Elbow River

The Elbow River is a river located in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows from the Canadian Rockies to the city of Calgary, where it merges into the Bow River.

The Elbow River is popular among canoers, rafters, campers and hikers and runs through several features including Allen Bill Pond, Forgetmenot Pond, and Elbow Falls.

The water flow of the Elbow River fluctuates significantly. The Glenmore Dam helps mitigate the risk of flooding. However, a flood in June 2005 was so severe (the heaviest in at least two centuries according to Albertan Government estimates) that the water flowed over the dam. Approximately 2,000 Calgarians living downstream needed to be evacuated.

Course

The Elbow River originates from Elbow Lake in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park in the Canadian Rockies, then continues through the Rocky Mountain foothills and flows into the hamlet of Bragg Creek. The Elbow River passes under Highway 22 and then travels through the rural community of Springbank and the Tsuu T'ina Nation 145 Indian reserve directly west of Calgary. The river enters the City of Calgary at the Weaselhead Flats, an artificial inland delta, and into the Glenmore Reservoir, one of Calgary's two chief sources of drinking water. From there, it flows northward through residential communities towards the city centre, is crossed by Macleod Trail, passes the Calgary Stampede grounds and finally joins the Bow River.

Fort Calgary (the Northwest Mounted Police post established in 1873 around which settlement in the Calgary area began) was located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers.

Tributaries

*Iron Creek
*Bragg Creek
*Harris Creek
*Primez Creek
*Millburn Creek
*Springbank Creek
*Cullen Creek
*May Creek
*Lott Creek