[3] Although the early French-speaking fur traders may have influenced the Lardeau spelling, the geographical word origin probably had more to do with lard or bacon.

The upper 14 kilometres (9 mi) of the Lardeau comprises a series of riffle areas and deep, calm pools, where log jams are common.

Along the lower 24 kilometres (15 mi), several glacial streams increase volume, creating fewer pools and log jams.

[6] However, the river continually undermined the rail bed and swollen creeks carried away bridges.

Although heavy mining traffic never materialized, the railway was the primary means of communication and transportation along the valley for 40 years.

[12] In 1924, a two-span bridge was erected adjacent to the mouth of Healy Creek but was washed out during the spring high water.

Instead, the government built the Marblehead bridge across the Lardeau River in 1940,[16] which followed the initial railway grade northeastward toward Howser.

[17] The Kootenay Cedar Co (KC) acquired the timber rights emanating from the land grants CP received in building the railway.

Other large players had bought up the special timber licences issued 1905–1907, but most of these remained dormant and left to expire after World War I.