The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale

Its source (river) is at Langstrothdale Chase in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and flows through Kettlewell, Grassington, Bolton Abbey, Addingham, Ilkley, Otley, Collingham, Boston Spa, Tadcaster, then flows into the River Ouse near Selby.

The Wharfe has a reputation of being very dangerous, in that people have regularly been drowned while swimming in it.

Near Bolton Abbey is the Strid. Here the whole river is channeled through a narrow gorge, only perhaps 2(?) metres wide. Many people have tried to jump the Strid, and many fell and were drowned.

See also