 Dinosaur Bones, JF Bergeron photo
First Nations Tumbler Ridge's human history began thousands of years ago when Aboriginal peoples used the land for hunting and fishing. Given the area's mountainous terrain, it is assumed that First Nations would have established seasonal summer camps in the area.
European Exploration Oddly, while Tumbler Ridge was explored by Europeans more recently than other areas of Northern British Columbia, there is fairly limited information about such exploration. Explorer Samuel Prescott Fay led an expedition in 1914 to Tumbler Ridge, recording information about the terrain, including Kinuseo Falls and Gwillim Lake. Victor Peck, a trapper, was the first settler to live in the area with his wife and four children. In 1922 Alex Monkman identified Monkman Pass as a potential route across the Rocky Mountains. He lobbied unsuccessfully to have a railway built through the pass, and resolved to build the route himself. In 1937 the Monkman Pass Highway Association blazed the trail through the mountains, but the British Columbia government halted work due to World War II. Today, this historic route can be explored by car or on an extensive wilderness hike. Tumbler Ridge Today  Wandering through Tumbler Ridge today, enjoy a sense of quiet community. All necessary amenities are within easy walking distance and a network of trails interconnect neighborhoods. Tumbler Ridge's main livelihood is from coal and oil and gas resource extraction, as well as some forestry. The population actually fluctuates as market prices for coal and oil and gas shift. Stop by the Tumbler Ridge Visitor Centre for more information about the culture and history of the town.
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