Chilko River
British Columbia, Canada
| Difficulty: | Class 3-4 The rapids in Cataract Canyon are generally rated Class III in April, September and October, Class III+ in August, Class III+ to IV in July, and IV to V with peak water usually occurring during the last week of May and the first week of June during maximum snow melt. |
| Length: | 100 miles / 4-6 days |
| Season: | April - October |
| Best rapids: | Big Drop 1, 2 & 3 |
The Chilko starts at the north end of Ts’yl-os Provincial Park. Established in 1994, Ts’yl-os (pronounced sigh loss) is 233,240 hectares in the Chilcotin Ranges of the Coast Mountains. Though there is much to explore in the region, it is rugged and un-serviced leaving its visitors up to their own devices. The put-in for the Chilko is a 1-hour flight or 12-hour drive from Vancouver. Commercial trips are prohibited to use the park boat ramps but private trips can so long as they pay the appropriate park user fees.The Chilko is a fast flowing river averaging more than 8 miles per hour and as much as 20 miles per hour in some sections. The upper river offers several miles of floating and features class I and II water that is frequented by logjams and debris. The upper section is also a class II fishery and requires special license and a daily tag for trout fishing.
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