Clearwater River (British Columbia)
| Clearwater River | |
 Clearwater River and Osprey Falls at outlet of Clearwater Lake
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| Country | Canada |
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| Province | British Columbia |
| Source | Cariboo Mountains |
| - elevation | 1,356 m (4,449 ft) |
| - coordinates | 52°49′N 120°6′W / 52.817°N 120.100°W |
| Mouth | North Thompson River |
| - elevation | 392 m (1,286 ft) |
| - coordinates | 51°37′59″N 120°4′50″W / 51.63306°N 120.08056°WCoordinates: 51°37′59″N 120°4′50″W / 51.63306°N 120.08056°W |
| Length | 201 km (125 mi) |
| Basin | 10,200 km2 (3,938 sq mi) |
| Discharge | for mouth |
| - average | 223 m3/s (7,875 cu ft/s) |
The Clearwater River is the largest tributary of the North Thompson River, joining it at the community of Clearwater, British Columbia. The Clearwater rises from glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains and flows in a mostly southerly direction for 201 km (125 mi) to the North Thompson. Its entire course, except the last 5 km (3 mi), is within Wells Gray Provincial Park. Its confluence with the North Thompson is protected by North Thompson River Provincial Park.
There are two large lakes on the Clearwater River. Hobson Lake is 35 km (22 mi) long and averages 1.5 km (0.9 mi) wide. Clearwater Lake is 24 km (15 mi) long and averages 2 km (1.2 mi) wide. The Clearwater's largest tributaries are (from source to mouth) Hobson Creek, Goat Creek, Lickskillet Creek, Azure River, Falls Creek, Murtle River, Mahood River, Hemp Creek, Grouse Creek, and Spahats Creek.
The river is popular for fly fishing, whitewater kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
The Overlanders expedition to the Cariboo goldfields rafted down the North Thompson River in 1862. When they arrived at the mouth of the Clearwater River, they noted its distinct clarity compared to the muddy North Thompson and named it Clear Water. In 1863, the first tourists, Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle, traveled through the North Thompson Valley and solidified the Clearwater River name by publishing it in their journal, The Northwest Passage by Land (London, 1865).
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