Highwood River

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

Highwood River
The Highwood from Alberta Highway 40
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationPeter Lougheed Provincial Park
  coordinates50.61032°N 114.97613°W / 50.61032; -114.97613 (Highwoord River origin)
  elevation2,500 meters (8,200 ft)
Mouth 
  location
Bow River
  coordinates
50.81743°N 113.77892°W / 50.81743; -113.77892 (Highwoord River mouth)
  elevation
950 meters (3,120 ft)

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 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.

Flooding

The Highwood River is subject to frequent flooding. Flood events of exceptional magnitude occurred in 1894, 1899, 1902, 1908, 1912, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1942, 1995, 2005 and 2013.[1] Most recently during the 2013 Alberta floods, thousands of people in Alberta were ordered to evacuate their homes after the rise of the Highwood River, Bow River, Elbow River and numerous others.[2][3] Three people died as a result of the flooding of the Highwood River.[4]

Tributaries and features

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

Tributary or feature Location Remarks
Storm Creek50.56597°N 114.95302°W / 50.56597; -114.95302 (Storm Creek)left tributary from Storm Mountain
Kananaskis Trail50.54084°N 114.94909°W / 50.54084; -114.94909 (Kananaskis Trail)Bridge
Mist Creek50.51388°N 114.83849°W / 50.51388; -114.83849 (Mist Creek)left tributary from Mist Mountain
Picklejar Creek50.50687°N 114.82833°W / 50.50687; -114.82833 (Picklejar Creek)left tributary
Loomis Creek50.46714°N 114.78512°W / 50.46714; -114.78512 (Loomis Creek)right tributary
McPhail Creek50.41631°N 114.74539°W / 50.41631; -114.74539 (McPhail Creek)right tributary
Cat Creek50.40797°N 114.71243°W / 50.40797; -114.71243 (Cat Creek)left tributary
Strawberry Creek50.38248°N 114.67775°W / 50.38248; -114.67775 (Strawberry Creek)right tributary
Fitzsimmons Creek50.37914°N 114.65781°W / 50.37914; -114.65781 (Fitzsimmons Creek)right tributary
Etherington Creek50.37944°N 114.64946°W / 50.37944; -114.64946 (Etherington Cree)right tributary
Stony Creek50.38832°N 114.61922°W / 50.38832; -114.61922 (Stony Creek)left tributary
Cataract Creek50.38986°N 114.58254°W / 50.38986; -114.58254 (Cataract Creek)right tributary
Zephyr Creek50.38977°N 114.57551°W / 50.38977; -114.57551 (Zephyr Creek)right tributary
Marston Creek50.40470°N 114.50136°W / 50.40470; -114.50136 (Marston Creek)left tributary
Deep Creek50.42343°N 114.46994°W / 50.42343; -114.46994 (Deep Creek)left tributary
Eden Valley Indian Reserve 21650.42061°N 114.47585°W / 50.42061; -114.47585 (Eden Valley start)enters reserve
Eden Valley Indian Reserve 21650.45863°N 114.42421°W / 50.45863; -114.42421 (Eden Valley end)leaves reserve
Waldie Creek50.47466°N 114.41978°W / 50.47466; -114.41978 (Waldie Creek)left tributary
Trap Creek50.47849°N 114.41952°W / 50.47849; -114.41952 (Trap Creek)left tributary
Sullivan Creek50.53074°N 114.38507°W / 50.53074; -114.38507 (Sullivan Creek)left tributary
Ings Creek50.55979°N 114.33701°W / 50.55979; -114.33701 (Ings Creek)left tributary
Longview50.53301°N 114.24000°W / 50.53301; -114.24000 (Longview)enters town limits
Cowboy Trail50.52346°N 114.23348°W / 50.52346; -114.23348 (Cowboy Trail)bridge
Bull Creek50.50548°N 114.23275°W / 50.50548; -114.23275 (Bull Creek)right tributary
Pekisko Creek50.48207°N 114.12843°W / 50.48207; -114.12843 (Pekisko Creek)right tributary
High River50.57573°N 113.90574°W / 50.57573; -113.90574 (High River)enters town limits
Highway 2A50.58308°N 113.87239°W / 50.58308; -113.87239 (Highway 2A)road and railroad bridge
Tongue Creek50.63876°N 113.87181°W / 50.63876; -113.87181 (Tongue Creek)left tributary
CPR50.65727°N 113.85934°W / 50.65727; -113.85934 (CPR)railroad bridge
Highway 250.66836°N 113.86222°W / 50.66836; -113.86222 (Highway 2)bridge
Highway 54750.69705°N 113.86396°W / 50.69705; -113.86396 (Highway 547)bridge
Sheep River50.74024°N 113.85580°W / 50.74024; -113.85580 (Sheep River)left tributary
Highway 55250.78368°N 113.82126°W / 50.78368; -113.82126 (Highway 552)bridge
Bow River50.81898°N 113.77845°W / 50.81898; -113.77845 (Bow River)river mouth as right tributary of Bow River

See also

References

  1. "Little Bow Project/ Highwood Diversion Plan. Application to Construct a Water Management Project to Convey and Store Water Diverted from the Highwood River" Report of the NRCB/CEAA Joint Review Panel. Application #9601 - Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services. May 1998.
  2. Calgary neighbourhoods underwater as Bow River's rise continue
  3. Alberta floods prompt widespread downtown Calgary evacuations
  4. "RCMP confirm three dead in Alberta floods that forced 100,000 to evacuate". National Post. June 22, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
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