Kootenay River Trip Report by Sharman Learie
Kootenay River
Dates: July –August 2011
Location : Kootenay River
Access : Highway 93 East of Radium Hot Springs
Duration : 5 days on the water
Distance : Approx 90 km
Difficulty : Easy Class I/II+ at late summer water levels
Trip Members: Matt Kellow, Jude Shugar, Sharman Learie and the Boyz
Trip Description: A scenic float through the Rocky Mountains. The trip begins with a meandering and braided river course and gradually builds in intensity. Turquoise water, splash white water, canyons, Hoodoos and wildlife. A classic multiday river trip in southern BC. While we took 5 days to travel the river it certainly could be done much quicker.
July 27 Drive day Kamloops to McLeod Meadows – 6 hrs. with stops.
• $20 for camping
• $9 for fire permit
• Park fee must be paid for everyday in the park (it amounted to over $90 bucks to park our vehicle in the Kootenay National Park for 5 days)
• Park in Dog Lake Day use Campsite in a fair state of disrepair. Amazing to see what the lack of federal funding has led to. However, for an additional $9 bucks we had almost unlimited firewood. High water had destroyed several sections of the campground and the roads. With some driving around we were able to find a pullin and short path to a suspension bridge where we loaded the boats.
July 28 McLeod Meadows to Cross River
3 hours – Class I
• Top section very braidy lots of wood. Valley tightens up once you leave the road. Cross River – very buggy, thousand of mosquitoes. Nice site with hike to waterfall up stream. Confluence gravel bar excellent camp and breeze helped keep bugs down.
This was a tough campsite with kids…there were 10’s of thousands of mosquitoes here. Luckily as a group we had a 5 person tent. It became the sanctuary for the boys well the dads set up camp, cooked dinner and got the group settled. There must be a swamp or low spot nearby as a hour down river we passed another group camped at a very nice site river r and they were calmly sitting in their lawn chairs. We couldn’t believe it after the blood donation we’d given to the mosquitoes up stream.
July 29 Cross river to Paliser River
3.5 hours – Class 2 – 2+
• This is the big WW day.
• Starts about 45 minutes downstream at 1st bridge. River Canyons Up Splashy rapid under bridge. Horseshoe Bend has a forest rec site on inside corner. Inside corner on bottom of bend has best rapids. Far less buggy downstream another big site approx. 45 min down from cross river on river r. Palliser site hugs open grassy area river r or another site at confluence river L. short hike downstream river R to clear-cut gives a great view of river. The Palliser campsite on river right is a classic spot. Wide open, sunny with a small swimming eddy downstream. Great place to let the boys run wild while the dads held down the fort. We found a short hiking trail downstream that could be followed over the plateau to another campsite below the confluence of the river.
July 30 Rest day Paliser
• Day spent enjoying the sunshine and the river!
July 31 Paliser River to Gibralter Rock
3.5 hours – Class 2 – 2+ (3)
• Paliser rapid right off the bat. Must run in rafts splashy but no hazard. Can be snuck on side channel river R – but log in there. More canyon, rock bluffs and head walls. Class 2 with floats in between. Watch for waterfall on river R 15-20 min below white river has nice flat campsite river L but had RV’s. 2nd bridge provides possible alternative take out if you wanted shorter trip. L Hoodoo’s below white river, spectacular. 2 good sites at Gibralter Rock 1st river r above rock. 2nd sandy site below or mid-
squeeze river L. Nice cedars, benches, tables. Nice site with spectacular views of Gibraltar Rock. Another site not to be missed on this trip.
Aug 1 Gibralter Rock to Canal Flats
3 hrs. – Class 1
• River opens up. Becomes progressively slower and more braided. 3rd bridge approx. 2 hours in, adds
a nice alternate take out that avoids super braidy slow section below. Large sand beach river R after
highway bridge. Shady spot to park.
In hind sight it would be worthwhile shortening the trip and taking out at the 2nd bridge> While it would lengthen the shuttle the last half day is slow and anti climatic compared to the river upstream.
Other Details
- Shuttle 87 km – 1 hour
- Bank and grocery store propane all at Radium Hot Springs.
- Topo Map# 82J12, 82J05, and 82J04
- Backroads map book also handy.
