Turnagain River adopted 1 June 1937 on 104I/SW as labelled on BC map 1H, 1917, and as recommended July 1936 by BC (Ottawa file 1530). Re-approved 4 March 1951 on 94M, 6 September 1951 on 94L, and 17 January 1952 on 104I.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

"Turnagain (Little Muddy) River" tributary to "Kechika (Muddy) River" as labelled on BC map 1H, 1917.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

The name "Turn-Again River" was given by Samuel Black, HBC, who reached this river before turning back in 1824; so-identified in his report.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Note that early maps apply "Turnagain" to various portions of today's Liard River: that portion of Liard River from the Finlay River downstream to its mouth at McKenzie River was labelled "R. Turnagain or R. of the Mountains" on H.S. Tanner's Map of North America, 1839. That same channel was labelled "R. au Liards or Mountain River", and a single watercourse above Finlay River, combining portions of todays Liard, Kechika and Turnagain Rivers, was labelled "R. Turnagain, Itzehadzue, Great Current or Liard River" on 1832-1852 editions of John Arrowsmith's map of British North America. The upstream channel was labelled "Turnagain or Black River" and shown tributary to Liard River on the 1854 edition of Arrowsmith's map of British North America. An 1888 map detailing the previous year's Yukon Expedition labels today's Kechika River, "Mud or Black River", and Inspector J.D. Moodie, RCMP, refers to today's Turnagain River as "west branch of the Turnagain or Black River" in his 1897 report; labelled "Turnagain River" on his 1898 map, with the east branch identified as "Kachika River"[sic]. From this, it is difficult to determine how far upstream Samuel Black's HBC party travelled, before turning back in 1824.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Turnagain River was named in 1913 by E.B.Hart.

Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa

The Kaska name for Turnagain River is Gacho (Guzagi K'úgé, published by Kaska Tribal Council, Watson Lake, 1997). Origin/meaning not provided.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office