Cadwallader Creek facts for kids

Cadwallader Creek is a cool creek in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It's a special stream because it flows through an area famous for gold mining. This creek is a "tributary," which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river. Cadwallader Creek flows into the Hurley River.

What is Cadwallader Creek?

Cadwallader Creek is less than 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) long. It's located in a beautiful part of British Columbia called the Bridge River Country. This area is known for its rugged mountains and rich history.

Where Does the Creek Flow?

The creek starts high up in the mountains. As it flows, other smaller streams join it. One of these is Noel Creek, which meets Cadwallader Creek near the town of Bralorne. Just a bit further downstream from Bralorne, Cadwallader Creek joins the bigger Hurley River.

The Hurley River then flows through a long canyon before it meets the Bridge River. The town of Gold Bridge is located near where the Hurley and Bridge Rivers meet.

Another small stream called Standard Creek also flows into Cadwallader Creek. This area is connected to McGillvray Pass, which leads to Anderson Lake and the small town of McGillivray Falls. Long ago, people thought about building a special train track, called a cog railway, to connect the mines to McGillivray Falls, but it was never built.

Creek and Mountain Ranges

Cadwallader Creek also helps to mark the edges of some big mountain ranges. It forms the southwestern border of the Bendor Range. On its western side, the creek separates the Bendor Range from the Noel Range and the Birkenhead Ranges.

How Did Cadwallader Creek Get its Name?

The creek is named after a man named Evan Cadwallader. He was from Wales, a country in the United Kingdom. Evan Cadwallader was an important person in the early history of this area.

Evan Cadwallader's Story

Evan Cadwallader came to British Columbia a long time ago. In 1862, he built a sawmill in a town called Lillooet. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber.

Later, in 1865, Evan Cadwallader helped guide a group of Italian miners through the valley where the creek flows. These miners were likely looking for gold, which was a big deal in British Columbia during that time. The name "Cadwallader" itself has a long history, coming from a medieval Welsh king named Cadwaladr who lived around 655 to 682 AD.

Why is Cadwallader Creek Important?

Cadwallader Creek is most famous because it was home to some very important gold mines. These included the Bralorne Mine and the Pioneer Mine. These mines were a big part of British Columbia's history and helped the area grow.

Gold Mining History

The discovery of gold brought many people to the Bridge River Country. Miners worked hard to find gold in the ground and along the creek. The Bralorne and Pioneer Mines were some of the largest and most successful gold mines in Canada for many years. They created jobs and helped build the towns in the area, like Bralorne and Gold Bridge. Even though the big mines are no longer active, the history of gold mining is still a very important part of the Cadwallader Creek story.