The Brazeau River in Alberta, Canada is a whitewater river flowing through the foothills of central Alberta, draining eastward to the Brazeau Reservoir. The river is considered a challenging waterway suited to skilled paddlers, with whitewater character that demands experience and appropriate preparation.

The most commonly referenced paddling section runs from the Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 734) area, where the Brazeau River Provincial Recreation Area and campground serve as a put-in, downstream approximately 110 km to the Brazeau Dam day-use area boat launch. This section can take one to four days to complete. A longer trip starting from the Smallboy Camp put-in to the Brazeau Dam covers approximately 136 km and features Class II/III whitewater at the upper end. The Brazeau River Provincial Recreation Area, located 72 km north of Nordegg on Highway 734, provides river access from the lower campground and offers seven unserviced, first-come, first-served campsites, along with a cook shelter, firepits, firewood, pit or vault toilets, and a hand pump for water (though paddlers are advised to bring their own safe drinking water due to uncertain groundwater quality). The campground is open seasonally from early May to late October.

Further upstream, the upper Brazeau originates near the Icefields Parkway south of Mount Brazeau and passes through the Brazeau Canyon Wildlands before reaching the Cardinal River Road area. This upper section is remote and little documented; a shuttle for the upper reach involves approximately 186 km of travel, including portions through Banff and Jasper National Parks and significant stretches of gravel road. The Blackstone River, a tributary of the Brazeau, joins the main river and adds to the overall drainage.

At the downstream end, the Brazeau Dam marks the takeout before the Brazeau Reservoir. The reservoir itself is an operational dam, meaning water levels fluctuate significantly and can expose submerged logs, which are a noted hazard for anyone paddling in that vicinity. The surrounding landscape is characterized by foothills scenery, and the river corridor is secluded and forested. Fishing opportunities exist throughout the watershed, with species including bull trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, northern pike, perch, and whitefish.