There are six major rivers in British Columbia including the Fraser, Columbia, Peace, Skeena, Stikine and Liard and together they offer over 5,500 kilometers of paddling, but that’s only the main channels! Tributaries such as the Kicking Horse, Kootenay, Thompson, and countless others not only provide tens of thousands of kilometers of flowing water, they also offer limitless fun. From whitewater rafting on raging class IV to mellow paddleboard missions between beach-front communities, BC is home to every kind of adventure with enough water to make you cry a river with joyful tears.
Discover some of BC’s best rivers.
Located a scenic 1.5-hour drive from Fernie, the Bull River offers some of the best whitewater in the East Kootenay.
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The “Cheak” is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the province and for good reason.
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The best part about paddling in Castlegar is you can do it right in the heart of the city because the Columbia River flows its way past the downtown core.
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The Columbia River winds its way between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains and through the Columbia Wetlands, home to over 350 species of wildlife. This paddle offers some of the most scenic and easiest paddling in the country.
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Spend an afternoon paddling one of the largest contiguous systems of wetland habitats in North America between Invermere and Radium Hot Springs and take in hundreds of different wildlife species from eagles to moose.
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Joining the Fraser River about 20 kilometres north of Quesnel, the Cottonwood provides both scenic paddling opportunities and exciting kayak fishing for trout and salmon.
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Fernie offers excellent kayaking, canoeing and rafting adventures. From float trips to exciting whitewater, the Elk River and its tributaries offer a wealth of adrenaline, wildlife and relaxation.
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Named by a surveyor in 1858 who was reportedly booted by his pack horse, this world-class river has been thrilling paddlers for decades.
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The Kitimat River Meanders down from glaciers high up in the surrounding coastal mountains until it meets its estuary in the Douglas Channel. The Kitimat River is for paddlers of all levels and those kayakers who love fishing will love angling on the Kitimat River!
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The cedar strip canoe my father and I built together three decades ago is, if I may say, a work of art. It’s graced countless stunning waterways over the years, but few…
Did you know there are crystal clear, teal-blue lakes with road access nestled in the Rocky Mountains without the crowds you see at other popular destinations? Nestled in the heart of the…
Epic views of the Lizard Range catch your eye as you bump over mellow rapids with seven other paddlers standing by your side on a giant 17-foot stand-up paddleboard called a SUPsquatch.…
