The origin and name of Boat Encampment dates to David Thompson's exploration of the Athabasca Pass route to the Columbia River. During the winter of 1810-11. Thompson and a small party of voyageurs crossed the Continental Divide at Athabasca Pass in early January, 1811 and soon reached the Columbia River. After a brief attempt to travel south to Kootanae House they returned to the mouth of the Canoe River to wait out the winter. Unable to build a canoe out of birch bark Thompson and his men spent five weeks constructing a wooden clinker-built boat. This was a task they were not skilled in and it took a great deal of trial-and-error. Thompson named the site Boat Encampment after this experience in boat-building.