Similkameen Falls
Encyclopedia
Similkameen Falls is a waterfall
in British Columbia
on the Similkameen River
located just below the mouth of the Pasayten River
and just above the mouth of Copper Creek
about 25 km upstream (south) from Princeton
.
The name Similkameen Falls is a rarely used alternate name for Coyote Falls, which is located further downstream in the state of Washington so sometimes this one is confused with Coyote.
. Huge walls of igneous rock
, some about 250 feet high, rise above the falls on both sides.
The first drop of the falls is a small but powerful 5 feet (1.5 m) chute. No more than 3 feet wide, the entire river is forced through it, so it is fairly powerful. At the end of the chute, the river plunges powerfully into a deep pool in a punchbowl form. Remains of an old bridge that used to cross the river directly above the first drop are evident when one looks at that portion of the falls.
After exiting the deep pool the first drop plunges into, the falls continue on as a consistent series of major rapids. There are no less than 3 spots where the river is forced into chaotic state, often as a result of boulders and other rock breaking off the cliffs above and falling into the river. The rapids do not go on for long though, as the river soon emerges from the other end of the canyon where it once again resumes a much calmer state.
. The uppermost portions are hidden from that point since the falls bend about 45 degrees shortly below the first drop. While it is possible to view them while passing by in a vehicle, the highway is very narrow at that point with no spot to pull off and park.
The falls can be viewed from the top of the cliffs on the north side of the river as well. If you pull over on the side of the highway shortly before it descends down to the river after ascending to avoid the falls, you can walk across a small grassy area and reach the edge of the cliffs which yields a perfect views of the falls which are about 250 feet below. If you slowly pick your way down a steep slope that drops toward the top half of the falls, you can reach good views of the uppermost drop and its respective pool, something that cannot be seen from the highway due to the bend in the canyon. There is an old pipe that leads down the slope; it likely crossed the river on the bridge that once spanned the first drop of the falls.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in 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...
on 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...
located just below the mouth of the Pasayten River
Pasayten River
The Pasayten River is a tributary of the Similkameen River, in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington.The Pasayten River is part of the Columbia River drainage basin, being a tributary of the Similkameen River, which flows into the Okanagan River, which flows...
and just above the mouth of Copper Creek
Copper Creek
Copper Creek can refer to several streams:*Copper Creek *Copper Creek *Copper Creek *Copper Creek...
about 25 km upstream (south) from 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...
.
The name Similkameen Falls is a rarely used alternate name for Coyote Falls, which is located further downstream in the state of Washington so sometimes this one is confused with Coyote.
Stature
Similkameen Falls actually resembles a major series of rapids more than a waterfall. Over a stretch of about 0.2 km, the river drops about 25 feet at the bottom of a canyonCanyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
. Huge walls of igneous rock
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
, some about 250 feet high, rise above the falls on both sides.
The first drop of the falls is a small but powerful 5 feet (1.5 m) chute. No more than 3 feet wide, the entire river is forced through it, so it is fairly powerful. At the end of the chute, the river plunges powerfully into a deep pool in a punchbowl form. Remains of an old bridge that used to cross the river directly above the first drop are evident when one looks at that portion of the falls.
After exiting the deep pool the first drop plunges into, the falls continue on as a consistent series of major rapids. There are no less than 3 spots where the river is forced into chaotic state, often as a result of boulders and other rock breaking off the cliffs above and falling into the river. The rapids do not go on for long though, as the river soon emerges from the other end of the canyon where it once again resumes a much calmer state.
Access
The bottom portions of the falls can be seen quite easily by looking upstream into the canyon from Highway 3Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
. The uppermost portions are hidden from that point since the falls bend about 45 degrees shortly below the first drop. While it is possible to view them while passing by in a vehicle, the highway is very narrow at that point with no spot to pull off and park.
The falls can be viewed from the top of the cliffs on the north side of the river as well. If you pull over on the side of the highway shortly before it descends down to the river after ascending to avoid the falls, you can walk across a small grassy area and reach the edge of the cliffs which yields a perfect views of the falls which are about 250 feet below. If you slowly pick your way down a steep slope that drops toward the top half of the falls, you can reach good views of the uppermost drop and its respective pool, something that cannot be seen from the highway due to the bend in the canyon. There is an old pipe that leads down the slope; it likely crossed the river on the bridge that once spanned the first drop of the falls.