Eakin Creek drains many of the local small lakes down off the Cariboo Plateau and into the North Thompson River (which flows into the Fraser River and on to the sea at Vancouver). The first road up onto the Cariboo Plateau from Little Fort was built along a route which parallels Eakin Creek. Prior to that there had been an old “grease trail” established by aboriginal traders and subsequently used by pack trains, but that route was steep and unsuitable for development into a road.
The old road was eventually replaced by BC Highway 24, but it is still maintained, after a fashion, and used by loggers, hunters, adventurous tourists and photographers.
Since the Eakin Creek Road is one of my favourite routes to take looking for interesting photographs, images of Eakin Creek and of other creeks and rivulets feeding into it, feature large in my gallery.
Unfortunately, the scenic nature of the Eakin Creek Road has recently (Fall, 2014/Winter, 2015) been entirely destroyed, except for the small portion in the protected provincial park, by the actions of the BC Forest Service, the Kamloops Forest District and loggers. A wonderful gem has been turned into the equivalent of a WWI battlefield by the greed of the provincial government and the logging industry. It will not be restored to its former beauty in my lifetime or the lifetime of anyone living today. Hang your heads in shame you faceless bureaucrats and greedy loggers!
Click on any photo below to see a larger version.
Eakin Creek Road – More Images
The Eakin Creek Road does not follow the creek to its confluence with Lemieux Creek, because, as it nears its end, Eakin Creek flows over a waterfall and through a narrow canyon. Instead the road joins Highway 24 higher up. However, the canyon and waterfall, now included in the Eakin Creek Canyon Provincial Park, can be reached by a short scrambly trail which leads off Highway 24, just before Eakin Creek flows into Lemieux Creek and Highway 24 reaches the bottom of the plateau.
Derek Chambers Photography 