Cheakamus River, Mountain brook in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, Canada
The Cheakamus River is a river in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, originating at McBride Glacier and flowing through Garibaldi Provincial Park before joining the Squamish River. Along its course, it passes through forests, lakes, and open valley sections.
The river was carved over thousands of years by glacial activity, which also shaped the lakes and valley it passes through today. A railway accident in 2005 released chemicals into the water and caused serious damage to the local fish population, from which the river took years to recover.
The river's name comes from Chiyakmesh, a word from the Squamish language that reflects the long relationship between the local indigenous people and this waterway. Along certain stretches, visitors can notice traces of that connection in place names and interpretive signs posted near the banks.
The river is easy to reach via British Columbia Highway 99, with parking available along Cheakamus Lake Road and nearby pullouts. Trails and water access are generally more manageable during the drier summer months.
At one point, the river flows through an extinct volcanic crater that now holds Logger's Lake, a natural basin where swimming is possible in warmer months. Most visitors are surprised to learn that the lake they are swimming in sits inside a former volcanic structure.
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