The upper and lower Arrow Lakes are widenings of the Columbia River between modern-day
Castlegar and Revelstoke, and may have made useful landmarks in navigating the river.
The lakes were named “Arrow Lake upper/lower” on John Arrowsmith's 1832 map British North America. Earlier names for the lakes included “Cutsamin” or “Earbobs” Lake, as indicated on
R.H Laurie's 1832 map Fredonia or the United-States of North America.1
The Geographic Board of Canada formally adopted the name 30 June 1900.2