What’s the Scoop? – VI Whitewater.

What’s The Scoop on Vancouver Island Whitewater
Words by Heather Buckingham
Photos by Heather Buckingham & Garrett Quinn

About the Island: Vancouver Island is a paradise for whitewater paddling. With over 50 well known runs, and closer to 100 that are paddle-able, Vancouver Island is endowed with a high concentration of quality creeks. There is a variety of whitewater from class II to V (though most Island paddlers will call it IV+), and there are still first descents to be had! Rivers on Vancouver Island are fed primarily by rainfall, and with relatively short source to sea distances, they also tend to be quite flashy in nature. After a significant dump of rain, a river may go from too low to too high and back down again within a couple of days, or even faster. If it’s raining hard when you put onto a river, you can usually expect it to start rising as you paddle downstream, and it’s important to keep vigilant and not get flooded off! There is a short snowmelt season in June, and the North-Island rivers (north and west of Campbell River) tend to hold their water better than the South-Island rivers. 

When to go: The main paddling season for the Island begins sporadically in the fall and more consistently in the winter and spring. The words you want to look out for in the weather forecast are “atmospheric river.” It is difficult to plan a weekend paddling trip to the Island as the rivers are so rain dependent. There can be a brief burst of rain in Sept/Oct, but you certainly can’t count on it. November to June tends to be the most reliable time to predict rain, though it doesn’t happen every day or even every week, sometimes we go for a month without rain in a dry spell. If planning a trip to the Island, it’s best to book off a week or more around a rain event. There is one river (Cowichan, class III) that is paddle-able year round. 

Where to go: There are several “zones” on Vancouver Island, all with their wealth of gems of whitewater. In the south end of the Island, you will find the highest concentration of paddlers (Victoria), who like to frequent classics like: 

• Gordon River (IV) – four sections on this run from III+ to V, quality creeking
• Koksilah (III+) – great introductory creeking run
• Cowichan (III) – novice run that can be paddled year-round
• Copper Canyon (IV) – a committing but beautiful creek

Mid Island has a plethora of options if you’re willing to put a few km under your tires to chase the water. These classics include:

• Cameron (IV) – 4km of non stop quality class IV whitewater
• Sarita (V) – best known waterfall run on the Island, with three drops between 20-50ft
• Puntledge (III) – the Island’s best play run and river surf waves
• Browns (IV) – a little waterfall, a slide, and some fun boogie
• Oyster (III+) – great river run

The north end of the Island has the highest concentration of rivers, with amazing well-worth-your-time whitewater in each area:

• Gold River – one of my personal favourite zones on the Island, and considered the “promised land” by some, has over a dozen high quality runs from class II-V, all within a 45min drive from town. 
  • Gold River: Upper Upper (IV) / Monkey Canyon (V) / Upper (IV) / Middle (II) / Lower (III+) – five sections of quality fun from start to finish
  • Upana (V) – creeking with waterfalls
  • Heber (IV) – two stunning canyons with an adventure portage and take out at the ball-diamond in town.
  • Ucona (IV) / Pamela  (V) / Quatchka (IV) – three rivers with the same take-out, creeking with waterfalls, some of the best whitewater on the Island
• Sayward and Woss – the true north end of the Island, these runs feel a little more remote but are cloaked in beauty. The classics:
  • White River Canyon (IV) – fun drops and amazing flowy whitewater 
  • Adam River (III+) – superb pool-drop intro creeking run in lush rainforest 
  • Kokish (V) – stacked class V boulder boogie in north-Island coastal jungle
  • Nimpkish (III) – best multi-day river on the Island

Finding Beta: Liquid Lore and Paddling Maps have some current beta on Island Rivers. There is an old guidebook which is difficult to acquire by Betty Pratt-Johnson. A Backroads MapBook is essential for many rivers, and also has some river beta at the back. Check out Facebook groups like the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society or the UVic Kayak Club to connect with locals who know the rivers well. If my partner and I get our act together, we are hoping to put a new guidebook out soon – keep your eyes out later in 2021!