Mahood River
Encyclopedia
The Mahood River is a river
in the northern Shuswap Highland
of the Central Interior of British Columbia
in Wells Gray Provincial Park
. It is 7 km (4.3 mi) long from its source at Mahood Lake
to its confluence with the Clearwater River
, a tributary of the North Thompson River. The Mahood River has cut a deep canyon into Cambrian rocks and Pleistocene glacial moraines.
The Mahood River drops over two waterfalls. Sylvia Falls is 20 m (66 ft) high and 90 m (295 ft) wide and cascades across a glacial moraine. The falls is noticeably eroding upstream and changing its appearance faster than other waterfalls in the park, since glacial deposits are fairly soft. Only 100 m (328 ft) downstream is Goodwin Falls which is 10 m (33 ft) high and 60 m (197 ft) wide.
in this area in 1872. The Mahood River and the Canim River
, which feeds Mahood Lake from Canim Lake
, were both originally named as part of Bridge Creek
. They were renamed in 1941 and the name 'Bridge Creek' was retained only for the stream that flows into Canim Lake.
Both Sylvia Falls and Goodwin Falls were named by photographer and author, Chess Lyons
. In 1940, six months after Wells Gray Park was created, he was assigned by the B.C. Forest Service to explore and map the area. The Minister of Lands, Hon. Arthur Wellesley Gray, presented Lyons with a list of friends he wanted used in the naming of places in the park. Lyons thought this was inappropriate because he believed that place names should honor people who had been directly involved with the park such as pioneers, prospectors and trappers. However, orders had to be obeyed, so each time he passed a swamp, he dutifully assigned one of Gray’s names. However, each time he came upon a sizable creek, a waterfall or a peak he pulled his own carefully researched list from his backpack. Needless to say, Gray’s names have been lost to time, except for one - Goodwin Falls. Thirty years after his survey, Lyons commented to Helen and Philip Akrigg (British Columbia’s place name experts), “I had to hang a few names on, and Goodwin was some friend of Wells Gray. I think that was the most prominent thing named in the Park because I figured I would lead him astray with one thing while I named little insignificant things after the others that would all be forgotten. I have no idea who Goodwin was.” For many years, the origin of the Goodwin Falls name did remain a mystery and neither the B.C. Provincial Archives nor the Geographical Names Office could provide any clue about Goodwin. The puzzle was eventually solved by the Akriggs who learned from Gray’s niece that Walter Goodwin was a Spokane, Washington, dentist who had done some work on Gray's teeth the year before. By this chance association, he became memorialized in Wells Gray Park. The only other exception to Lyons' list of locals was Sylvia Falls which he named for his wife.
on the Yellowhead Highway
follows the west bank of the Clearwater River for 37.9 km (23.6 mi) and ends at the confluence of the Mahood River and Clearwater River. A primitive campsite is located here. A trail follows the south bank of the Mahood River upstream for 3.5 km (2.2 mi) to Sylvia and Goodwin Falls, about a one-hour walk. The bottom and top of Sylvia Falls are easily accessible, but Goodwin Falls requires some bushwhacking. The trail, in poor condition, continues on to Mahood Lake, a hike of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) that takes about 1.5 hours. The only other access to Mahood River is by boat from Mahood Lake Campground at the west end.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the northern Shuswap Highland
Shuswap Highland
The Shuswap Highland is a plateau-like hilly area of in British Columbia, Canada. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte and Thompson Plateaus from the area of Mahood Lake, at the southeast corner of the Cariboo Plateau, southeast towards the lower Shuswap River east of Vernon in the...
of the Central 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...
in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park is a large wilderness park located in east-central British Columbia, Canada. The park protects most of the southern, and highest, regions of the Cariboo Mountains and covers 5,250 square kilometres...
. It is 7 km (4.3 mi) long from its source at Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake is a lake in the South Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia in Wells Gray Provincial Park. It is drained by the Mahood River, a tributary of the Clearwater River which has cut a deep canyon into Cambrian rocks and Pleistocene glacial moraines...
to its confluence with the Clearwater River
Clearwater River (British Columbia)
The Clearwater River is the largest tributary of the North Thompson River, joining it at the community of Clearwater, British Columbia. The Clearwater rises from glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains and flows in a mostly southerly direction for to the North Thompson. Its entire course, except the...
, a tributary of the North Thompson River. The Mahood River has cut a deep canyon into Cambrian rocks and Pleistocene glacial moraines.
The Mahood River drops over two waterfalls. Sylvia Falls is 20 m (66 ft) high and 90 m (295 ft) wide and cascades across a glacial moraine. The falls is noticeably eroding upstream and changing its appearance faster than other waterfalls in the park, since glacial deposits are fairly soft. Only 100 m (328 ft) downstream is Goodwin Falls which is 10 m (33 ft) high and 60 m (197 ft) wide.
Origin of names
Nearby Mahood Lake and, later, the Mahood Falls community were named after James Adam Mahood who was in charge of a Canadian Pacific Railway surveyCanadian Pacific Survey
The Canadian Pacific Survey or Canadian Pacific Railway Survey consisted of a large number of distinct geographical surveys conducted during the 1870s and 1880s designed to determine the ideal route of the Canadian Pacific Railway...
in this area in 1872. The Mahood River and the Canim River
Canim River
The Canim River is a river in the South Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It begins at the outlet of Canim Lake and runs approximately 1.8km to Canim Falls, the river then continues approximately 9 kilometres via a canyon cut into a lava plateau, to Mahood Lake."Canim"...
, which feeds Mahood Lake from Canim Lake
Canim Lake (British Columbia)
Canim Lake is a lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of 100 Mile House.-Provincial parks around Canim Lake:*Canim Beach Provincial Park*Roserim Creek Provincial Park*Wells Gray Provincial Park...
, were both originally named as part of Bridge Creek
Bridge Creek (British Columbia)
Bridge Creek is a creek in the South Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its meandering course across the Cariboo Plateau is approximately 85 kilometres in length, beginning at Bridge Lake and running roughly westwards to the town of 100 Mile House and from there turning...
. They were renamed in 1941 and the name 'Bridge Creek' was retained only for the stream that flows into Canim Lake.
Both Sylvia Falls and Goodwin Falls were named by photographer and author, Chess Lyons
C. P. Lyons
Chester Peter "Chess" Lyons was a Canadian outdoorsman and natural historian. The author of several books on the flora and landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Lyons is best known for his popular and widely-cited botanical field guides.- Bibliography :Milestones on the Mighty Fraser .Trees, Shrubs...
. In 1940, six months after Wells Gray Park was created, he was assigned by the B.C. Forest Service to explore and map the area. The Minister of Lands, Hon. Arthur Wellesley Gray, presented Lyons with a list of friends he wanted used in the naming of places in the park. Lyons thought this was inappropriate because he believed that place names should honor people who had been directly involved with the park such as pioneers, prospectors and trappers. However, orders had to be obeyed, so each time he passed a swamp, he dutifully assigned one of Gray’s names. However, each time he came upon a sizable creek, a waterfall or a peak he pulled his own carefully researched list from his backpack. Needless to say, Gray’s names have been lost to time, except for one - Goodwin Falls. Thirty years after his survey, Lyons commented to Helen and Philip Akrigg (British Columbia’s place name experts), “I had to hang a few names on, and Goodwin was some friend of Wells Gray. I think that was the most prominent thing named in the Park because I figured I would lead him astray with one thing while I named little insignificant things after the others that would all be forgotten. I have no idea who Goodwin was.” For many years, the origin of the Goodwin Falls name did remain a mystery and neither the B.C. Provincial Archives nor the Geographical Names Office could provide any clue about Goodwin. The puzzle was eventually solved by the Akriggs who learned from Gray’s niece that Walter Goodwin was a Spokane, Washington, dentist who had done some work on Gray's teeth the year before. By this chance association, he became memorialized in Wells Gray Park. The only other exception to Lyons' list of locals was Sylvia Falls which he named for his wife.
Access
A rough road from ClearwaterClearwater, British Columbia
Clearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, north of Kamloops. The largest community in the valley, with a population of 4,960, Clearwater is predominantly employed by the forestry industry. Tourism is also a major industry, with Wells Gray...
on the Yellowhead Highway
Yellowhead Highway
The Yellowhead Highway is a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, the highway should not be confused with the more southerly, originally-designated...
follows the west bank of the Clearwater River for 37.9 km (23.6 mi) and ends at the confluence of the Mahood River and Clearwater River. A primitive campsite is located here. A trail follows the south bank of the Mahood River upstream for 3.5 km (2.2 mi) to Sylvia and Goodwin Falls, about a one-hour walk. The bottom and top of Sylvia Falls are easily accessible, but Goodwin Falls requires some bushwhacking. The trail, in poor condition, continues on to Mahood Lake, a hike of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) that takes about 1.5 hours. The only other access to Mahood River is by boat from Mahood Lake Campground at the west end.