Lakelse River
| Lakelse River Copper River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | Range 5 Coast Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lakelse Lake |
| • location | Kitimat Ranges |
| • coordinates | 54°22′41″N 128°33′36″W / 54.37806°N 128.56000°W |
| • elevation | 76 m (249 ft) |
| Mouth | Skeena River |
• location | Southwest of Terrace, British Columbia |
• coordinates | 54°26′33″N 128°46′52″W / 54.44250°N 128.78111°W |
• elevation | 43 m (141 ft) |
| Length | 24 km (15 mi) |
| Basin size | 583 km2 (225 sq mi), |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 27.5 m3/s (970 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Coldwater Creek, White Creek |
| • right | Herman Creek |
| Topo map | NTS103I7 Lakelse Lake |
The Lakelse River (la-KELS) is a tributary of the Skeena River in northwestern part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. From its source in Lakelse Lake, in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains, the Lakelse River flows northwest for about 24 km (15 mi) to empty into the Skeena River about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Terrace, British Columbia.
The Lakelse River's drainage basin covers 583 km2 (225 sq mi). The river's mean annual discharge is estimated at 27.5 m3/s (970 cu ft/s). The Lakelse watershed's land cover is classified as 53.5% conifer forest, 12.9% shrubland, 11.8 barren, and small amounts of other cover. The mouth of the Lakelse River is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Terrace, British Columbia, about 45 km (28 mi) north of Kitimat, about 100 km (62 mi) east of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and about 395 km (245 mi) west of Prince George, British Columbia.
The Lakelse River watershed lies within the traditional territory of the Tsimshian Kitselas people. As of 2025 the Kitselas First Nation and the Kitsumkalum First Nation are in the process of finalizing a treaty with the government of British Columbia. By the terms of the treaty agreement the Kitselas will receive several land parcels in the Lakelse watershed.
The name "Lakelse" comes from a Tsimshianic word meaning "fresh water mussel".