Trout Creek Canyon
Glacial meltwater flowing out of the Trout Creek watershed cut a deep canyon through granite (Jurassic age, 206 - 140 Ma) bedrock. It is likely that this canyon had been initiated in previous glaciations as well. The canyon is crossed by the Trout Creek Trestle on the Kettle Valley Railway line. Walking out on the trestle provides excellent views down into the canyon.
Material eroded in the canyon and upstream has been transported down to the alluvial fan of Trout Creek. Trout Creek has been channelized from where it emerges from the canyon to where it discharges into Okanagan Lake. During the melt of the last glaciation, sand and gravel was transported down Trout Creek and deposited above the level of the current fan. This material differs from the glacial lake sediments found nearby, and underlies a portion of the Pacific Agrifoods Research Centre (PARC) and can be observed from Highway 97.
Great views into the canyon and trestle are available from the Summerland Ornamental Gardens which are accessed from Highway 97 at PARC.
References
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.) 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p.132-133
Material eroded in the canyon and upstream has been transported down to the alluvial fan of Trout Creek. Trout Creek has been channelized from where it emerges from the canyon to where it discharges into Okanagan Lake. During the melt of the last glaciation, sand and gravel was transported down Trout Creek and deposited above the level of the current fan. This material differs from the glacial lake sediments found nearby, and underlies a portion of the Pacific Agrifoods Research Centre (PARC) and can be observed from Highway 97.
Great views into the canyon and trestle are available from the Summerland Ornamental Gardens which are accessed from Highway 97 at PARC.
References
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.) 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p.132-133