Theoretical considerations suggest that exponential or quadratic functions are apt for describing the longitudinal profiles of aggrading, alluvial systems that are unaffected by significant lateral inputs of water or sediment. A new set of field data confirms this for individual sedimentary links along a wandering gravel-bed river in British Columbia, Canada. Each link is viewed as a simple alluvial system, without major water or sediment inputs, within which grain size typically fines downstream in a relatively systematic manner. Such homogeneous reaches are suitable for the investigation of simple profile form. It is found that quadratic approximations are the most flexible descriptor for link longitudinal profiles. Overall, the river forms an irregularly cuspate long profile structured by these fundamental length-scale units. Both link gradients and link fining rate reflect size-selective aggradation associated with the bounding lateral inputs. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union