It's called the "Mighty Columbia" for a reason.
The Columbia River between Castlegar and Trail offers something for every kind of paddler. Calm eddies and quiet coves invite canoeists, scenic stretches are ideal for paddleboard tours, and remote beaches reward kayakers looking to explore. It’s also one of the region’s best-kept secrets for kayak anglers looking for their next big catch.
Though the Columbia stretches 2,000 kilometres from its headwaters to the Pacific Ocean, it remains remarkably accessible in Castlegar. Millennium Park, near the city’s downtown core, sits directly on the river’s edge, making it easy to launch whether you have an hour or a full day to explore. Out on the water, paddlers are treated to sweeping mountain views and plenty of natural landing spots. Wildlife is common including osprey and eagles overhead and deer, otters and beaver on the shoreline. Below the surface, swim trout, walleye, pike, the protected white sturgeon, which can grow to be 12 feet (3.6m) long! (Thankfully they’re completely harmless to humans.)
- Waterway Area50 kms from Castlegar to Trail
- Difficulty LevelClass I (Easy), Class II (Novice), Class III (Intermediate)
- Type of PaddlingCanoe, Kayak, Kayak Fishing, Paddleboard, Rafting
- SeasonAll Year
- Waterway AccessHigh Volume Class River – beware of undercurrents even in calmer flat waters
- Waterway FeaturesWood Hazards, Rapids, Play Features, Whirlpools
- Known HazardsThe 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.
- Waterway AccessHigh Volume Class River – beware of undercurrents even in calmer flat waters
- Waterway FeaturesWood Hazards, Rapids, Play Features, Whirlpools
- Known HazardsThe 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.
- Waterway Area50 kms from Castlegar to Trail
- Difficulty LevelClass I (Easy), Class II (Novice), Class III (Intermediate)
- Type of PaddlingCanoe, Kayak, Kayak Fishing, Paddleboard, Rafting
- SeasonAll Year
Columbia River (Castlegar)
Robson Ferry Landing
Genelle Boat Launch
Waldie Island
Zuckerberg Island
Kinnard Bridge
Grant’s Fine Dining
Robson Boat Launch
Millennium Park Boat Launch
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