| Highwood River | |
|---|---|
 The Highwood fromAlberta Highway 40 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Peter Lougheed Provincial Park |
| • coordinates | 50°36′37″N114°58′34″W / 50.61032°N 114.97613°W /50.61032; -114.97613 (Highwood River origin) |
| • elevation | 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Bow River |
• coordinates | 50°49′03″N113°46′44″W / 50.81743°N 113.77892°W /50.81743; -113.77892 (Highwood River mouth) |
• elevation | 950 meters (3,120 ft) |
TheHighwood River is atributary of theBow River in southwesternAlberta,Canada.
The Highwood originates in theCanadian Rockies inPeter Lougheed Provincial Park, in theHighwood Pass belowMount Arethusa. It flows south and is paralleled by theKananaskis Trail betweenElbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park,Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park, andEmerson Creek Park. It turns east and flows along Highway 541 and through the community ofLongview. Continuing east, it passes throughHigh River, ending when it enters theBow River southeast ofCalgary.
The river is known forflyfishing. A variety of trout species live in the river, including nativebull trout. In springtime when the snow is melting the river offers white water rafting.
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 the2013 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]
From origin to mouth, the Highwood River receives the following tributaries or passes through these geographic features:
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