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 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 Ñiblinto is a newly found classic flowing of the NorthWest flank of the Chillan Volcano in Chile´s Central Andes. The class 4-5 run features crsytal-clear, cold water and a mature granite streambed. Apart from one misplaced tree all drops were runnable on the Nov 2, 2011 first descent where we estimated a very manageable [...]
Posted on November 9th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: class 4, class 5, Region VIII | 2 Comments »
The crystal clear water flowing of the Western Flank of the Nevados de Chillan Volcano (3212 Meters above sea level)are perfectly matched with basalt sluiceways, making for fun class 3-4 kayak run. The Rio Chillan is a winter and early spring run in Chile´s 8th Region. We ran the river in late October with around [...]
Posted on October 17th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, Region VIII | No Comments »
The Rio Ñirementum is a journey deep into Chile´s traditional Mapuche culture. The river is within the boundaries of the Cañicu Indigenous clan, one of several in the Queuco valley in the country´s 8th Region. The name means ¨place of foxes¨. Puente Ñirementum This walk in creek is only runnable in winter or early spring [...]
Posted on October 8th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, Region VIII | No Comments »
A fun creek run flowing off the Cordillera Huerere into the Northwestern corner of Lago Colico in Chile´s 9th Region de la Araucania. The roadside run is low volume with good gradient, and crystal clear water flowing through a still predominantly native forest. Codihue is a local Mapuche (Mapudungun) word meaning ¨place of rocks¨ Class [...]
Posted on August 31st, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, pucon, Region IX | No Comments »
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 »
This is a gem that is well worth to drive south for. About half an hour before you get to Villa O`higgins you will cross the river on your way on the Carretera Austral. Rio Mayer flows lazily under the roadbridge, but just upstream awaits the adventures. When driving towards Villa O´higgins take the first [...]
Posted on June 6th, 2011 by mariann
Filed under: class 4, class 5 | 1 Comment »
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 »
Following the road from Villa O´higgins to Lago Christie close to the Argentine border, you will have to do a rivercrossing that requires a 4×4. Rio Perez will be on your left, and it is easy to scout from the road. The section is short, and with a messy 20 meter drop easily scouted from [...]
Posted on June 1st, 2011 by mariann
Filed under: chile, class 4, Region XI | 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 »
A new classic flowing off the northern flanks of the Puyehue Volcano (2240 meters) in Chile’s Region de Los Rios. The river feeds into southern shore of Lago Ranco. Fields Marshall below first drop This small volume creek has easy access and requires little water to make it runnable. The volcanic riverbed provides for multiple [...]
Posted on January 25th, 2011 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, class 5, map, Region XIV De Los Rios | 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 »
Most people think of the Bio Bio River drainage and envision the three large dams choking a once magnificent river. While true, smaller volume, free-flowing, whitewater opportunities are still abundant in the Bio Bio watershed. Once such gem is the Rio Pangue which has remarkably easy logistics. This creek run flows of the Southern flank [...]
Posted on December 16th, 2010 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, class 5, Region VIII | No Comments »
The Rio Las Truchas is one of the few multi-day river trips in Chile and features both outstanding whitewater and spectacular scenery. It is an upper tributary of the Ñuble River (see separate description) and needs to be run with spring and early summer snow melt so best from late September to mid/late November with [...]
Posted on December 15th, 2010 by Laura Farrell
Filed under: chile, class 4, class 5, Region VIII | 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 »
A short burst of paddling in the Futrono Zone. Best during highwater springtime run off or after periods of sustained rain. Caunehue whitewater This short class IV+ stretch is on the northern shore of Lago Ranco just east of the town of Futrono in Chile’s recently created Region XIV aptly called Region de Los Rios. [...]
Posted on December 11th, 2009 by Valentin
Filed under: chile, class 4, Region XIV De Los Rios | Comments Off
A rumbling steep creek coming off the permanent snowfields of Nevados de Solipulli is the Rio Trafanpulli. In local Mapadungo language the meaning is “junction of the valleys”. French kayaker Valentin Grollemund I first started looking at this creek in 1995 but it was not until 2009 that I was able to get back to [...]
Posted on December 2nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, class 5, pucon, Region IX | No Comments »
The Renegado is a seldom run creek that plummets off of Volcan Chillan (3186 meters). It is small so usually gone by beginning of December but might come up in summer months after several days of heavy rain. Mellow takeout on the Renegado The normal stretch is a class 4, 8 km section with ideal [...]
Posted on November 24th, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: chile, class 4, Region VII | No Comments »
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 »
RSS Feed