Clearwater Kayak Fest 

The Clearwater river is located in the Wells Gray provincial park, approx an hour and a half north of Kamloops. The river starts in a series of large lakes high in the park and cuts a striking path down to the town of Clearwater where it drains into the North Thompson river.

The Clearwater is a large volume river  and peak flows in June can exceed 1000 cms (30 000 cfs).

This river is well known for its excellent play and warm water. This  combined with high summer time temperatures, often over 30 deg.C  make it a pleasure to paddle.

Access is possible from Clearwater lake to its confluence with the North Thompson via either the Clearwater River road to km 38 or the Clearwater Valley road to Clearwater lake. 

The River holds a number of different sections ranging from gentle floats to unrunable cataracts and everything in-between.

River levels are taken using a visual gauge located on the bridge in the town of Clearwater, or from an environment Canada water measurement station. Check links for these gauges

250 cms = 1.5

450 cms = 3.5

600 cms = 5

The Runs-Clearwater River Road

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Lower Canyon

Class 3/4  low/high water

This is the most popular run and has the majority of the play features.

It is best from 3.5 down.

The run is typically started at Km 8 on the Clearwater river road just below the "Kettle".

The major rapids are found at the start of the run and the good play towards the middle.

Straight up you will hit "Three Fingers", followed by the "Mosh Pit", after which the river splits around an island. Left is preferred and is called the "Wall". Right has a river wide ledge and is considerably more difficult than the left.

Following the Wall you will pass through the "German Basher" and then "M87" before reaching a large eddy on river right. This is "Hole in the Wall' and an alternative put in to avoid the more difficult rapids upstream. It is at approx km 6.5 on the river road.

After Hole in the Wall the river widens and you will find play everywhere!

Keep an eye out for waves called "Easy Rider" and "Tsunami".

The best is at Pink Mountain the last major rapid. You will see the large pink cliffs on river right and you are there!

Take out river right just above the bridge in town.

Kettle

Class 5/6  low/high water

The Kettle is just above the put in for the lower canyon.

The run is approx 1 km long culminating the the final drop class 5/6 "Kettle Falls".

Above the final drop is class 4/5 and runnable at low water.

It is possible to run the entire rapid at very low flows, but it is best to eddy out river right before the falls and walk the short distance around. ie dont swim above!

Middle Canyon

Class 3

Directly above the kettle is the middle canyon, a roller coaster ride through some classic clearwater wave trains.

Put in at km 14 campsite for a couple of km's of class 1+ to warm up, including one of the best eddy served waves on the river. (but only at a certain level!) 

Then just ride the rollercoaster down to "House Rock" avoiding the "Grizzly" and "Whale" holes.

After "House Rock" you will find "Shanes Demise" and "Sharks Fin" follow the current straight down the middle and enjoy one of the best rapids on the river!

Just make sure you take out at the boat ramp, river right, before the kettle!

It is possible to see most of this run from the road on the drive up. 

Float

Class 1

Next upstream is a lazy float with some stunning views.

Start at the commercial rafting lunch spot, km 19,  and float down to the km 14 campsite or continue down the middle canyon.

Sabretooth Canyon

Class 4+

Starting at km 24 is the run down one of the biggest rollercoasters you will ever ride!

A few km of class 1 will warm you up for when the horizon drops away and you go flying blind into the "Tooth".

Closley following "Sabretooth" is the "Batholith" a shallow swift section which will lead you to into the "S bend" a wave train that can reach up to 20ft at high water.

Follow a few smaller wave trains down to the commercial rafting lunch spot, or keep on going.

It is possible to see all the rapids from the road but beware "Sabretooth" is a long way down and can be deceiving!

Float

Class 2

Above "Sabretooth Canyon" the road continues to 38km.

This is the end of access on the River road side.

From km 38 float down through some beautiful country and lazy class 2 whitewater.

You will pass the impresive "Whitehorse Bluff"

and a trappers hut with a natural rock fridge.

There is a large beach at km 28 which has great camping and access.

Take out km 28 beach, km 24 or continue on.

The Runs-Clearwater Valley Road

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Helmecken Canyon

Class 5/6  low/high water

This is the most difficult and isolated section of the Clearwater and should only be attempted at very, very low flows!

If you are not comfortable paddling the Kettle then you should stay away from this section.

The run is down stream of Baily's Chute through to km 38 on the River road.

The first an most difficult drop is "Gattling Gorge" followed by a number of big drops of differing character, and ending with the amazing "Flowerpot" rapids

CAUTION!

Horseshoe Bend

Class 1

Upper Clearwater

Class 4/5/6

WARNING: This run is done at low water, below 2 on the bridge gauge is recommended.

There are two options for put in:

Clearwater lake at falls creek campsite then paddle the kilometre wide osprey falls,

Falls creek and drop the clean 15ft waterfall into a deep pool,

From here down the action builds through a narrow canyon with many fun wave trains and chutes. Things step up a notch as you round a sharp right hand bend and head into the class 4 "Myanth". It is easy to scout from the right.

Up next is the class 5/6 "Donkey Falls" portage this on river right or pick a line (there is a few).

Following this there is a good rapid with some decieving holes and then the class 5/6 "Baily's Chute".

Portage is on river left.

Take out at Alice Creek.

Warning

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This information is only a rough guide and is not intended to replace scouting, local knowledge and/or common sense.

Check out info on these other awesome runs local to the Clearwater comming soon.

Raft River

Canim River

Mahood River

Nth Thompson River

And More!

For more great runs in Western Canada see

www.kayakwest.com