A Whitewater guide to the rivers of chile
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 run [...]
Posted on December 2nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4, class 5, pucon | 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: Region IX, chile, class 2, class 3 | 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: Region IX, chile, class 2, class 3 | 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: Region IX, chile, class 3, class 4 | 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: Region IX, chile, class 3, class 4, 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 Chile where [...]
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 3 | No Comments »
Draining the South Western flank of Volcan Llaima (3125 meters) is the deceivingly innocent Rio Calbuco. After meandering thru braided debris flows coming off the flanks of the volcano, the river tightens up at Puente Calbuco for it’s thundering 8 km descent to the confluence with Rio Quepe below town of Cherquenco.
Fields Marshall at confluence [...]
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 3, class 4 | No Comments »
The best stretch of boating on the upper Maichín consists of a section of a class III-IV rapids above Puente Basas. Approximately 1 km below the put-in, the river flows through a 1.5 km long-columnar basalt gorge. The drops are straightforward and boat scoutable from eddies. The cold, clear river flows through a bucolic countryside [...]
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by John Foss (posthumously)
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 3, class 4, pucon | No Comments »
Very similar in character to the nearby Río Ralco, the Chalquilvin is the Lomín’s other major tributary. Its sustained gradient creates many boat-scoutable, pool-drop rapids in a tight, shallow gorge. Unfortunately, when the bridge collapsed over the Lomín, easy access to the Chaquilvin was lost. Now only die-hard boat hikers or horses make the [...]
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by John Foss (posthumously)
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4 | Comments Off
This is a 9 km run with a drop of 124 meters or average of 16 m/km (80 FPM). Best run in spring or early summer when flows exceed 700 CFS but can also be run well into summer at lower flows. The river originates from the snowfields on Volcan Lonquimay [...]
Posted on October 21st, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 3, class 4 | 1 Comment »
This river, although interesting, is not worth going out of your way for. If you are in the Pucon area and more specifically up near the headwaters of the Liucura near the “Los Posones” or Termas de Huife hot springs you might want to check it out.
Polk Deters on Llancalil portage
To get to this stretch [...]
Posted on August 2nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4, pucon | No Comments »
Flowing off of the permanent snow fields of Sollipulli is an ice cold tributary of the upper Maichin. It is short, not very difficult but incredibly beautiful. I ran this with Zack “Del Sapo” Cowen in early December 2004
I would not go out of way to run this river but given its simple logistics if [...]
Posted on August 2nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, pucon | No Comments »
This novelty run is only for those curious folks who are in the Pucon area and have already done every river imaginable. It is one of dozens of rivers named Rio Blanco in Chile.
I first looked at this river in 1994 but it was almost impossible to scout. Although there is a road above the [...]
Posted on August 2nd, 2009 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4, pucon | No Comments »
The Queupude along with adjacent river the Alpehue both flow off Northern side of Volcan Solipulli and along with Rio Truful-Truful eventually merge into the Allípen. In early January 1995 I drove up this drainage with John Foss, Clay Wright and Josh Lowry. What we found was a pair of the strangest kayak runs imaginable [...]
Posted on February 1st, 2008 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4 | No Comments »
Flowing off the southern side of Volcan Llaima (3125 m) is one of the best class 3 runs in Chile. The crystal clear waters cascade through lava fields at a breakneck pace while the surrouning snow peaks are fringed with Aruacaria trees making for an exciting and beautiful trip. The river name is [...]
Posted on April 25th, 2007 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 3 | No Comments »
How to describe the the Rio Quepe is a paradox. One description is terrifying class 3 but because of the committing nature and one 5+ canyon I would say it is better described as class four difficulty with long portage. The source of the river is a high lake on the western flank of Volcan [...]
Posted on April 19th, 2007 by kurt casey
Filed under: Region IX, chile, class 4 | No Comments »
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