| 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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