The Bonaparte Plateau lies between the
Bonaparte River on the north and west, and the
Thompson River on the east and south; on its northern edge is
Bonaparte Lake, the largest in the locality and at the head of the Bonaparte River, near the edge of the plateau above the
Thompson. Other streams draining the plateau is the
Deadman River, in fur trade times known by its French name,
Rivière Defunté, which joins the
Thompson River at
Savona, and Loon Creek, which runs west from Loon Lake to join the
Bonaparte River between the towns of
Clinton and
Cache Creek. In the SE portion of the plateau near
Kamloops, both Bonaparte and Loon Lakes are known for their recreational fishing, and the plateau is covered in many lakes and ponds which attract fly-fishing aficionados from around the world (notably Hihium Lake).
Porcupine Meadows Provincial Park is also located within this quadrant. Northeast of the Bonaparte Plateau there is a semi-mountainous region near the southern boundary of
Wells Gray Provincial Park that is part of the
Shuswap Highland (or the
Quesnel Highland, depending on which definitions are used). The Last Chance Lake and the Goodenough Lake beside it, as well as the Probe Lake and the Deer Lake in the
Cariboo Plateau, are
soda lakes. The plateau is a mix of wilderness, large ranch holdings, and private recreational properties. The group of hills immediately northeast of
Cache Creek have been preserved as the
Arrowstone Hills Provincial Park. The Arrowstone Hills, the highest summit of which is 1,791 metres (5,876 ft), feature sand canyons,
hoodoos and other unusual landforms and a rich wildlife population, including
rattlesnake. The highest summit of the plateau overall is Silwhoiakun Mountain 1,870 metres (6,135 ft), at the top of the Silwhoiakun Plateau, which lies between
Bonaparte Lake (N) and
Kamloops Lake (S), between the
Deadman River (W) and the
North Thompson River (E).
Parks •
Arrowstone Hills Provincial Park •
Bonaparte Provincial Park •
Castle Rock Hoodoos Provincial Park •
Loon Lake Provincial Park •
Porcupine Meadows Provincial Park •
Tsintsunko Lakes Provincial Park ==References==