Fort Nelson River - History

History

The river has a rich history. The Dene and Sekani First Nations used it for food and trade. The river itself is named for the town of Fort Nelson, established in 1805 by the North West Company as a fur trading post near the river's junction with the Muskwa River. With Fort Nelson's relocation to the west following the construction of the Alaska Highway in the 1940s, there are no longer any major communities along this river.

The Fort Nelson River is formed at the confluence of Sikanni Chief River and Fontas River, at an elevation of 360 metres (1,180 ft). It flows north-west and north, while the course is paralleled by BC Rail tracks north of Fontas. It receives waters from the Elleh Creek and Klua Creek, then follows a north-west direction, a short distance from Andy Bailey Provincial Park. It turns again north near Fort Nelson, where the Muskwa River flows into the Fort Nelson River.

Further north it receives the McConachie Creek, Cridland Creek and Sahtaneh River, which also carries waters from the Snake River. It then turns north-west and west, where it receives the Shush Creek, Onion Creek, Tsimeh Creek, Stanolind Creek and Kiwigana River. It is then crossed by the Liard Highway and continues westwards, receiving waters from Tsoo Creek, Etane Creek, Obole Creek and Capot-Blanc Creek. It flows into the Liard River at Nelson Forks, at an elevation of 260 metres (850 ft).

Its waters are carried through the Liard River and Mackenzie River into the Arctic Ocean.