A Whitewater guide to the rivers of chile
Flowing off the Western flank of Volcan El Mocho (2422 meters) in Chile´s 14th Region de Los Lagos is a fun, springtime, steep-creek. The river is fed by crystal clear snowmelt with a short springtime season. The class 3-4 creek is very steep with average gradient of 42 m/km (210 FPM) and requires very little [...]
Posted on December 6th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, class 4 | No Comments »
A fun class 3+ run in Chile´s South Central Andes. Flowing off the North Western Flank of the imposing Sierra Velluda (2448 meters), the Rio Rucue is a mellow springtime creek run. Crystal-clear, cold water and an undisturbed streambed make for a pleasant float thru native forests in Chile´s 8th region. Whitewater on Rio Rucue [...]
Posted on November 30th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: class 3 | No Comments »
A Native Mapuche word perhaps meaning ¨rock magic¨ Cura-rock, Calcu-witchcraft Located in the comuna de Cunco, Region de la Araucania, Chile´s 9th region… A low elevation run flowing off the north western flank of the permanent snowfields of Nevados de Solipulli with adequate water levels in the winter-early spring months from August to mid October [...]
Posted on November 14th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, class 4, class 5, pucon, Region IX, waterfalls | No Comments »
The Rio Cato is mellow, class 3, low elevation drainage in Chile´s south central Andes located immediately to the south of it´s more famous neighbor the Rio Ñuble. The beautiful valley makes up for the lack of challenging whitewater and boat hiking is the only means to get up the river. To arrive from Chillan [...]
Posted on November 8th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region VIII | No Comments »
One of many overlooked tributaries of the Bio Bio in Chile´s 8th Region. The Quillaleo (pronounce Ki-yah-leh-yo) is an upper tributary of the Huequecura, which enters the Bio bio downstream of the Queuco confluence. Rio Quillaleo The Quillaleo has its headwaters in the Cordillera Tricauco with the most outstanding peak being the snowcapped behemoth Cerro [...]
Posted on October 7th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region VIII | 1 Comment »
The Rio Claro is a small creek in downtown Pucon..It is more of a novelty run for locals in the winter months or when everything else is too high.. Logistics are absolutely simple. The creek flows off the NE flank of Villarrica Volcano and is a source of Pucon´s drinking water. It is 3 KM [...]
Posted on August 18th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: class 3, class 4, pucon | 4 Comments »
The Rio Mosco flows from the Mosco glaciar just outside of Villa O´higgins, and is a nice little run if you are in town and don´t want to drive anywhere. However, you either have to hike in, or rent horses that will take you half way. There is a trail, on both sides of the [...]
Posted on June 3rd, 2011 by mariann
Filed under: class 3, class 4, Region X | No Comments »
Hundreds of people visit the Futaleufu River in Chile´s XI region every year for its pristine whitewater and unforgettable scenery but few even know of the gem that lies upstream on the other side of the border. Nice rapid on Rio Frey The Rio Frey is the name of the big volume river in Argentina [...]
Posted on April 2nd, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: argentina, class 3, class 4 | No Comments »
The headwaters of Chile´s Rio Palena are found in the Chubut region of Argentina where the river is called the Corcovado or the Carrenleufú . Kayaker Eva Luna Ramirez There are three distinct sections to the river. The upper, seldom run class 4-5 stretch requires permission to enter Estancia Tecka 7 KM below Sectional Caridad [...]
Posted on March 6th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: argentina, class 2, class 3 | No Comments »
Big volume, warm water playboating in Southern Chile. Draining Lago Puyehuehue, the river forms the boundary between the 14th Region de los Rios and the 9th Region de los Lagos. Easy logistics and a nearby town make for a fun day of boating. Hike in to Pilmaiquen From Ruta 5 take the Osorno exit and [...]
Posted on January 26th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region IX, Region XIV De Los Rios | 3 Comments »
A class 3 run through a seldom visited part of Southern Chile. Flowing off the snowfields of Cerro Puntiagudo, the Coihueco provides for some spectacular scenery and a nice day of mellow whitewater in the Region de Los Lagos. To reach the river from Ruta 5 take the paved road to Puerto Octay. From here [...]
Posted on January 26th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region X | No Comments »
A small class 3 creek with its headwaters in Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales in Chile´s 10th Region de Los Lagos. Flowing north off the snow capped peak of Osorno (2652 meters), this small volume creek offers an interesting option while in the Lago Llanquihue area. Put in Rio Blanco de Coihueco To reach the [...]
Posted on January 26th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region X | No Comments »
The Hueinahue makes a bold statement 7.5 KM before it enters Lago Mahuie. Here the river tumbles over a spectacular bedrock falls before joining the Rio Remahue and flowing into the lake. The Rio Remahue (which contains about two thirds of the combined flow) makes an even bolder statement plunging over 200 meters just above [...]
Posted on January 25th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, class 4, class 5, Region XIV De Los Rios | No Comments »
Draining Lago Colico in Chile’s 9th region is a continuous, friendly class 2-3 whitewater river best run in winter or early summer only when lake is full at peak snowmelt. Since the river is lake fed its volume changes very little in summer even after large rainfall. The river is very clear and not so [...]
Posted on December 12th, 2010 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 2, class 3, Region IX | No Comments »
A river festival to help save and protect the nuble river is taking place in San Fabian de Alico November 18-20 Jon Clark has just setup a blog here –http://www.nublefest.blogspot.com/ The nuble is one the most beautiful ( big warm blue water ) and friendliest (safe ) rivers in Chile and is currently under threat [...]
Posted on November 18th, 2010 by Fields Marshall
Filed under: class 3, class 4 | No Comments »
The famed Bío-Bío, Chile’s second longest river, originates in the heart of Mapuche-Pehuenche territory. The nacimiento, or birthplace of the river, is primeval and unforgettable. Araucarias, one of the Earth’s three oldest surviving tree species, stand sentinel along a shore framed by distant peaks straddling the border between Chile and Argentina. Float this headwater run [...]
Posted on November 25th, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 2, class 3, Region IX | No Comments »
Although the upper canyons now lay dormant under man made reservoirs, the lowest section of the Bío-Bío still offers intermittent whitewater, easy access, and pleasant scenery and a reminder of what was lost upstream. Its class II-III rapids will challenge, terrify, and delight the novice. During the mellow interludes, you will have plenty of time [...]
Posted on November 25th, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 2, class 3, Region IX | 1 Comment »
To reach the put-in from Curracautín go west on the paved road towards Victoria and you will cross Puente Dillo in 4-1/2 kilometers (first you will pass over Puente Amantible). After crossing the bridge immediately turn right and drive up a private road until you reach a locked gate. We were given permission from landowner [...]
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, class 4, Region IX | No Comments »
The Captren flows off the snow-covered, north western flank of Volcan Llaima (3125 meters) and has it’s headwaters within The Parque Nacional Conguillio at Laguna Captren. The river, however, is not runnable in its upper reaches but instead provides the right combination of gradient and flow for it’s final 3 km descent to the confluence [...]
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, class 4, Region IX, waterfalls | No Comments »
The Rio Blanco is an easy access, class 3 run flowing off the snowfields on the southern flank of Volcan Tolhuaca. Tolhuaca Volcano view from put in The run is best done during peak spring runoff or after extended periods of heavy rain. The water is ice cold. It is perhaps the only run in [...]
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 3, Region IX | No Comments »
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