Southern Vancouver Island Whitewater

Chemainus River

Run Upper Chemainus Class III+
Level Boats kayaks, solo canoes
Season Nov - March, best after rain Character small volume pool-drop
Length 3 h
Put-in
Takeout
Features
  • Box Canyon - a narrow entrance followed by a drop, a headwall with swirly currents, and another drop. Can eddy on the right above the first drop. Portaging requires a long walk through the bush above the headwall.
Comments

Run Lower Chemainus Class III
Level 12 - 30 cms = prime
40 cms (1.3 m) - medium high
50 cms = very high
Boats all
Season Nov - March, best after rain Character small volume pool-drop
Length 3 h
Put-in
Takeout
Features
  • Waterfall Wave - good wave right at the put-in on the L.
  • Double Wave - Two good waves at a drop with a beach on the L (at medium levels) At medium-high level these are the best waves on the river. It is possible to walk back up to the put-in from this wave on the R.
  • Lunch Wave - a bouldery rapid with an interesting wave against a cliff on the L. Good beach for watching the action on the R.
  • Rollercoaster - below a right-angle bend to the R, a series of waves holes and ledges provide surf spots at most levels. Fast current makes them difficult to catch, but it's worth some hard paddling.
  • Cabin Drop - a smooth ramp leads into a couple of fast waves. The first wave is very hard to catch. The second wave has a decent feeder eddy by a gravel bar, but is bit hard to catch - but a fast ride if you do!
  • The Gate AKA Toilet Bowl - a large rock ledge creates a recirculating pool on the L. Easy to drop into, but stay there too long and you will get flushed. A tricky but rewarding steep wave is usually present at the upstream edge of the eddy.
  • Squirt Cliff - after a hard L turn and some flatwater, a small cliff on the L creates a couple of superb squirt spots
Comments