To paddle this creek, you can run the Bío-Bío at high water and bivouac at the confluence with the Llanquén elevation725 meters. Begin your walk on a logging road above the meadow on river left (of the Llanquén.. Continue upstream past the first bridge. When the trail ends, ferry across the Llanquen to gain access to the river right side. Continue on for a couple of hundred meters until you reach a point where you can hike up on top of a terrace and to gain access to a road. Walk upstream another kilometer until you reach Puente Llanquen elevation 725 meters.

The Llanquén is accessible by vehicle from Lonquimay if you choose to drive down the Bío-Bío. Drive 28 km downstream from the normal Bío-Bío put-in at Balsadero Caracoles to the Llanquén, crossing Puente Paz en route. At the bridge you still need to walk your boat upstream.

This Class IV+•V- stretch of river is 3 km long with average gradient of 38 mpk or 200 FPM. Best run in the spring with flows of 250 to 400 CFS.

It can be seen on topo map titled Lolco. A private gate closes the road from the west making the other nearby runs (also tributaries of the Bio-Bio) such as the Ralco, Lomin, Queupe and Chalquilvin a full days journey by car. You may see a road to Ralco on your map but unless you have acces to the key and a good 4 wheel drive vehicle you will not thru. Access to the Llanquén is achieved thru Curracautin then Lonquimay making this a very isolated run that few kayakers have the opportunity to enjoy.

Kenny Craig on the Queuco

From Los Angeles, 517 km south of Santiago, drive 3 km south on the Pan American Highway and turn east towards Santa Barbara. After passing through Santa Barbara, continue another 42 km east to Ralco. Inquire in town for a shuttle driver. From “downtown” Ralco, turn  east toward Paso de Pucón Mahuida, just past the Carabinero station. When the road returns to river level approximately 20 km upstream, put in at unnamed ferry crossing elevation 600 meters. Take out at Puente Queuco elevation 345 meters, just upstream from the confluence with the Bío-Bío. there is good camping on river left just upstream of the bridge.

Entering the Queuco on tributary Rio Otue

This class 3+, class 4 run averages 62 FPM and is best run in spring months Sept-Nov with flows up to 4000 CFS. December flows usually fall below 1500 CFS and January flows become low enough to look for water elsewhere.

Nathan Sullivan first ran this in early December of 2004 and I believe it has not yet been repeated. Nate describes the run as mostly class 3-4 with one distinct class 5 stretch that includes an S turn rapid into a 6 meter falls. On their run the water was on low side so best to get there in early to mid spring runoff (October-November). I went to check out the river in January 2009 and it was too low.

Rio Malleco beginning its westward journey

To get to river there are two options. the first is to come in from Ruta 5 at the Inspector Fernandez exit which is a few km north of town of Victoria and about 60 km from the Northside of Temcuo. From here take the gravel road R-71 to the western park entrance approximately 50 KM to the east. Pass the lake (Laguna Malleco) and turn left to reach the CONAF park entrance. Ask for permission to drive your vehicle past the camping area a few hundred additional meters around the north side of the lake. Yo can then walk with your boat on the well maintained 1.8 KM “El Salto” trail or do what I did and hop in your boat and paddle accross the lake to the top of the falls then hike boat down to river on a good fisherman’s trail.

The other way to reach the river is from the Curacautin. From Curacautin follow the gravel road 30 KM to the Termas de Tolhauca then another 8 km to Laguna Malleco.

The takeout is a bit tricky to find. Use the link to view map below and find where vertical intersection of line 42 with horizontal line intersection between 69 and 70. Here a logging road goes down and crosses a bridge over the river. This takeout at 575 meters is about 13 km from the base of the falls which are at 850 meters making the average gradient 21 m/km or 105 FPM.

Follow road from lake back towards Ruta 5 about 16 km to small village of San Gregorio. Turn right and go north 4 km and go straight on small road where there is a major bend to the left. Go about 500 meters then turn left follow this road about 5 km until you come to the river. On the way you will pass a small creek and then have switchback descent down to river. Best to ask locals for accurate directions.

Link for Acrobat Map of Malleco

Other nearby rivers include the Cautin, Truful Truful, Laja and remaining undammed tributaires of the Bio Bio

While in the area it is worth visiting the Tolhuaca National park which does not see much traffic and has some excellent hiking trails. Nearby Tolhuaca hot springs are pricey but strategically located to combine with this river trip. Organized camping is available on the north side of Laguna Malleco. Inquire at CONAF office for pricing.

Nestled into a canyon at the base of the Chillan Volcano (3212 meters), the Diguillín receives it’s water from the peaks located in Reserva Nacional Nuble which straddles the Argentinian border.

Mariann Saether in one of the upper drops Foto by Eva Luna

Volume is small with mid November flows estimated at 250 to 400 CFS. The river is usually too low to run by December. The run contains mostly class 3-4 rapids but class 5 options await those willing to put-in on the upstream canyon.

Scouting for a put-in foto by Eva Luna
To reach the river exit Ruta 5 Pan American highway in Chillan and follow well marked signs towards Termas De Chillan on paved road N-55. En Los Lleques turn off onto a gravel road that leads down to the river.

Leave your car where you want to take out and go upstream as far as you choose or as far as you are able to go. A locked gate may present a problem, however, if you say you are going upstream to visit the Reserva Nuble the gatekeeper will let you pass for 2000 peso entrance fee. A normal run is around 6 KM long.

Other nearby rivers are Longaví, Achibueno, and Laja. Other local attractions are the Termas de Chillan, the waterfall of Estero Renegado which enters river just below Los Lleuques, and the protected biosphers of Reserva Nacional Nuble and Santuario Los Huemeles de Niblinto. If you hit the run in early spring (September/early October) you can boat in the morning, ski/snowboard in the afternoon and soak in hot springs in the evening with fine dining and lodging in nearby Las Trancas.

For more information on the area visit website http://www.patagonias.net/Ciudades/LasTrancas.htm

The crux rapid on the river Nuble

A typical run on the Ñuble could be divided into an upper, a middle, and a lower section. An upper Ñuble run would be 14 km section of class 3 and 4 with long stretches of flatwater taking about an average of 4 hours. A middle Ñuble section would be another 15.3 km with more class 3 and 4 sections interspersed with more flatwater. A lower principally class 3 “town run” is roughly 9 km long.

Roger Pyle spring time fun at Caracol rapid

A typical upper Ñuble run would actually start on the colder and creekier Rio de Los Sauces. To reach this put in follow the road from San Fabian along the river Ñuble until it comes to Los Sauces. Continue upstream several km then put in on Los Sauces (elevation 715 meters) and boat a few km into the Ñuble.

river de los sauces – end of the road – starting point for the Ñuble

The takeout of upper stretch is at El Caracol which is 18.9 km upstream of San Fabian at elevation 600 meters. The average gradient in this stretch is 8.2 mpk or 42 FPM. Best run in peak spring runoff with flows of 10,000 CFS but also runnable without the push in the summer months with flows under 1000 CFS.

Ben May playboating below the Crux rapid of the Upper

The middle stretch is from Caracol 18.9 KM upstream from San Fabian to the takeout at Camping San Ignacio 3.6 km upstream of San Fabian at elevation 435 meters. This stretch has more continual whitewater than the Upper with plenty of challenging rapids such as one named “rapid without a line”. The average gradient in this stretch is 11 mpk or 55 FPM and best run a high water spring flows.

Nice day on the Ñuble

The takeout for the lower stretch is about 5 km below town where an obvious turnoff reaches the river. The put in is any access point upstream with a good option being camping San Ignacio 3.6 km upstream of town making for a 8.6 km, fun 2 hour run.

To get to the Ñuble one takes I-5 or the panamerican highway north of Chillan for 30 km until the town of San Carlos. From San Carlos keep going straight through San Fabian then pick your section.

A good place to stay and or eat in San Fabian is Brisas del Malalcura on main street at 550 Avenida Andes phone (42) 419014 or e-mail pablo.j.extremo@gmail.com

Unfortunately, this remote and sleepy town of San Fabian and the river Ñuble is under the threat of another Hydro Electric diversion project. We met with CGE ( Chile Gas and Electric) when we were paddling and they pointed out that the proposed diversion was to begin after the first 15km so theoretically the river and tourism would not be destroyed. The town of San Fabian seems opposed to the idea of another hydroelectric project in Chile. Note: this is not always the case. Often promises of short term employment get people interested in a damn project