Rosebud River

This article is about Rosebud River, Alberta. For Rosebud River, Montana, see Stillwater River (Stillwater County, Montana).

Rosebud River
File:Rosebud River Wayne Alberta.jpg Rosebud River near Wayne, Alberta
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates
• elevation	1,095 meters (3,593 ft)
Mouth
• location	Red Deer River
• coordinates
• elevation	675 meters (2,215 ft)

File:Bridge Rosebud-highway 10X.JPG

Highway 10X bridge over Rosebud River (one of 11)

The Rosebud River is a major tributary of the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada. The Rosebud River passes through agricultural lands and ranchland for most of its course, and through badlands in its final reaches. It provides water for irrigation canals through a variety of dams built on its course and that of its tributaries.

The name is a translation of the Blackfoot word Akokiniskway, meaning "the river of many roses".

Course

The Rosebud River originates in central Alberta, at an elevation of 1,095 meters (3,593 ft), southwest of Didsbury. It flows north and has a dam before it is crossed by Highway 582 and the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. It receives the waters of Copeley Lake, then turns south through Didsbury, where it is crossed again by Highway 582 and Highway 2A. It then flows in a general south-eastern direction and is crossed by Highway 2 and Highway 581. It continues south-east and is crossed by Highway 72 and Highway 9 north of Irricana and south of Beiseker. It then continues eastwards and flows into southern Alberta, where it is crossed by Highway 21 and Highway 840 at the hamlet of Rosebud. The river then turns north-east, and its course is followed by the Canadian National Railway tracks as it is crossed by Highway 841. After reaching the hamlet of Wayne, it is also followed by Highway 10X through a badlands canyon that reaches 150 meters (490 ft) in depth. Eleven bridges cross the river back and forth through the badlands canyon. Rosebud River empties into the Red Deer River at Rosedale, at an elevation of 675 meters (2,215 ft).

Tributaries and crossings

From origin to mouth, the Rosebud River receives the following tributaries or passes through these geographic features:

Tributary or feature	Location	Remarks
Origin
Highway 582		Bridge
Canadian Pacific Railway		Bridge
Copeley Lake		Left tributary
Canadian Pacific Railway		Bridge
Highway 582		Bridge
Highway 2A		Bridge
Highway 2		tributary
Deadrick Creek		Left tributary
Highway 581		Bridge
Sheep Coulee		Right tributary
Highway 791		Bridge
Carstairs Creek		Right tributary
CN Rail		Bridge
Highway 9		Bridge
Crossfield Creek		Right tributary
Highway 21		Bridge
Atusis Creek		Left tributary
Serviceberry Creek		Right tributary
Redland		Flows by community
Rosebud		Flows by community
Severn Creek		Right tributary
Home Coulee		Right tributary
Wayne		Flows through community
Red Deer River		River mouth

See also

• List of rivers of Alberta