| Dunn Peak | |
|---|---|
| Dunn Peaks | |
.JPG) Matterhorn Peak in the Dunn Peakmassif | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,636 m (8,648 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,531 m (5,023 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Hallam Peak |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 51°26′14″N119°57′17″W / 51.43722°N 119.95472°W /51.43722; -119.95472[2] |
| Geography | |
  Dunn Peak Location in British Columbia | |
| Location | British Columbia,Canada |
| District | Yale Division Yale Land District |
| Parent range | Shuswap Highland |
| Topo map | NTS 82M5North Barrière Lake |
Dunn Peak (sometimes known locally as theDunn Peaks) is a group of peaks in the centralInterior ofBritish Columbia,Canada. Its most prominent summit, Matterhorn Peak, rises to 2,636 metres (8,648 ft), making it the highest point in theShuswap Highland.[3] The peak and its surroundings are contained inDunn Peak Provincial Park.[4]
Though technically part of theColumbia Mountains to the north and east, the Dunnmassif is isolated from other ranges by theInterior Plateau and the Shuswap Highland.[5] The group is bounded by theNorth Thompson River to the west and north, Harper Creek to the east, and theBarrière River to the south. The nearest towns and cities areBarriere,Clearwater, andKamloops. As there are no roads in the protected area, access to the alpine area is by trail via the Harper Creek Forest Service road.
Matterhorn Peak is the 92nd mostprominent peak in British Columbia.[6]
The protected area surrounding the peaks containsold-growth forest, including stands ofEngelmann spruce andinterior Douglas fir. The park also contains significant wildlife populations, including wolf, cougar, marten, river otter, black bear, mule deer and mountain goat. Several protected avian species are present, such as thegreat blue heron andbald eagle.[7]
James Dunn was a gold prospector in the region who left for California in 1888 after falling sick. He had mined gold with a "rocker" near ChuChua, on the western slopes of Dunn Peak.[8] Nearby Baldy Mountain was the site of the Windpass gold mine from 1916 until 1939.[9] On April 30, 1996, the massif became the central point of the new 19,353-hectare (47,820-acre) Dunn Peak Provincial Park.[4]
