Highwood River

Highwood River
The Highwood from Alberta Highway 40
Origin	Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 50°36′37″N 114°58′34″W / 50.61032°N 114.97613°W / 50.61032; -114.97613 (Highwoord River origin)
Mouth	Bow River 50°49′03″N 113°46′44″W / 50.81743°N 113.77892°W / 50.81743; -113.77892 (Highwoord River mouth)
Basin countries	Canada
Source elevation	2,500 meters (8,200 ft)
Mouth elevation	950 meters (3,120 ft)

The Highwood River is a tributary of the Bow River in southwestern Alberta, Canada.

Course

The Highwood River gathers water from the slopes of Mount Arethusa and flows along the Kananaskis Trail

The Highwood originates in the Canadian Rockies in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, in the Highwood Pass below Mount Arethusa. It flows south and is paralleled by the Kananaskis Trail between Elbow-Sheep Wildland, Don Getty Wildland and Emerson Creek Park. It turns east and flows along Highway 541 and through the community of Longview. Continuing east, it passes through High River, ending when it enters the Bow River southeast of Calgary.

Recreation

The river is known for its flyfishing. A variety of trout species live in the river, including native bull trout.

In springtime when the snow is melting the river offers white water rafting.

2013 floods

On June 20, 2013, during the 2013 Alberta floods thousands of people in Alberta were ordered to evacuate their homes after the rise of the Bow River, Elbow River and Highwood River. ^[1][2] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated three people have drowned near High River.^[3]

Tributaries and features

From origin to mouth, the Highwood River receives the following tributaries or passes through these geographic features:

See also

• List of rivers of Alberta

References