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BC rivers: giv’r.

 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.

Featured Waterways

Discover some of BC’s best rivers.

Beaver River

Located 50 kilometres west of Golden, this river is a tributary of the Columbia and flows into Glacier National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the country.

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Bull River

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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Cheakamus River

The “Cheak” is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the province and for good reason.

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Columbia River

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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Cottonwood River

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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Kicking Horse River

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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Canoe, Kayak, Kayak Fishing, Lakes, Ocean, Paddleboard, Rafting & Rivers

How To Paddle Safely in British Columbia

From sea kayaking Howe Sound to rafting the rapids of Golden’s Kicking Horse River, the province of British Columbia offers something for every kind of paddler. But it’s important to know how…

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