Bulkley River facts for kids

The Bulkley River is an important river in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the larger Skeena River. The Bulkley River is about 257 kilometers (160 miles) long. It collects water from an area of about 12,400 square kilometers (4,788 square miles). This area is called its drainage basin.

The Bulkley River (left) flows into the Skeena River (right) near Hazelton, British Columbia.

Where Does the Bulkley River Flow?

The Bulkley River starts at Bulkley Lake. It flows west, passing by a small place called Perow. Near the town of Houston, another important river joins it. This is the Morice River, which is the Bulkley's biggest tributary.

After joining the Morice River, the Bulkley River turns north. It flows past several towns like Quick, Telkwa, and Smithers. Finally, the Bulkley River meets the Skeena River close to Hazelton. A main road, Highway 16, runs alongside much of the Bulkley River.

Why is the Bulkley River Important?

The Bulkley River is a popular spot for people who love to fish. Many anglers, or fishers, come here to catch wild steelhead. Steelhead are a type of rainbow trout that live in the ocean and then swim up rivers to lay their eggs.

How Did the Bulkley River Get Its Name?

The Wet'suwet'en people are the original inhabitants of the Bulkley Valley. They called the river Wet'sinkwha, which means "blue and green river." This name describes the beautiful colors of the water.

Later, the river was named after Colonel Charles S. Bulkley. He was an engineer from the U.S. Army. In 1866, Colonel Bulkley led a team to explore the area. They were preparing for a big project called the Russian American Telegraph. This project aimed to build a telegraph line from North America to Europe through Russia. However, the project was stopped because a new telegraph cable was successfully laid across the Atlantic Ocean in 1866.

The Mystery of the Morice River

There's an interesting story about how the Bulkley River is named. A smaller stream called the Little Bulkley flows through Houston. It joins the Morice River just west of Houston. At this meeting point, the combined river becomes the Bulkley River, even though the Morice River is actually larger.

People say this decision was made by a government mapmaker named Poudrier. It's rumored that he never actually saw the area in person!