Wapiti River

Wapiti River Wapiti River in western Canada
Origin	Tuck Lake, Wapiti Pass 54°26′26″N 120°47′25″W / 54.44069°N 120.79021°W / 54.44069; -120.79021 (Wapiti River origin)
Mouth	Smoky River 55°08′16″N 118°18′05″W / 55.13784°N 118.30152°W / 55.13784; -118.30152 (Wapiti River mouth)
Basin countries	Canada
Source elevation	1,370 m (4,490 ft)
Mouth elevation	485 m (1,591 ft)
Avg. discharge	100 m³/s

The Wapiti River is a river in eastern British Columbia and western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Smoky River, located in the southern area of the Peace River Basin.

Wapiti is named after the Cree word for elk (waapiti).

Course

Wapiti River crossed by Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie

Wapiti River originates as the outflow of Tuck Lake, east of Wapiti Pass, in Wapiti Lake Provincial Park, west-central British Columbia, in the Canadian Rockies. It then runs in a north-eastern direction, crosses into Alberta, where it becomes more meandered as it continues through the County of Grande Prairie No. 1. It merges into the Smoky River 30 km (19 mi) east of Grande Prairie.

From west to east, Wapiti River flows through the alpine environment of the Rocky Mountains, the rolling foothills, then farmlands and aspen parkland in western Alberta. Wapiti Lake Provincial Park, Bear River Park, O'Brien Provincial Park and Pipestone Creek Park^[1] are protected areas along the river.

Close to its mouth, Wapiti has an average discharge of 100 m³/s.^[2]

Tributaries and crossings

See also

• List of British Columbia rivers
• List of Alberta rivers

References

Hydrography of Alberta Rivers Athabasca Battle Beaver Bow Brazeau Crowsnest Elbow Hay Little Bow Milk North Saskatchewan Oldman Peace Pembina Red Deer Slave Smoky South Saskatchewan Waterfalls Athabasca Bow Bridal Veil Crescent Crypt Elbow Panther Sunwapta Lakes Athabasca Beaverhill Bistcho Claire Cold La Biche Lesser Slave Pigeon Ste. Anne Sylvan Utikuma Wabamun Reservoirs Abraham Barrier Brazeau Chestermere Kananaskis McGregor Minnewanka Glenmore Milk River Ridge Sikome Gleniffer Glaciers Athabasca Bow Columbia Icefield Crowfoot Hector Peyto Saskatchewan Vulture Wapta Waputik Icefield Other Hay-Zama Wetlands Peace–Athabasca Delta Whooping Crane Summer Range (wetlands)