This 3,000 resident town lies at the junction of the Tulameen and the Similkameen Rivers. The first settlers called the town Vermillion forks because of the red ochre in the soil. The natives called the soil yak-tulameen, and prized it for face painting. The town was named for the 1860 visit of Prince Wales to eastern Canada that year. The downtown is just north of Highway 3, and has recently been completely refurbished. There are several historic mining towns nearby: Tulameen, Coalmont, Granite City, Blakeburn and Allenby. The area also has gold panning, and many native pictographs.
The area has 30 good trout lakes within 80 kilometres (most notable are Allison, Osprey, Otter, Tepee, and Thynne). The 9-hole Princeton golf course is just east of town. Snowpatch is a family ski hill with three rope tows just 10 minutes from downtown.
Princeton Attractions
Princeton and District Pioneer Museum
167 Vermillion Ave
250-295-7588
Artifacts on display include a Welby Stage Coach, farm equipment, and furnishings and clothing from pioneers, Interior Salish natives and Chinese immigrants. There are also fossil and mineral exhibits connecting with the area’s mining history.