valley...
via Anderson and Seton Lake
Seton Lake
Seton Lake is a freshwater fjord draining east via the Seton River into the Fraser River at the town of Lillooet, British Columbia, about 22 km long and 243 m in elevation and 26.2 square kilometres in area...
s via the Seton River
Seton River
The Seton River is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia.-Course:The Seton River originates at the foot of Anderson Lake and runs initially for only 3km to the head of Seton Lake...
. Birken, and Birken Lake (officially Gates Lake), are at the summit of that pass, which was part of the important Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River. This was a few miles upstream from the Thompson's confluence with the Fraser River at present-day Lytton...
-era route known as the Douglas Road
Douglas Road
The Douglas Road, aka the Lillooet Trail, Harrison Trail or Lakes Route, was a goldrush-era transportation route from the British Columbia Coast to the Interior...
.
Birken's name is derived from that of the Birkenhead River
Birkenhead River
The Birkenhead River, formerly known as the Portage River, the Pole River and the Mosquito River, is a major tributary of the Lillooet River, which via Harrison Lake and the Harrison River is one of the major tributaries of the lower Fraser River...
and adjacent Birkenhead Peak
Birkenhead Peak
Birkenhead Peak, commonly known as Mount Birkenhead and sometimes Birkenhead Mountain and also Mount Birken, 2506 m prominence: 1781 m, is a mountain in the Gates Valley region of the Lillooet Country of the South-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
(aka Mount Birkenhead, or Mount Birken), which overlooks the settlement and lake from the northwest.
Located at Birken are the Birkenhead Lodge, just by the lake and adjoining train station, and the Whispering Falls Resort, just northeast.