Chipewyan, and Cree people lived in the Clearwater River area. During European exploration and the fur trade of the 18th century, the lower Clearwater River was part of an important canoe route between Hudson Bay and Montreal in the east, and the District of Athabasca in the west. The rough Precambrian upper portion of the Clearwater River was a barrier to the traders until 1778, when explorer Peter Pond crossed the Methye Portage to bypass it. Methye Portage extended between Lac La Loche and the Clearwater River, forming a overland link on the route from Churchill, Manitoba to Athabasca, Alberta. For almost 40 years, this was the only overland connection for the fur trade in the region, and it continued in use for most of the 19th century. Fish species The river's fish species include: walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, lake trout, Arctic grayling, lake whitefish, cisco, white sucker, longnose sucker and burbot. Conservation Provincial park The province of Saskatchewan has established the Clearwater River Provincial Park, encompassing an area of 865 mi2; or 2240 km2, to protect the river's environment. Canadian Heritage Rivers System The Saskatchewan section was granted Canadian Heritage River status because of its "unspoiled, clear-water river in a pristine" isolated "wilderness setting of spectacular beauty". Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) The Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) uses the Clearwater River as a "baseline river system" to provide "information on the variability and characteristics of natural systems". Although natural outcrops of McMurray Formation oil sands are present along the river, the "lack of significant oil sands developments" within its watershed allows it to be used as a baseline. See also List of rivers of Alberta List of rivers of Saskatchewan Athabasca oil sands References External links Map of the river's course from Canadian Heritage Rivers System Fish Species of Saskatchewan Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan Clearwater River Provincial Park Rivers of Alberta Rivers of Saskatchewan Canadian Heritage Rivers