Ponderosa Pine at Bull River Crossing

Ponderosa pine on the trail north from the old Bull River crossing bridge in 1883 (George Dawson, National Archives of Canada PA-196655) and the same location in October, 2026 (CW-Iphone-7620). 

Dawson was clearly impressed by this large “yellow pine” that stood above the trail as it traversed up the small ridge on the north side of the short canyon about 1 km upstream of the present highway bridge. Today a few large pine still occupy this dry south facing slope, but small to medium Douglas-fir are much more common.  Surprisingly, given the amount of land use in the area over the last century, the trail’s location has not changed.  

See other photographs on the upper Kootenay 

See other photographs on the upper Columbia