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It's called the Mighty Columbia for a reason

The section of the Columbia River between the Kootenay cities of Castlegar and Trail offers something for most every kind of paddler and length of trip: there are mellow eddies and coves to canoe in, paddleboard tours, unique kayak destinations and, perhaps the best-kept secret of this region, there are many incredible spots for kayak anglers to cast in.

In fact, Chris Ryman, owner of Endless Adventure, says “the potential for kayak fishing here is tremendous.” The other great part about this section of the Columbia River, which has an entire length of 2,000 kilometres from headwaters to the Pacific Ocean, is it’s incredibly easy to access from Castlegar. In fact, the city’s Millennium Park near its downtown core is located on the shores of the river. This section of the Columbia River in Castlegar offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and many spots in which to go ashore. Paddlers can expect to see everything from deer and black bears to otters and beavers on the shoreline. There’s also an incredible variety of birds: Castlegar boasts the second-highest number of species spotted in the province. Definitely bring binoculars to spy everything from bald eagles to hummingbirds. Under the surface of the water are rainbow and bull trout, walleye and pike, which provide for world-class fishing. There are also white sturgeon, which have been around since the Paleozoic Era. They can’t be fished in these waters but they can be seen, especially in shallow sandy areas in the Spring months. Endless Adventure even offers Paddleboard Sturgeon spotting tours in May and June.

Quick Facts

Length: 50 kms from Castlegar to Trail
Season: Year-round
Style: Whitewater/Moving Water
Difficulty: Class I-III
River Features: Wood Hazards, Rapids, Play Features, Whirlpools
Access: High Volume Class River – beware of undercurrents even in calmer flat waters
Experiences: Canoe/Kayak/SUP – Guided paddling excursions and Sturgeon Search paddleboard tour.

Known Hazards:

The Columbia River is actively used for power production as well as flood mitigation, this means flow levels could change at any point. Power Production can also lead to an increased amount of wood debris in the water.

Robson to Genelle

  • 1

    Robson Ferry Landing

  • 2

    Waldie Island

    This place is a protected Blue Heron bird sanctuary known as the Waldie Island Heron reserve.

  • 3

    Millenium Park

    Offers easy access to the Columbia River and, in the summer months the current is negligible so it’s fun for the whole family to paddle around the sandy beaches here.

  • 4

    Zuckerberg Island

    The Island park will take you back several thousand years to when the Lakes Salish people first fished and built their winter pit-houses; when explorer David Thompson sailed down the Columbia River over 200 years ago and when Alexander Zuckerberg built his unique Russian Orthodox Chapel House.

  • 5

    Robson Bridge & Kinnard Bridge

    Strong down current, beware of pinning and underwater hazards posed by bridge pilings.

  • 6

    Waterloo Eddy

    Turbulent water!

    Waterloo Eddy Regional Park, a 3.7-hectare waterfront park along the eastern shores of the Columbia River, south of Castlegar, BC, offers day-use recreation for local residents. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and nature appreciation in this serene setting.

  • 7

    Genelle Boat Launch

    Your journey winds to a close at the Genelle Boat Launch—a calm, welcoming take-out point nestled along the Columbia’s edge. As the final stop on your self-guided paddling adventure, it offers an easy landing and a quiet moment to reflect. Pull your board or kayak ashore, take in the sweeping river views one last time, and celebrate the paddle that brought you here.

Paddle pros

Here are the experts who will help perfect your paddling trip.

Tours
Castlegar Sculpturewalk

The Castlegar Sculpturewalk transforms downtown Castlegar into a vibrant outdoor art gallery, showcasing an exciting collection of contemporary sculptures by both local and international artists. This annual exhibition invites visitors to explore the city through the lens of public art, with each piece offering a unique perspective and creative expression. As you stroll through the walkable downtown core, don’t forget to vote for your favourite sculpture—the winner of the People’s Choice Award earns a permanent place in the city’s growing art collection.

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Tours
Endless Adventure – SUP Sturgeon Search

Endless Adventure offers thrilling rafting tours, kayak courses, paddleboard rentals, team building programs, and more in the beautiful Slocan Valley of British Columbia.

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Scotties Marina
Rentals
Scotties Marina

Scotties Marina offers a scenic waterfront vacation rental suite, moorage, fuel, fishing derby, and kayak/paddle board rentals on the pristine Lower Arrow Lake.

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Explore more in this community.

Every corner of BC has something unique to offer. From freshwater lakes on Vancouver Island to rafting on the whitewater of Squamish, you will never find a shortage of amazing paddling.

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