 Princeton Hoodoos, Laurie Carter photo
Topography and Terrain Rolling dry grassland, which is ideal rangeland for cattle and horse ranching, rises from the valley to the forested highlands of the Thompson Plateau where myriad small lakes attract trout fishers and outdoor enthusiasts. Lower elevation forests are composed of aspen, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, while Engleman spruce, lodgepole pine and sub-alpine fir thrive at higher elevations where heavy winter snowpacks provide additional moisture.
Ochre Bluff and Hoodoos Mountainsides striped with ochre have been mined for thousands of years by the Similkameen First Nation, who used the red pigment to paint pictographs on rock walls around the region. The ochre was also a valuable trade good with other Aboriginal peoples. Ochre Bluff is located in a deep canyon where the Tulameen River has eroded the rock, exposing the ochre and also creating towering hoodoos.
Princeton Waterways The Tulameen River flows in from the northwest and joins the east-west oriented Similkameen River in Princeton. Both rivers carry large deposits of gravel coming down from the mountains each spring, bearing gold and platinum. The Tulameen is one of only two rivers in the world known to carry the two metals together.
Gold Panning Prospectors began panning these waterways in the 1800s, staking claims all along the shorelines. Some panners still find precious metals today.
Cascade Mountains Clearly visible from hillsides around Princeton, the snow-covered, sawtooth peaks of the North Cascades present a variety of different ecosystems for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. Manning Provincial Park (66.7km/41mi west) is the gateway to this natural resource.
Princeton Climate & Weather Princeton enjoys a sunny dry climate with four distinct seasons. Summer days are hot, with daily high temperatures averaging 28°C/82.4°F, while evenings cool off dramatically for good sleeping. Winters bring average temperatures around the -10°C/14°F mark. While snowfall is not heavy in the valley, it is significant in the high country. Overall annual precipitation in town averages 356mm/14in. In spring wildflowers carpet the dry hillsides and autumn transforms stands of aspen to shimmering gold.
|