Near Silica in Kootenay Boundary, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The Dewdney Trail

B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), June 23, 2016

1. The Dewdney Trail Marker

Inscription. "A travel route north of the boundary line" was the cry in the 1860's when gold was found in the Kootenays. Edgar Dewdney built such a route — a trail 360 miles long from Coast to Rockies.

For over two decades it carried miners, settlers, gold and supplies — a rugged and tortuous route, but Canadian all the way.

Erected by British Columbia Department of Recreation and Conservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 49° 1.229′ N, 117° 50.696′ W. Marker is near Silica, British Columbia, in Kootenay Boundary. It can be reached from Paterson-Trail Highway (Provincial Highway 22) 1.1 kilometers north of King George Park Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 Hwy 22 Hwy, Silica BC V0G 1Y0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the BC Interior

and in the Kootenay Rockies.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Rocky Mountains,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Rossland Mines (approx. 6.8 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. The Dewdney Trail (YouTube). Episode of "Gold Trails & Ghost Towns" focusing on the pioneering path overseen by Edgar Dewdney. Note: Episode appears to have been copied from videotape, so image quality is not sharp. (CHBC-TV, uploaded by Leslie Dycke) (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Dewdney Trail. Wikipedia entry on the 450-mile (720 km) trail. (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Edgar Dewdney (1835-1916) image. Click for full size.

Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-025581 (Public domain), 1883

2. Edgar Dewdney (1835-1916)

Photograph was taken while he was lieutenant governor of the Northwest Territories.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of marker and surrounding area in context • Confirm GPS coordinates. • • • Can you help?