Tag Archives: River Rafting

Thompson & Fraser River Rafting

Though far from British Columbia’s population centres, the Thompson River remains the province’s rafting mecca. When setting out to get soaked, many like to hedge their bets by choosing an area with 325 or more days of crystal blue sky each year. And the utterly foreign semi-arid landscape is an added attraction to waterlogged coastal British Columbians. The real reason for the popularity of this waterway, however, is the 25 class iii and iv rapids squeezed into a 40 km stretch of the lower Thompson Canyon. Having an extra long rafting season certainly helps too. Commercial trips on the Thompson River usually start at the beginning of May and continue until the end of September.

While many companies have built respectable rafting operations on the Thompson only two cater specifically to the car-free tourist. After the brief but intense rafting season on the Chilliwack River ends, Hyak Wilderness Adventures starts ferrying participants to the Thompson River. As with their shuttle to the Chilliwack River, this service originates at any major hotel in downtown Vancouver. At present this shuttle is only offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting at the end of July and continuing until the end of September. Pick up is at 6 AM with drop-off scheduled for 9 PM. This is by far the quickest and cheapest way to enjoy a day of rafting on the Thompson. We can only hope that the popularity of this service will push Hyak into extending it to include weekends.

This coyote calls the Thompson River drainage home.

Kumsheen Rafting Adventures offers a “Three Hour Whitewater Quickie” which can be undertaken in a day if travelling by Greyhound. See <http://www.car-free.ca/miscellaneous/appendix/getting-to-hope-&-lytton.html>Getting to Hope & Lytton. This package is not offered on weekends and does not include lunch but does cram 18 of the Thompson’s gnarliest rapids into a compact adrenaline rush for thrill seekers in a hurry. Those recreating at a less frenzied pace may want to consider over-nighting at Kumsheen’s riverside resort and undertaking one of their other single or multi-day rafting packages. Kumsheen is located along the banks of the Thompson River just 5 km east of Lytton. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the rafting company’s doorstep.

Many other companies have developed luxury, full-service camping resorts from which they base their rafting operations. Fraser River Raft Expeditions offers free rustic camping at their home base near Yale. Rent or bring your own tent or use their giant teepee free of charge when signing up for a raft trip. Fraser River Raft Expeditions offers both the usual Thompson River day trip and a power-rafting scream through Hell’s Gate on the mighty, muddy Fraser River. Because of scheduling, neither can be undertaken as a simple, car-free day trip from Vancouver.

If a single day of punishment is not nearly enough, the truly jaded might find what they’re looking for in a wham-bam two-day package that splices together the Fraser and its biggest tributary, the Thompson River, with a night of riverside camping in between at the mouth of the Nahatlatch River.

Ask the bus driver to drop you off on the highway in front of the rafting company’s base of operations just 22 km past Hope. Alternately, since Hope is much more frequently serviced by bus, arrange for staff to pick you up in Hope when you make your rafting reservation.

The Westender <<->> Tongue Twisters

Chilliwack River Paddle Rafting

The closest commercial rafting tours can be found on the Chilliwack River just one hour from Vancouver. And while the Chilliwack River suffers from a relatively short season it makes up for it in bumps, grinds and pure white water excitement. Dropping at a rate of 7 metres per kilometre, the Chilliwack is known for seemingly endless stretches of froth and foam.

The Tamahi Rapids in particular are home of the annual Canadian Kayaking Championships. The Chilliwack River is rated at between class iii & iv and rocks n’ rolls through high water season from May to the end of July. During that time consumer-savvy Hyak Wilderness Adventures operates a daily shuttle service from downtown Vancouver. Pick up at 8 AM can be arranged from any major hotel. Hyak’s Chilliwack River paddle-rafting tour lasts 4½ hours and includes a riverside feast. As an added touch participants can warm up at the end of the day with hot showers before returning to the city.

Cattails <<->> Common Ground Magazine

Rafting in Whistler

Rafting from the Whistler area is a happy exception to the inaccessibility rule. Numerous companies offer a selection of outings suited to every skill level and all originate from Whistler Village which is well-serviced by public transportation from the Lower Mainland. See Getting to Whistler.

The following table lists the offerings by river and season and includes average prices. Prices may vary slightly depending on the services offered by individual companies. For exact prices and details of their shuttle services from Whistler Village contact the companies listed below.

River Rafting Introduction <<->> Rogue Waves

River Rafting Introduction

River rafting in British Columbia can be a big letdown. Opportunities abound, of course. Indeed, with so many mountains and so much rain, the river rafting potential is nearly limitless. Innumerable companies offer a wide variety of rafting experiences for a range of skill levels from easy to challenging. The downside is, without a car, many of these opportunities are not practical even though rafting is the one outdoor activity that truly lends itself to communal modes of transportation.

Drawing largely on the Lower Mainland market, commercial rafting companies have tended to proliferate in just a few regions, notably the Thompson-Fraser drainage, the Chilliwack River and Whistler areas. As a consequence a rather silly scenario unfolds daily during prime rafting season. Hundreds of people in dozens of cars set out at approximately the same time each day for approximately the same destinations following the same crowded highways to do exactly the same sort of thing. Yet, thinking only inside the box, no one has come up with a shuttle service to link all these customers with all these rafting companies. The infrequency and logistics of existing public transportation often demand that would-be rafters must turn what should be a day trip into an overnighter or even a weekender in some cases. Fortunately, some exceptions do apply. Those are detailed below. Those companies not listed may come to realize that a certain segment of the recreating public is beginning to demand “ecotourism” that is environmentally friendly from start to finish.

On the matter of safety, all rafting guides must pass a stringent certification procedure before being licensed to operate in the province of British Columbia. All companies include rain gear or wet suits where appropriate as well as life jackets, paddles and usually lunch. Guests are encouraged to bring swimsuits and running shoes for in the raft and should also bring a complete change of clothes for aprés-splash. There are essentially three kinds of rafting in British Columbia. Power rafting requires at least the fitness ability to hold on and scream. Guests enjoy the ride and take in the scenery while an outboard motor does most of the work. Paddle rafting demands that participants all chip in, paddling frantically to navigate past midstream obstacles at the river guide’s command. An oar and paddle combo works similarly with all the frenetic paddling of the above but the guide exercises additional control over the craft using long oars.

Puffballs <<->> Rafting in Whistler