Campbell Creek runs through Barnhartvale, then down through the hills, right past the BC Wildlife Park, then out to the river.   But where does the water come from, and what route does it take?

Campbell Creek’s origins are in the hills near Lac le Jeune and in the hills along Highway 5A.   The longest creek to feed the collection point – Napier Lake – is in the hills near Lac le Jeune, the marshes, ponds, lakes, and gullies near Bute Lakes, flowing downhill to the southeast in Droppingwater Creek.

From the south slopes of Hull Hill to the end of Napier Lake is about 18 km.   The lake is also filled with seasonal streams from both the east and the west.   Napier Lake drains through a marshy area to Richie Lake, then into Trapp Lake.

In spring we can see the water flowing into Napier then between the lakes as the creek flows through pastures on private ranching lands.   By summer this is more of a slow seep between bodies of water, but they are recharged after each rainfall.

Near the south end of Trapp Lake a stream enters from the Brigade Lake area, draining the eastern slopes of Hull Hill.  Trapp Lake is a longer narrow lake, a reservoir for irrigation, but not for fishing.

At the north end of Trapp Lake another creek enters from the east – Bleeker Creek.   Roche Lake, Bleeker Lake, Frisken Lake, Bulman Lake, Black Lake, Hosli Lake, John Frank Lake, Tulip Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Rose Lake. Ernst Lake, Provos Lake, Bog Lake, Smith Lake, and many ponds and marshes all drain into Bleeker Creek.

The stream that drains from Trapp Lake to Shumway Lake through the pasture is now called Campbell Creek.   Shumway Lake is also long and narrow and acts as a reservoir for ranching/farming, but is also the home to a Regional Paddling Center.

At the north end of Shumway Lake, Anderson Creek runs down from Cardew Hill to join Campbell Creek.  Anderson Creek starts in the McConnell Lake – Bush Lakes area and drains northeast, joined by streams from the north side of Hull Hill, then runs through Hull Lake and receives water from McLeod Lake before swinging to the southeast.

Campbell Creek runs for 17 km east-northeast in the Campbell Creek Valley, running through farm/pasture lands all the way to Barnhartvale, crossing under Banrhartvale Road by the Hall.   The final 5 km runs down the hill below the golf course, through the newly developed  Campbell Creek community, past the Wildlife Park, under the Trans Canada highway, past the old site of a railway station (Campbell Creek Junction) and into the South Thompson River.

Before contact this was the site of a Secwepemc village fishing site.

The old abandoned hops processing plant near the creek is still standing.   On the river side of the plant are a number of old homes that once housed Japanese Canadians after the World War 2 Internment was over.  Hops fields were one both sides of the highway.   It was bought by Molsons and ran for many years.   In 1966, Molson Breweries donated 106 acres of lands to be designated as a wildlife park.

From the source of Campbell Creek in Droppingwater Creek to the South Thompson River is about 58 km.

The creek water is used primarily by ranchers and farmers for irrigation along its route.   Lake levels are controlled at Shumway Lake, but in freshet the creek is full as it runs down to the river, flooding in 2018.