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Popkum
Popkum refers to a small, unincorporated community that is 16 km
(10 miles) east of Chilliwack and 37
km (23 miles) west of Hope on the Trans-Canada
Hwy 1.
Puff
Ball Plants
The word 'Popkum' comes from the local Halkomelem aboriginal word,
Pópkw'em. This word was referring to all the 'puff balls'
coming from the plants that grow throughout the Popkum and Fraser
River area.
Popkum
First Nation
Popkum is the traditional lands of the Popkum First Nation, a member
of the Sto:lo Nation. The Popkum First Nations have two reserves
of about 150 hectares in size located 3 km (2 miles) north of Bridal
Falls on the Fraser River.
Fraser
Valley Regional District
Popkum itself is divided into various parts - Bridal Falls, East
and West Popkum, plus two native reserves, Popkum IR #1 and Popkum
IR #2. Popkum is administrated and included in the Fraser Valley
Regional District. The small community of Rosedale
is located on the north side of Trans-Canada Hwy 1 on Yale Road.
Bridal
Veil Falls
Popkum has a beautiful view towards Mount Cheam and a waterfall
called Bridal Veil Falls which cascades down it. This waterfall,
which is Canada's sixth highest, resembles a bride's veil and was
once the site of an ancient First Nation village of Popkum and for
protection was later made into Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park
in 1965.
Attractions
Besides the day-use, Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park has a number
of tourist attractions at the Bridal Veil Falls section of Popkum.
Here you can find Bridal Falls Water Park, a water park which features
the famous 125-metre (400-foot) Black Hole slide, Bridal Falls Bumper
Boats, Adrenaline Paintball and Popkum Motor Park which features
an off-road recreational vehicle park (ORV).
Cheam
Lake Wetlands Regional Park
For exploring around Popkum, you can go to the Cheam Lake Wetlands
Regional Park located near Rosedale. Cheam Lake has some bird and
wildlife watching opportunities throughout a 93-hectares (230-acres)
marshy wetland situated off the north side of Trans-Canada Hwy 1.
Take Yale Road to Popkum Road North, then travel to Elgey Road and
turn left and travel to the end.
Minter
Gardens
Also located on Yale Road is Minter Gardens, one of British Columbia's
premier destinations for lovers of outdoor gardens and flower displays.
Operated by Brian Minter and family, this attraction can offer so
much inspiration and guidance when designing gardens. If you enjoyed
the Butchart Gardens near Victoria
in Central
Saanich, make sure you plan to see Minter Gardens when visiting
Popkum.
Golf
There are two courses to choose from near Popkum. You can either
play the 9-hole Bridal Falls Golf Club or the 18-hole at The Falls
Golf and Country Club that is situated on Nixon Road in Rosedale.
Coming along the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 from either Vancouver
or Hope, take Exit 129 (Annis Road) to Hack Brown Road then Nixon
Road.
Outdoor
Activities
Other outdoor activities around Popkum include travelling into the
steep backcountry road by motorcycle or 4x4 up in behind Mount Cheam
to Wahleach Lake, a BC Hydro Reservoir used for power generation;
soaring off Lower or Upper Bridal Falls in a hang glider and fishing
for cutthroat trout or sturgeon at Popkum Bar near Cattermole Slough
on the Fraser River.
Bridal
Falls Travel Centre
If you need any directions, fuel or something to eat, visit the
Bridal Falls Travel Centre at Popkum right on the Trans-Canada Hwy
1. The Bridal Falls Travel Centre features a Shell Service Station,
Rancher's Restaurant, two gift shops, a mineral museum and a small
grocery store.
RV
Camping
Most of the RV Camping in Popkum is situated around or near Bridal
Veil Falls. Here you can find Rainbow Ranch RV Park, which is next
to Dusty's Dinotown and owned by Bridal Falls Travel Centre and
Camperland which is centrally located and affiliated with Holiday
Trails Resort.
Bridal
Fall Motel
For other accommodation, there is the nearby Bridal Fall Motel which
is centrally located next to Camperland which features really large
modern units, easy walk-to attractions and a nice swimming pool.
Telephone: (604) 794-7710.
Information
on Popkum
First
Nations
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