List of rivers of British Columbia facts for kids

British Columbia is a huge province in Canada, and it's full of amazing rivers! This article will help you explore some of the most important rivers in BC, organized by where their water eventually flows. Think of it like a giant map where all the rain and melted snow eventually makes its way to a big ocean. These areas are called "watersheds" or "drainage basins."

Arctic Ocean Drainage

Some rivers in British Columbia flow north, eventually reaching the Arctic Ocean through the mighty Mackenzie River.

Liard River Watershed

The Liard River is a major river that starts in British Columbia and flows into the Mackenzie River system. It's a very long river, and many other rivers join it along the way.

• Liard River
  • Fort Nelson River: This river is a big tributary of the Liard.
    • Muskwa River: Another important river that joins the Fort Nelson.
  • Toad River: Known for its beautiful scenery.
  • Kechika River: A large river that flows into the Liard.
  • Dease River: This river is also a significant part of the Liard watershed.

Peace River Watershed

The Peace River is another huge river that starts in British Columbia and flows towards the Arctic Ocean. It's famous for its large dams that generate electricity.

• Wapiti River: This river eventually joins the Smoky River, which then flows into the Peace River.
• Pine River: An important tributary of the Peace River.
  • Murray River: Joins the Pine River.
• Halfway River: Another key river in the Peace River system.

Williston Lake

Williston Lake is a very large artificial lake created by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River. Many rivers flow into this lake.

• Parsnip River: A major river that flows into Williston Lake.
• Omineca River: Another large river that feeds into Williston Lake.
• Finlay River: This river is considered the main source of the Peace River, flowing into Williston Lake.
  • Thutade Lake: This lake is actually where the Peace River officially begins!

Pacific Ocean Drainage ("Pacific Slope")

Most of British Columbia's rivers flow west into the Pacific Ocean. This is often called the "Pacific Slope."

Columbia River Watershed

The Columbia River is one of North America's largest rivers. It starts in British Columbia and flows through the United States to the Pacific Ocean. It's very important for hydroelectric power (making electricity from water) and salmon.

• Columbia River
  • Kicking Horse River: Famous for its rapids and beautiful canyons.
  • Beaver River: Joins the Columbia River.
  • Kootenay River: A major tributary that flows through British Columbia and the United States.
    • Elk River: An important river that joins the Kootenay.
    • Duncan River: Another significant tributary.
  • Pend d'Oreille River: This river flows into the Columbia.
  • Kettle River: Joins the Columbia near the US border.
  • Okanagan River: Flows from Okanagan Lake into the Columbia River system.
    • Similkameen River: A large river that joins the Okanagan.

Strait of Georgia

Many rivers flow directly into the Strait of Georgia, which is the body of water between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

Howe Sound

Howe Sound is a beautiful fjord (a long, narrow inlet of the sea) on the coast. Several rivers flow into it.

• Squamish River: A large river that flows into Howe Sound.
  • Mamquam River: Joins the Squamish River.
  • Cheakamus River: Another important tributary of the Squamish.
    • Daisy Lake: A lake on the Cheakamus River.
      • Cheakamus Lake: The source of the Cheakamus River.

Jervis Inlet

Jervis Inlet is another long fjord with rivers flowing into it.

• Skwawka River: A river that flows into Jervis Inlet.

Sechelt Inlet

• Clowhom River: Flows into Sechelt Inlet.

Malaspina Strait

• Powell River: This river flows from Powell Lake into the Malaspina Strait.

Desolation Sound Watershed

• Toba River: Flows into Toba Inlet, which is part of Desolation Sound.

Bute Inlet

• Homathko River: A large river that flows into Bute Inlet.
  • Tatlayoko Lake: A lake that feeds the Homathko River.

Knight Inlet

• Klinaklini River: A major river flowing into Knight Inlet.

North Bentinck Arm/Dean Channel

• Bella Coola River: An important river in this area, known for its salmon.
  • Atnarko River: Joins the Bella Coola River.
• Dean River: Another significant river flowing into Dean Channel.

Douglas Channel/Gardner Canal

• Kitlope River: This river flows into Gardner Canal. The Kitlope Valley is known for its untouched wilderness.
• Kemano River: Another river in this area.
• Kitimat River: Flows into Kitimat Arm, which is part of Douglas Channel.

Fraser River - British Columbia's Heartbeat

The Fraser River is the longest river entirely within British Columbia and is incredibly important for the province's economy, history, and environment, especially for salmon.

Fraser River - Source to the Willow River

The Fraser River starts high in the Rocky Mountains.

• Moose River: One of the early tributaries of the Fraser.
• Goat River: Joins the Fraser River.
• McGregor River: Another significant early tributary.
• Willow River: Marks a section of the Fraser.

Nechako River

The Nechako River is a large tributary of the Fraser River.

• Stuart River: Flows into the Nechako River.
  • Stuart Lake: A large lake that feeds the Stuart River.
• Endako River: Another river that joins the Nechako.
• Nechako Reservoir: A large reservoir created by a dam on the Nechako River. Many smaller rivers and lakes feed into this reservoir.

Fraser River - Nechako to Thompson Rivers

This section of the Fraser River has many important tributaries.

• Quesnel River: A major tributary known for its gold rush history.
  • Quesnel Lake: A very deep lake that feeds the Quesnel River.
    • Horsefly River: Flows into Quesnel Lake.
• West Road or Blackwater River: Another significant tributary.
• Chilcotin River: A large river that joins the Fraser.
  • Chilko River: A major tributary of the Chilcotin.
    • Chilko Lake: A beautiful, large lake that feeds the Chilko River.
• Bridge River: An important river, especially for hydroelectric power.
  • Carpenter Lake: A large reservoir on the Bridge River.
• Seton River: Connects Seton Lake to the Fraser.
• Stein River: Known for its wilderness and cultural importance to First Nations.

Thompson River

The Thompson River is a very important tributary of the Fraser River, known for its warm waters.

• Nicola River: Joins the Thompson River.
  • Nicola Lake: A lake on the Nicola River.
• Kamloops Lake: A lake on the Thompson River.
• South Thompson River: One of the two main branches forming the Thompson River.
  • Shuswap Lake: A large, popular lake that feeds the South Thompson River.
    • Adams River: Famous for its huge salmon runs.
    • Eagle River: Another river flowing into Shuswap Lake.
    • Shuswap River: Flows into Mara Lake, which then connects to Shuswap Lake.
• North Thompson River: The other main branch forming the Thompson River.
  • Clearwater River: A major tributary, famous for its waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park.
    • Murtle River: Known for Helmcken Falls.
  • Blue River: Joins the North Thompson.

Fraser River below Thompson River

The Fraser River continues its journey to the Pacific Ocean, passing through many communities.

• Coquihalla River: Joins the Fraser River.
• Sumas River: Flows into the Fraser.
  • Vedder River or Chilliwack River: An important river for fishing.
• Harrison River: A short but wide river connecting Harrison Lake to the Fraser.
  • Harrison Lake: A large lake that feeds the Harrison River.
    • Lillooet River: A major river flowing into Harrison Lake.
      • Lillooet Lake: A large lake on the Lillooet River.

* Green River: Joins Lillooet Lake.

• Pitt River: Flows from Pitt Lake into the Fraser.
  • Pitt Lake: One of the largest freshwater tidal lakes in the world.
• Coquitlam River: Joins the Fraser River.
• Brunette River: Flows into the Fraser, passing through Burnaby Lake.

Rivers of North Vancouver

Several smaller rivers and creeks flow from the North Shore Mountains into Burrard Inlet, near Vancouver.

• Capilano River: Provides drinking water for Vancouver.
• Seymour River: Another important water source.
• Lynn Creek: A popular spot for hiking.

Skagit Bay/Puget Sound (U.S.)

• Skagit River: This river starts in British Columbia and flows into the United States, eventually reaching Puget Sound.

Boundary Bay

• Nicomekl River: Flows into Boundary Bay.
• Serpentine River: Another river flowing into Boundary Bay.

English Bay (Vancouver)

• Capilano River: Flows into English Bay.

Burrard Inlet

• Seymour River: Flows into Burrard Inlet.
• Lynn Creek: Another river flowing into Burrard Inlet.

Indian Arm

• Indian River: Flows into Indian Arm, a fjord off Burrard Inlet.

Watersheds East of the Alaska Panhandle

These rivers flow through British Columbia but their mouths are in Alaska.

• Salmon River: Flows into the ocean near the Alaska border.
• Unuk River: Flows through BC and Alaska.
• Stikine River: A very large and wild river that flows through northern BC and into Alaska.
  • Iskut River: A major tributary of the Stikine.
  • Tahltan River: Another important tributary.
• Taku River: A large river system that flows into Alaska.
  • Tulsequah River: Joins the Taku River.
  • Inklin River: Forms the Taku River with the Nakina River.

Watersheds North of the Alaska Panhandle

• Alsek River: This river starts in Yukon Territory but flows through a small part of BC before reaching Alaska.
  • Tatshenshini River: A famous river for rafting and wilderness, flowing through BC and Yukon.
• Chilcat River: Flows into Alaska.

Marcus Passage Watershed

• Nass River: A very important river for First Nations people and salmon, flowing into Nass Bay.
• Skeena River: The second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, after the Fraser. It's vital for salmon and wildlife.
  • Ecstall River: Joins the Skeena River.
  • Lakelse River: Flows from Lakelse Lake into the Skeena.
  • Kitsumkalum River: Another significant tributary.
  • Zymoetz River: Joins the Skeena.
  • Bulkley River: A major tributary of the Skeena.
    • Morice River: Flows into the Bulkley.
  • Babine River: Flows from Babine Lake into the Skeena.
    • Babine Lake: The longest natural lake in British Columbia.

Queen Charlotte Sound Watershed

• Dean Channel watershed: Includes rivers like the Kimsquit River and Dean River.
• Queen Charlotte Strait watershed:
  • Knight Inlet: Includes the Klinaklini River.
  • Rivers Inlet: Includes the Wannock River, which flows from Owikeno Lake.
• Kingcome Inlet: Includes the Kingcome River.

Islands of the British Columbia Coast Watersheds

Rivers of Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island has many rivers that flow into the surrounding ocean.

Broughton Strait–Queen Charlotte Strait Watersheds

• Nimpkish River: A large river on northern Vancouver Island.
  • Nimpkish Lake: A lake on the Nimpkish River.

Discovery Passage–Johnstone Strait Watersheds

• Campbell River: A significant river on Vancouver Island, important for salmon.
  • Buttle Lake: A large lake that feeds the Campbell River.
• Salmon River: Another important river for salmon.

Strait of Georgia Watersheds

• Goldstream River: Famous for its salmon run in the fall.
• Cowichan River: A popular river for tubing and fishing.
  • Cowichan Lake: A large lake that feeds the Cowichan River.
• Nanaimo River: Flows into the Strait of Georgia near Nanaimo.
• Englishman River: Another river on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
• Little Qualicum River: Flows from Cameron Lake.
• Courtenay River: Formed by the Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers.
  • Puntledge River: Joins the Tsolum River to form the Courtenay River.

West Coast of Vancouver Island Watersheds

Alberni Inlet-Barkley Sound

• Somass River: A major river that flows into Alberni Inlet.
  • Stamp River: Joins the Somass River, known for its waterfalls and salmon.
    • Great Central Lake: A large lake that feeds the Stamp River.
  • Sproat River: Flows from Sproat Lake into the Somass.

Clayoquot Sound

• Kennedy River: Flows into Kennedy Lake.
  • Kennedy Lake: A large lake on Vancouver Island.

Nootka Sound

• Gold River: A significant river flowing into Nootka Sound.
• Zeballos River: Another river in the Nootka Sound area.
• Marble River: Flows into the ocean on the west coast.

Strait of Juan de Fuca Watersheds

• Nitinat River: Flows into Nitinat Lake, which connects to the ocean.
• San Juan River: A river on the southern part of Vancouver Island.
• Sooke River: Flows into Sooke Basin.

Haida Gwaii Watersheds

The islands of Haida Gwaii also have their own rivers.

• Tlell River: A river on Graham Island.
• Yakoun River: Another important river on Haida Gwaii.

Bering Sea (Yukon River) Watershed

Some rivers in the very northern part of British Columbia flow into the Yukon River system, eventually reaching the Bering Sea.

Tutshi River

• Takhini River: Flows from BC into the Yukon Territory.
• Bennett Lake: A large lake that is part of the Yukon River system.
• Tagish Lake: Another large lake in this watershed.
  • Tutshi River: Flows into Tagish Lake.
• Atlin Lake: The largest natural lake in British Columbia, its water flows north into the Yukon River system.
• Teslin Lake: Another large lake that is part of the Yukon River drainage.

Images for kids

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  Tutshi River

See also

• List of rivers of Canada
• List of rivers of the Americas
• List of rivers of British Columbia (alphabetical)