From San Fernando, 132 km south of Santiago, drive east 27 km following the signs to Sierra’s de Bellavista. After crossing the Tinguiririca at Puente Negro, continue to the take-out at Puente Las Piñas. Pass through the village of Sierra’s de Bellavista then drive 2 km to Fundo Huemul Alto. Access may be a problem, so make sure you obtain permission to enter the ranch when you drive upstream from Sierra’s de Bellavista. Continue 1 km past Fundo Huemul Alto, keeping to the left when in doubt. Park your car in an open field near the apiary. Walk 1.5 km down to the river on a road that eventually turns into a foot path.. Put-in elevation is 860 meters.

This 12 km class III+ run has average gradient of  15 mpk or 75 FPM with no portages and 400 plus CFS volume only achievable in winter and spring.

Topo map titled Sierras de Bellavista, Río Clarillo

I know of two bailouts and no successful completions on the Upper Cachapoal. One by Lars Holbek, Eric Magneson, and Mark Allen in 1985; the other by Greg Moore and Jerry Kaufman in 1988. From their tales of misery, be assured that climbing out of the steep, thorny, chaparral-choked canyon is an ordeal that you will regret. Only attempt this run at low water.

From Rancagua, 87 km south of Santiago, drive 22 km east on the paved Carretera del Cobre. Just before entering Coya’s “Zona Urbana”, turn off the pavement onto a gravel road towards Reserva Nacionál Río de Los Cipreses. Drive past Termas de Cauquenes¬—elegant, pricey, and recommended—16.5 km to the park. Check in at headquarters to request permission and the key to enter the “Zona de Pumas”.

To scout the canyon, stop at Sector Ranchillo and hike down an obscure trail on the upstream side of the campground. You’ll have to ease over the edge on belay to peer into its depths. Afterwards, if you’re still interested, continue on to the put-in at Potrerillos de Maitenes a few kilometers upstream. Hike up to the top of one of the hills for a view to get oriented then find a trail down to the confluence with the Río de Los Cipreses confluence (1045 m) . To find the take-out, backtrack 11 km to the Sector Ranchillo-5 km sign. From this junction, turn in the opposite direction. Follow the switchbacks 1 km down to the river and Bocatoma Cachapoal elevation 910 meters.

This big, cold and nasty 8 km run has yet to be completed. If you want to give it a go come in at absolute minimum flows of late March or April when river levels drop to a potentially manageable flow range of 750 to 1000 CFS which still make this a class V•V+ run with average gradient of 90 FPM. At spring/summer flows which exceed 10,000 CFS this is a punishing deathtrap.

Topo map titled Río Cortaderal

Note: New dams are being constructed at time of this writing Oct 2009. It is unclear how the surrounding roads and rivers will be affected so proceed with caution and do your homework.

Other nearby rivers include: Río de Los Cipreses, Pangal, Rio Clarillo, and the Tinguiririca

The Cachapoal valley was the southern terminus of the far-flung Inca empire that extended north into Colombia. Thwarted by the Mapuche’s staunch opposition, the Inca invaders were unable to penetrate further south. They retreated from Chile soon after Pizarro’s invasion of Peru in 1521.

From Rancagua, 87 km south of Santiago, drive east 22 km on the paved Carretera el Cobre to Coya. After passing through this eyesore, continue 12 km upstream on the north side of the river to the put-in at 880 meters which is also 3 km below the Central Sauzal. Do not put in at Central Pangal because of the construction debris and a lethal, low-head concrete bridge 3 km downstream. Take out a few kilometers below the Pangal-Cachapoal confluence at Central Sauzal elevation 660 meters, an ENDESA hydroelectric project in Coya. An obscure road in the center of town provides access to the dam.

This 8.5 km long class 3+/4- run is runnable is spring summer and fall with minimum flows being 1500 CFS. Average gradient is 14 mpk or 75 FPM.

Topo map titled Sewell, Rancagua

The Clarillo’s clear water, fun class III pool-drop rapids, and lack of flat water make for an enjoyable run. This small drainage only has boatable flows in the spring when the desert is in bloom. For the ambitious boat hiker, numerous other clear water tributaries of the Tinguirririca beckon upstream.

From San Fernando, 132 km south of Santiago, drive east approximately 30 km up the Tinguiririca drainage to the confluence with the Clarillo. Park your vehicle (elevation 665 meters) and try to rent mules from the locals who live near the Rio Tinguiririca confluence for the 4 km hike upstream.. Put in elevation is 730 meters.

Ideal flows are 600 to 800 CFS and best found in Spring and summer months. Average gradient is 16 mpk or 85 FPM

Topo map titled Río Clarillo

The dam is owned and operated by CODELCO, the largest copper corporation in the world. For release information contact: Central Pangal engineer, Tel: (072)-297890; or Coya manager, Tel: (072)-297881.

If you find yourself in the upper reaches of this watershed (above the dam and resevoir), check out the Río Blanco, a tributary of the Pangal. Its class VI cataracts lie close to great camping in the heart of the cordillera.

From Rancagua, 87 km south of Santiago, drive east on the paved Carretera el Cobre 22 km to Coya. Continue upstream 12 km to Central Pangal, the take-out. At elevation 945 meters. Drive another 12 km up the switchbacks of Cuesta Caracoles to the put-in at Embalse Bocatoma de Pangal elevation 1405 meters. Do not venture below the Central Pangal takeout as construction debris, diversion tubes and a partially-submerged bridge that collapsed during a flood in May 1993 create deadly hazards.

Not high on the list of beautiful free flowing streambeds this 12 km class V+•VI is more of an attraction to adrenaline junkies looking to complete one of chile’s yet un-run stretches of whitewater. Runnable only when the dam releases proper flow. For the stretch below the switchbacks 1200-1500 CFS would be optimal. To attempt the radical stretch low flows would be needed which would make the lower stretch a scrapefest.

Topo map Río Cortaderal

Excellent rapids are found throughout the run, with the best drops situated near the confluence of the Lontué chocked full of big granite boulders. At a low flow of 17 cms, the last 2 km are easy class V. I suspect this section would be much more difficult at higher flows with some drops becoming unrunnable.

Unfortunately, like the neighboring Lontué, access is the most daunting obstacle. The landowner’s concerns regarding wildland fire (notice the charred ridge above the north side of the river from a 1993 fire), garbage, and road maintenance have eliminated access beyond Puente El Baúl. This run is fabulous and we want to go back pronto. If you ever gain access, be responsible so other boaters can follow in your footsteps.

To reach the take-out at Puente El Baúl of the Lontue confluence elevation 580 meters refer to the lower Lontué description. Permission must be obtained prior to traveling upstream from the village of El Yacal, otherwise you likely will not be allowed to pass the through the gates. If you get past the locked gate at Puente El Baúl, climb the steep switchbacks and drive 14 km east on the plateau. Turn north at an obscure crossroads (south to the upper Lontué put-in) and continue approximately 3 km to a point where you must begin to walk. Leave the dirt road and hike down an obscure trail near Estero Agua Fría. As you get approach the river, you’ll have to thrash through bramble and bamboo. Elevation 795 meters.

This class 4-5 river is best run in spring/summer with ideal flows of 500-600 CFS.

Shuttle vehicle on Claro

In February 1991, eruptions from the volcanic complex of Planchón (3977 m) and Peteroa (4101 m) 35 km southeast of town on the continental divide, killed large numbers of fish in the two rivers. Los Queñes’ water supply was also temporarily contaminated.

Confluence of Claro and Teno

From a couple of kilometers north of Curicó, 191 km south of Santiago, drive east 46 km through Romeral to Los Queñes. From the center of town, drive up the east side of the river. After securing permission, continue through private property and a gate 9 km to the put-in at elevation 775 meters where a trail can be found down to the river. Beyond this point, this cruel joke of a road deteriorates into a 4-wheel drive track, but may be worth the effort for the potential class V action upstream. Takeout at Puente Los Queñes 675 meter. 

Late evening put in on Claro

Just a few hundred meters west of Puente Los Queñes you will find Hosteria Los Quenes run by Todd Ericson of Chilean Adventures. Todd can help shuttles and even with the locked gates. He operates a well run, boater friendly hotel with a quality restaurant and hot tub. Contact info or info@chileanadventures.com cell phone 95133193 He does raft trips on the Teno and also rents creek and/or playboats for the kayakers.