Cardinal River is a short river in western Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It flows from the Canadian Rockies

Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...

, and empties into the Brazeau River

Brazeau River

The Brazeau River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.The river was named for Joseph Brazeau, a linguist associated with the Palliser Expedition.-Course:...

, itself a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River

North Saskatchewan River

The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....

.

At its origin, just east of Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and...

, the Cardinal River forms in a basin between Tripoli, Cheviot, Prospect, Climax, and Blackface Mountains, as well as Mount Cardinal, in the Nikanassin Range

Nikanassin Range

The Nikanassin Range s a group of mountain ranges in the Canadian Rockies on the eastern edge of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is developed south-east of the Fiddle Range, and one of the front ranges. Nikanassin means "first range" in Cree....

. From there it flows east, through the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies

Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...

 and into the foothills. A portion of Grave Flats Road follows the river before it reaches the Bighorn Highway

Alberta Highway 734

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 734 is a highway in western Alberta, Canada that travels through the forested foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It is formerly part of Forestry Trunk Road and is still colloquially referred to as such....

, where it empties into the Brazeau River south of Pembina Forks.

The Cardinal river, and other surrounding landmarks, are named for Jacques Cardinal, a local fur trader. His grave is located on the banks of the river.

Tributaries

• Toma Creek
• Russell Creek
• Nomad Creek
• Ruby Creek
  • Ruby Lakes, Flapjack Lake, Flapjack Creek
• Grave Creek
• Muskiki Creek
  • Muskiki Lake