| Woody River | |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | Manitoba#Canada |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth in Manitoba |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Provinces |
| Source1: | Woody Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Porcupine Hills |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 52.4657°N -101.6911°W |
| Mouth: | Swan Lake |
| Mouth Location: | Division No. 17, Manitoba |
| River System: | Nelson River |
Woody River[1] is a river in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The river's source is in the Porcupine Hills[2] and Porcupine Provincial Forest of eastern Saskatchewan. From there it flows south through boreal forest[3] and then east through Boreal Plains in the Parkland Region of Manitoba en route to Swan Lake. The river parallels the Swan River for much of its route as it travels through Swan River Valley between Duck Mountain and Porcupine Hills of the Manitoba Escarpment. Bowsman[4] is the only notable community along the course of Woody River. Several highways cross it, including Saskatchewan's Highway 980, Manitoba's Roads 588, 587, 366, 268, and Manitoba's Highway 10.[5]
Woody River begins from the southern shore of Woody Lake at Woody Lake Weir in Porcupine Hills Provincial Park. The main tributary for Woody Lake is Midnight Creek[6] which has its source deep in the Porcupine Hills and is connected to several lakes in the provincial park, including Isbister, Townsend, Elbow, Spirit, and Island Lakes.[7]
From Woody Lake and Porcupine Provincial Park, Woody River travels south through the RM of Hudson Bay No. 394 and out of Porcupine Hills. It enters the RM of Livingston No. 331 and the Swan River Valley before heading east. The river parallels Swan River, which also has its source in the Porcupine Hills, and it is joined by multiple tributaries, crossed by several highways, and passes through Bowsman, which is at confluence of Woody River and Smith Creek. It empties into the western shore of Swan Lake at Swan Lake First Nation.[8]
Tributaries of Woody River, from upstream to downstream, include:
At the headwaters of Woody River in Saskatchewan is a portion Porcupine Hills Provincial Park[9] called the Woody River Block.[10] The park is centred around the lakes that make up the source of the river, including Isbister Lake, Townsend Lake, Elbow Lake, Woody Lake, Spirit Lake, Island Lake, and Smallfish Lake. Amenities and activities include camping, fishing, snowmobiling, swimming, and hiking.[11] [12]
Whitefish Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in Manitoba on Whitefish Lake, which is upstream along Whitefish Creek, a tributary of Woody River. The park has 40-unserviced campsites and lake access for fishing and other watersports.[13]
Fish commonly found in the river include walleye and northern pike.[14]