Sumallo River facts for kids
The Sumallo River is a cool river in southern British Columbia, Canada. It flows through the beautiful Cascade Mountains, which are east of a town called Hope. This river starts high up on the eastern side of Mount Payne, a mountain found south of a small community called Sunshine Valley.
The Sumallo River first flows north towards Sunshine Valley. When it reaches the valley, it changes direction and turns southeast. It then enters Manning Park, a large and popular park. Inside the park, the river continues its journey southeast, running right next to Highway 3. Finally, the Sumallo River joins the Skagit River at the northern edge of Skagit Valley Provincial Park, which is northeast of Marmot Mountain.
What's in a Name?
How the Sumallo River Got Its Name
The name Sumallo has an interesting history! It comes from the word Semall-á-ow. This word was shared with a person named Alexander Caulfield Anderson in 1846. He was on a trip through the North Cascades mountains, and his guide, who was from the Nlaka'pamux people, told him the word.
It's thought that Semall-á-ow might be a word from the Nlaka'pamuctsin language, which is spoken by the Nlaka'pamux people. It's not a word from the Halkomelem language, which is spoken by other local Indigenous groups in the area. So, the name connects the river to the rich history and languages of the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia.
