British Columbia offers a vast array of totally awesome whitewater. Quite often travellers from all over the world speak of the epic “BC steep creeking” for good reason. There are thriving kayak communities all across BC offering a wide selection of different whitewater.
As you cross the Rocky Mountains from Alberta you arrive in Golden, host of the Kicking Horse River, and home of Golden Kayakers.
Heading south you come into Revelstoke known for it’s incredible ski resort and steep creeking down box shaped canyons. The crew at Revelstoke Whitewater organize group paddles in this tight knit community of raft guides and paddlers.
Heading further south you come to the Kootenay Rockies of British Columbia offer a wide array of outdoor adventures activities including some of Western Canada’s best kayaking. Surrounded by the Kootenay and Columbia rivers, the kayaking possibilities are endless in this unique area. There are numerous creeks flowing out of the lush mountains like Koch Creek, Wilson Creek, Summit Creek, and Skookumchuck Creek. The Kootenays also hosts some great intermediate level paddling like the Slocan and Salmo River. We are blessed with play boating all winter long and one of the biggest waves in the west, Brilliant Wave, comes out every May/June.
Our local paddling club, Borderline Boaters has been introducing kayaking to keen people since hosting the Canadian Nationals in 1995. We have a full service kayak shop called Endless Adventure at the put in of the Slocan that offers clinics, sales, and rentals.
The best thing about Kootenay Kayaking is by far the people, expect to be welcomed with open arms, literally. Every Wednesday night we meet on the Slocan River for paddling and a bbq. Feel welcome to check us out anytime. The Kootenays are a rare gem waiting to be discovered.
From the Kootenays you can either head west to the Whistler/Squamish area what those who know call a creeking disneyland with epic class 4/5 creek runs and of course all the fiesta you can handle in Whistler Village. For some more information on this area check out Liquid Lore, and online guidebook for the area. From here you can either venture to Vancouver Island for some rain fed creeking and the famous Skookumchuck Narrows wave and be sure to check out the Fraser Valley Scene or head north for the remote paddling in Quesnel, Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, and Prince Rupert. Be prepared for hard boating, hard hiking, and fantastic people.
Come to the amazing region of BC from some epic whitewater, long lasting friends, and a taste of the untamed natural surroundings.
Lo on the Spring Salmo
WOW! What a time of year to be a whitewater paddler! Levels are spiking and options are opening and closing as fast as a blink of an eye.
Here are some highlighted areas of paddling interest.
Brilliant Wave.
Despite earlier reports Brilliant Wave has come and gone. All that remains are big green waves ... Read More →
There it is folks, the news is correct- Brilliant wave is the beloved big wave we have all been waiting for. Visitors the the Kootenays always come in August asking where Brilliant wave is and almost always get skunked. Consider this an invite to our super wave in the beautiful west kootenays.
Located on the Kootenay ... Read More →
Chris Ryman stoked on spring
The little easter bunny left us Kootenay paddlers some tasty playboating behind on his/her world wide tour . The Columbia River has dropped to it’s low April levels while the Kootenay River remains at a descent flow. The results are a rare chance to paddle Hero wave and Brilliant wave on ... Read More →
