Kananaskis River

The Kananaskis River /ˌkænəˈnæskɪs/ is a mountain river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a tributary of the Bow River, crossing much of the length of the northern section of Kananaskis Country.

The river was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a Cree.

The Kananaskis originates in the Canadian Rockies, east of the continental divide, in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It flows southeast to the Upper Kananaskis Lake, then turns north into the Lower Kananaskis Lake. From here it has a northbound course on the border of Spray Valley Provincial Park and Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park, where the Kananaskis Trail follows its itinerary. The lower course flows through Bow Valley Provincial Park, where Barrier Lake is formed along the river. Barrier Lake is an artificial lake used for hydroelectric power generation. The Kananaskis merges into the Bow River at Seebe, 30 km east of Canmore.

The Kananaskis River has a total length of 74 kilometers (46 mi).

The river contains three hydroelectric dams, each of which contains a powerhouse. The Pocaterra Hydroelectric Facility involves a 1.5-kilometre penstock to increase the hydraulic head and therefore the amount of electricity it generates.

Many hiking trails are found along the upper course of the river. Canoeing, kayaking, and rafting are also popular activities on the lower Kananaskis, with tours starting from Canmore or Banff.

For whitewater enthusiasts looking to run friendly class II(III) whitewater, the Lower Kananaskis is a popular choice. As the river is dam-controlled, the water levels are predictable, and TransAlta generally posts the release times and flow rates on their website Archived 2011-01-04 at the Wayback Machine.

The Canoe Meadows site is home to the popular Kananaskis Whitewater Festival ("Kanfest") Archived 2011-02-19 at the Wayback Machine. This is an annual festival, typically occurring in mid-August, which attracts beginner and expert kayakers alike for a fun-filled weekend of kayaking-related activities.