| Squamish River | |
| Map: | Vancouver Island-relief SquamishRiver.png |
| Pushpin Map: | British Columbia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | British Columbia |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | New Westminster Land District |
| Subdivision Type4: | City |
| Subdivision Name4: | Squamish |
| Source1: | Pemberton Icefield |
| Source1 Location: | Pacific Ranges |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 50.2967°N -123.8886°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 4248feet[1] |
| Mouth: | Howe Sound |
| Mouth Location: | Squamish |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 49.6828°N -123.1789°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0feet[2] |
| Tributaries Left: | Cheakamus, Mamquam |
The Squamish River is a short but very large river in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its drainage basin is 3328km2 in size.[3] The total length of the Squamish River is approximately 80km (50miles).
The Squamish River drains a complex of basins in the Coast Mountains just north of Vancouver. Its flows generally south to the head of Howe Sound where the town of Squamish is located.
The Squamish River originates at the toe of the Pemberton Icefield. As it flows south from the glacier, it is joined by several more glacier fed tributaries. About 21.8 km southwest of the source, the Squamish meets the Elaho River. The Elaho River, which is the largest tributary of the Squamish, actually has more volume than the Squamish where they join. After its confluence with the Elaho, the river moves southeast for another 24.8 km until its confluence with the Ashlu River, its second largest tributary. Another 16.4 km from there, it is met by the Cheakamus River, and 4.7 km further south, by the Mamquam River. From there, the river flows another 6 km to its mouth at the head of the Howe Sound.
The Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area is located at the river mouth.