Waterhen River (Saskatchewan)

For the river in Manitoba see Waterhen River

The Waterhen River (Saskatchewan) is an east-flowing river in northwest Saskatchewan in the basin of the Beaver River (Canada). It is north of and parallel to the east-flowing part of the Beaver River and joins the north-flowing part of that river. It is at the southern edge of the boreal forest belt and marks the approximate northern limit of dense population and good roads. The large Primrose Lake discharges south through the Martineau River into Cold Lake (Alberta) on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Cold Lake discharges east through the Cold River (Saskatchewan) which at some point takes the name of Waterhen. It flows through Pierce Lake, Lac des Isles and Waterhen Lake. The area from Cold Lake to Waterhen Lake is in Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the Alberta side of Cold Lake is Cold Lake Provincial Park. East of Waterhen Lake the river leaves the park and flows east and somewhat north into the north-flowing part of the Beaver River.

South of the river is Saskatchewan Highway 55, part of the Northern Woods and Water Route. Towns south of the river are Cold Lake, Alberta, Beaver Crossing, Alberta, Pierceland, Saskatchewan, Goodsoil, Saskatchewan and Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

Cree began moving into the area in the eighteenth century. There was a canoe route up the Waterhen with a portage to the Beaver River on the south side of Cold Lake. The first trading post in the area was Cold Lake House built by the Montreal traders in 1781 near the present Beaver Crossing south of Cold Lake. Around 1790 the Northwest Company had a post on Waterhen Lake^[1].

• Atlas of Aberta Lakes:[1]

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