The Cávado River (Portuguese: rio Cávado, pronounced [ˈʁi.u ˈkavɐðu]) is a river located in northern Portugal.

It has its source in Serra do Larouco at an elevation of 1,520 metres (4,990 ft) above sea level. It runs 135 kilometres (84 mi) from Fonte da Pipa, near the triangulation station Larouco, to its mouth into the Atlantic Ocean next to the city of Esposende. It flows through the districts of Vila Real and Braga, in the Cávado Region, and flows near the towns of Vila Verde and Esposende and cities of Braga and Barcelos.

Its tributaries are the Homem River, Rabagão River and Saltadouro River.

Beginning at the headwaters, there are 5 dams on the Cávado:

Dam	Nameplate capacity (MW)	Reservoir	Surface area (km)	Total capacity (Mio. m)
Alto Cávado		Alto Cávado	0.5	3.3
Paradela	54	Paradela	3.8	164.4
Salamonde	42	Salamonde	2.42	65
Caniçada	60	Caniçada	6.89	170.6
Penide	4.8	Caniçada	0.69	0.5

• 
  Cávado in Palmeira Braga
• 
  Mouth in Esposende

41°32′28″N 08°47′36″W / 41.54111°N 8.79333°W / 41.54111; -8.79333