Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser River Expedition

Outside magazine choose our Chilko trip as the BEST River Trip on the planet in 2014 because the Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser River is unmatched in its awesome diversity and enormous stretches of Class IV white-water.

This world-class river adventure winds through lush alpine forests, narrow canyons, high desert plateaus and sky-scraping hoodoos, then ends 3,000 vertical feet lower and one week later on the Fraser River, the lifeblood of Canada’s largest river system. The route runs through Lava, Big John and Farwell canyons and includes the longest stretch of commercially navigable white-water in North America.

The trip begins in Vancouver with a spectacular flight over the Coast Mountains to Chilko Lake where you’ll check in for 2 fabulous nights at Bear Camp before venturing down this legendary waterway.  We think celebrated author Pam Houston sums the river trip up best:

“We spent 2 nights at Bear Camp then 6 days rafting the Chilko, Chilcotin, and Fraser Rivers with ROAM in British Columbia and had the most fantastic time! Bear Camp is true paradise in the wilderness. Incredible scenery, lovely safari like accommodations, fantastic food, wonderful staff, and terrific opportunities to explore the region on foot, kayak, and paddleboard. It was such a privilege to be surrounded by majestic mountains in full comfort! Rafting the rivers was extraordinary and we loved every minute! The rapids were exhilarating and non-stop through lava canyon. We saw bear, deer, bald eagles, and tons of wildflowers. The food was exceptional as were the guides! They were all incredibly professional knowledgeable, trustworthy, hardworking, and great cooks! My husband and I have rafted many rivers and I have to say this is my favorite for a true backcountry wilderness experience with all the luxuries of guided trips.” — Rachael Long

The Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser is much more than this, but we think you get the picture!

Itinerary at a Glance

• Meet in Vancouver where we board a scenic charter flight to Williams Lake. From there we’ll shuttle across the Chilcotin Plateau to Bear Camp
• Spend two glorious nights in the luxury safari-style platform tents at Bear Camp on the banks of the Chilko River
• Bike, paddle, fish or simply relax in the Chilcotin wilderness; enjoy fabulous chef-prepared meals
• Start your river adventure with 20 miles of swift current and mellow rapids watching for bears and eagles
• Descend through Lava Canyon and challenge the longest, continuous stretch of whitewater on the continent – heart stopping hydraulics and towering, standing waves cascade for more than 18 miles through deep and narrow lava gorges
• Run the “Gap”—a 20-foot wide chute that carries us into the Chilcotin Plateau
• Visit an ancient First Nation’s fishing spot deep in the 1500-foot canyon
• Soak up the scenery or hike at Big Creek
• Negotiate S-Bend and Big Creek rapid. Enjoy fun splashy rapids and the accelerating current as we whirl past towering hoodoos and dramatic canyons
• Challenge Farewell, The Gates of Mordor and Big John Canyon, a stretch of the Chilcotin featuring countless massive wave trains
• Shuttle to the airstrip in Williams Lake for the spectacular flight back to Vancouver

Air Packages:

• Air travel from Vancouver to Williams Lake and back to Vancouver is included in your trip costs. Direct flights from Vancouver to Bear Camp may be booked for an additional $600/person.

What to Expect on the Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser River Expedition

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips in the area, and sometimes the weather. Our daily distances can fluctuate depending on weather, activities, and National Park notices. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like.

Day One:

We meet in Vancouver for our flights.  (Please review our various flight options but in any event make sure your gear is packed in soft luggage as this will allow for easy storage and transfer into the aircraft).  As soon as everyone’s gear is stowed, we will board our plane for the incredible flight over the mountains and glaciers to Williams Lake. There, our comfortable shuttle will meet you and transport you westward across the Chilcotin Plateau to Bear Camp

Once at Bear Camp, on the banks of the Chilko River, we’ll settle in to our luxury safari-style platform tents before exploring the stunning surroundings before returning to a gourmet welcoming dinner.

Day Two:

After a delicious and hearty breakfast, you can choose to mountain bike, inflatable kayak on the friendly waters of the upper Chilko River, cast a line for trout, sea kayak, SUP or simply hang out in our scenic riverside camp. Yet another gourmet meal signals the end of an epic day and following some pre-trip instructions, we’ll head off for another peaceful night as our minds dance with thoughts of tomorrow’s rafting adventure.

Day Three:

Today we’ll rise early and pack up your gear into waterproof bags to be stowed on our expedition rafts. You will be assigned your personal wet suit, pdf and helmet and after a thorough safety briefing, we begin our rafting adventure with a 20-mile scenic float from Bear Camp to our first camp at Bear’s Den. We will keep an eye out for bald eagles, and the occasional bear along the shore as we fall into the relaxed flow of river travel. Those looking for some splashy fun can try out an inflatable kayak. Arriving at camp in the afternoon, we’ll transfer our gear to our preset tents and then meet in the dining tent for cocktails and dinner.

Day Four:

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll break camp, stow our gear and don our wetsuits, pdfs and helmets before pushing off into the river. As the current quickens, so do our heartbeats knowing what’s in store. We descend through Lava Canyon and challenge the longest, continuous rapids of the trip. Heart-stopping hydraulics and towering, standing waves cascade for more than 18 miles through deep and narrow lava gorges, making for some non-stop excitement. It is no surprise Lava Canyon has become world-famous among white-water enthusiasts. We will stop at Bumper Camp, a secluded riverside camp just below where the river doubles in size as the turquoise Taseko River joins the Chilko.  At camp, a delightful evening under the stars and celebration is in order after a fun-filled day of adventure.

Day Five:

This morning the river valley opens as we emerge on the Chilcotin Plateau. Birdlife abounds and our casual float is a welcome reprieve after yesterday’s excitement. This will be a great day for trying the oars or paddling an inflatable kayaks and everyone will be encouraged to give it a try.  Arriving relatively early into camp, there will be time for swimming or reading around the campfire. Try your hand at some fishing or sit and watch the sunset on the metamorphic rocks across the valley.

Day Six:

An early departure will set the stage for an action-packed day.  In the morning, we will enjoy some friendly Class II and III rapids before arriving at our lunch site at an ancient First Nation fishing spot deep in the 1500 ft. canyons. This stop offers outstanding hiking, swimming and for the more adventurous, cliff jumping into the refreshing waters of the Chilcotin. After lunch we can ride the Goose Neck Rapids while golden eagles soar high above us. Tonight, we’ll camp at the confluence of Big Creek.

Day Seven:

After a leisurely day yesterday, we will break camp and immediately enter the Big Creek rapids.  Lots of fun splashy rapids and accelerating current keep the pace up as we whirl past towering hoodoos and dramatic canyons. Today’s adventures include a wild ride through Farwell Canyon as we eventually enter California bighorn sheep country.  After lunch, we float through a California Big Horn sheep reserve and hopefully we spot a herd or two from the rivers’ edge.  In short time we’ll enter the Gates of Mordor and challenge Big John Canyon. This stretch of the Chilcotin features countless massive wave trains that roller coaster for miles in a rushing chorus down deep desert canyons only to dissipate into the mighty volume of the Fraser River. In this country, there will be plenty of photo opportunities for the camera buff. The rolling grasslands and the massive canyons provide a dramatic backdrop to the white-water experience.  Tonight we will camp on one of the many massive beaches of the Fraser River.

Day Eight:

After a peaceful float down the mighty Fraser we’ll arrive at our take-out point by the historic Gang Ranch. Here we’ll board our vehicles for the shuttle to Williams Lake to meet our plane for the spectacular ride back over the Coast Mountains and eventually reach the Pacific.  Weather permitting, we plan to arrive back at the Vancouver airport by 3:00 PM.

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