Sikanni Chief River

BW

The Sikanni Chief River is the source of the river left Fort Nelson River in the Northern Interior of British Columbia.

The Sikanni Chief River rises northeast of Williston Lake in the Muskwa Ranges in the far north of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The source area is located in Sikanni Chief River Ecological Reserve. The Sikanni Chief River forms the outflow of Sikanni Chief Lake and initially flows east through the mountains. The British Columbia Highway 97 (Alaska Highway) crosses the river halfway between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson. The north running Buckinghorse River flows a little later on the left side in the Sikanni Chief River. The now Sikanni Chief River turns north, then east again and finally again to the north, before it unites with the Fontas River to Fort Nelson River.

The Sikanni Chief has a length of about 270 km. Its catchment area covers an estimated 10,000 square kilometers. There is a drain level at the bridge of the Alaska Highway across the river.