Imagine standing on a paddle board watching a prehistoric river giant swimming underneath your SUP. The clear waters in the Columbia River near Castlegar, BC, allow paddlers the chance to see groups of Sturgeon up close from the view of a paddle board and local guiding company Endless Adventure offers tours that teach you how to paddle a SUP and then take you on a journey down the river for a chance to catch a glimpse of the prehistoric fish.
Castlegar is a hotspot for paddling opportunities. It is located at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers, with three major lakes, Arrow Lake, Slocan Lake, and Kootenay Lake, all within an hour’s drive. These waterways offer opportunities for everything from whitewater rafting and flatwater canoeing to wave kayaking and flatwater paddleboarding.
Rafting on the Slocan River
The Slocan River offers opportunities for family-friendly gentle rafting tours on the upper section of the river and whitewater rapids running up to class III at the right time of year. Whether you are into a gentle float or an adrenaline rush, Endless Adventure can take care of your needs on a guided trip.
The Gentle Rafting Trip starts at the Endless Adventure Base in the Crescent Valley. Once the guide introduces you to the gear and the flow of the river, you can practice your paddle technique or sit back and relax while the professional guide shares stories of the majestic Slocan. On the trip, you can expect to see beautiful sandy beaches to swim at, have the chance to spot eagles, osprey, heron, beaver, and elk, and also have the opportunity to try body surfing down the river.
Whitewater lovers can embark on an adventure down the famous Slocan River rapids, including the initiation rapid, G-force rapid and the roller coaster known as the elevator waves, where you will practice maneuvering with your team and prepare to challenge the thrilling Faccina rapids.
Canoeing on Arrow Lakes
The Selkirk Mountains and Monashee Mountains climb up to 2600 meters from the east and west shores of the Arrow Lakes north of Castlegar. Originally separated by 23km of river, the Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes became one large lake after the creation of the Keenleyside dam in the 1960s. Experienced paddlers looking for a longer self-supported adventure can take up to 10 days to venture the entirety of the Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes from Revelstoke to Castlegar. There are also many options for shorter adventures along the lakes, from a multi-day trip on the Lower Arrow Lake starting at the community of Fauquier and travelling south to Castlegar or a single-day out-and-back trip from Syringa Provincial Park, where paddlers can paddle through a flooded railway tunnel when the water is low in the summer. The surrounding area is home to elk, deer, and Rocky Mountain big horn sheep. Much of the shores can be pretty steep and heavily forested, so it is crucial to plan your put-ins and take-outs carefully. On the lake, there is a combination of recreation sites and provincial park campgrounds totalling seven camping areas scattered between the town of Fauquier and Castlegar on the Lower Arrow Lake that can be pieced together to facilitate a multi-day adventure or be the home base for all your single-day explorations.
Kayak Fishing
The beaches of Syringa Provincial Park, located a short drive from Castlegar, are the perfect place to launch your kayak into Lower Arrow Lake and fish for rainbow or bull trout and kokanee salmon. In fact, the largest Kokanee salmon on Earth was caught in Lower Arrow Lake, weighing a whopping 12.1 pounds.
The confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers also offer excellent kayak fishing opportunities. Millennium Park, located on the edge of the Columbia River, upstream from its confluence with the Kootenay River, is a great option for launching your kayak to fish for walleye and rainbow trout. Although the Columbia and Kootenay rivers are usually a perfect spot for a gentle paddle, it is important to be aware of water levels, which are typically higher in the spring and can lead to a faster current than expected.
Stand up Paddle Boarding
While the sturgeon spotting tours mentioned at the start of this article will surely be a trip highlight for any paddler, some stand-up paddle boarders may be more interested in hitting a lake. Nancy Greene Lake is perfect for a scenic paddle on a quiet sub-alpine mountain lake. The lake boasts picturesque views of Old Glory Mountain, the tallest peak in the Rossland Range of the Monashee Mountains, and a wetland ecosystem, which is rare at the lake’s elevation. Access to the lake can be found at the Nancy Greene Provincial Park, which also has ten first-come-first-serve campsites.
Castlegar is the land of many water bodies and few crowds, making it the perfect place for paddlers who want to dip their toes into West Kootenay water. It only gets better when you find out there are lots of post-paddle spots to enjoy craft beer and internationally-inspired food in downtown Castlegar. For more info, visit https://www.destinationcastlegar.com/
