The Similkameen Valley

B.C. is divided up into different region, and these regions can differ depending on what source you use. I am using one of my geology books from university, “Geography of British Columbia, People and Landscapes in Transition” by Brett McGillivray. He has the Okanagan region butting up against the Lower Mainland region at Hope going east through Manning Park to just the other side of Osoyoos. The south is bordered by the U.S., and up to the north to Armstrong and Mable Lake. So, the Similkameen Valley is included within this region. The Okanagan Valley falls between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east.

The Similkameen Valley is hot and dry in the summer, and relatively cold in the winter. The Similkameen river’s headwaters start at Nordheim Peak on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Manning Park. Highway 3 “The Crowsnest” was built along the river valley, from Hope, through Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos, Cawston and down towards the U.S. border where the river exits Canada near the Nighthawk border crossing into Washington, and the highway continues east to Osoyoos and beyond to Alberta. The Tulameen river also starts in Manning Park at Punchbowl lake in the northern part of the Cascade Mountains, and joins the Similkameen river in Princeton. This area is a year round destination; in winter for skiing and other winter sports and summer for hiking, camping, and fishing. The valley is also a great fruit growing region with many orchards and wineries. There are many lakes to explore from valley bottoms up to alpine areas.