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.

Slide drop

To reach the put in while traveling south on Ruta 5 exit 17 KM south of Los Lagos and follow a good paved road 44 km to pleasant town of Futrono. Continue east around the northern shore of the lake to the first major bridge which is over the Caunehue. This stretch of river is found while on the way to the Florin, the Curringue or the Saltos De Nilahue.

Caunehue Canyon

A slide will be visible upstream from the bridge and this is the put-in. Leave your car near the bridge and hike upstream on river left. Run the first slide on the left to avoid a nasty undercut and siphon on the right side of slide.

Directly after the slide you enter the beautiful canyon seen looking downstream from the bridge. Make sure you get a good scout from the bridge beforehand.
It’s a massive ramp from the right to the left with a nasty undercut on the right and big hole on the left, take speed and follow the main line of water!!!

After this the river goes left and you can not scout it but it is a class II rapid!!!!

The next 2 class IV+ rapids you can scout it from the left. Start the first one on the middle left, go right of the big rock in the middle, boof right and stay middle left. Run the second rapid far left then you will have 2 more class III rapids.

The takeout is a rocky beach on river left where you can see a house on the hill. Follow a trail to the house then back to the bridge to collect you car.

Don’t forget, when you run the first slide, you are committed to run the remainder of the canyon.

In a fairly high water year in early December 2009 we ran the 1 km stretch of river with approximately 900 CFS (30 cumecs)

Fotos by Jakub Šedivý

Michael Shields crashing thru the wavetrain below Puente Huilo-Huilo its bigger than it looks

In the spring, the river’s continuous, eddy-hopping, boulder-garden rapids get big and pushy, offering quite a contrast to the waterfalls upstream. The most difficult rapid, 300 m downstream from the put-in, should be scouted. Below Puente Huilo-Huilo, the Fuy opens up for flattop views of Volcáns El Mocho (2422 m) and Choshuenco (2415 m). Kayakers love this run, although for some unknown reason, rafters rarely drop in. Since the Fuy is threatened by hydroelectric development, get to know this river before ENDESA takes it away from you.

From Lanco, 763 km south of Santiago, drive east to Panguipulli (Mapuche for “city of roses”) on CH 203. Continue around the north side of Lago Panguipulli towards Choshuenco. For an alternate route from Pucón, drive east from Villarica, then south on the pavement through the lovely lakeside villas of Lican Ray and Coñaripe. Continue east to Carirringue, turn south, and drive past Lago Neltume. At the T intersection, turn west to reach Puente Huilo-Huilo. Put in here, or drive back upstream 1.2 km to a gate. Continue down the road 500 m to the trailhead, then walk ten minutes to the river below a small diversion project. Elevation 300 meters.

To reach the take-out, drive down CH 203 towards Panguipulli. Cross Puente Huilo-Huilo and unmarked Puente Punahue, turn right, and drive 400 m to Puente Llanquihue elevation 195 meters. Or continue down to Lago Panguipulli, and take out on the bucolic, black sand beach in Choshuenco.

This 4.5 km class III+•IV run is best in spring and early summer with flows of 1500-2000 CFS. There are usually no portages and average gradient is 23 mpk or 120 FPM.

Nearby rives include the Neltume, Enco, Reyehueco, Llizan, San Pedro and Llancahue

Topo map labled Neltume, Choshuenco

From Lanco, 763 km south of Santiago, drive east to Panguipulli on CH 203. Travel on a gravel road around the north side of Lago Panguipulli to Choshuenco. Continue south and put in where the river exits Lago Panguipulli. From Pucón take the shortcut south to Lago Panguipulli via Villarica and Lican Ray. To find the take-out, drive 11 km downstream to a point where the road descends to river level. Turn right at an obscure pull-out just above the inlet to Lago Riñihue.

Like the nearby Rio Tolten, the Enco is another fisherman’s. On a summer day you are likely to find wooden dorys navigating its course with intrepid fisherman casting from their decks while a guide manouvers the boat.

The class 2 river can be run year round with high water in winter and spring months. Flows can reach 4000 CFS but with gentle gradient of 16 FPM, this 10 km stretch provides for a relaxing float on big blue wave trains.

Other nearby rivers include the Curringue, Gol Gol, San Pedro, Rininahue and Petrohue

All fotos from “Demshitz”

Slightly Ghetto hot springs

Ian Garcia Looking into slot canyon

Approach to big falls

Evan Garcia Florin falls

Jared Seiler @ Double falls

Evan Garcia

To reach the put-in from Pucon it is a 2 hour drive. There are various routes but the easiest is to go west to Villarica then south to Lican Ray then southeast to Panguipuilli. From here follow the paved road towards Los Lagos for 13 KM then take gravel road another 7KM to the exit of the lake (desague)

You can carry your boat down to lake and paddle to the exit or you can park at Hotel Riñimapu where your car will be safe and you can walk down a grass path to river. Expect to pay the hotel 2500 pesos for each person going on river which usually includes a beverage of your choice. The hotel staff will often shuttle your vehicle for which there is no fixed price so if this option is what you need be courteous and negotiate a fair transaction. For more information the hotel website is http://www.rinimapu.cl/ or you can call Carolina the owner on her cell 92312204

There are 2 takeout options. The first is at a bridge over the SP. To reach this point return to paved road and turn left following road towards Los Lagos for 22 KM. Takeout on river left as there are stairs and a handrail cut into the steep dirt face. Continue downstream for another 8-10 KM and there is another takeout option at balsadero (where a boat ferries your car across the river). There are small signs for the balsadero so be on the lookout. At higher flows usually towards end of November and first half of December a world-class 15 meter wide play wave/hole forms about 4 km below the bridge. We have had up to 7 kayaks on this at same time.

In winter, spring and early summer the river is high volume in a wide range of 7,500 to 50,000 CFS. By middle to late summer the flow drops probably as low as 2,000 CFS. Rapids are all straightforward with one particular section sporting some Futaleufu style exploding waves. The river can be run in 4-5 hours but overnighting and camping/fishing on a sand beach is an attractive option.

At the time of this writing the future of the SP is very grim. The company named Colbun has secured necessary permits needed to damm the river in one of the many controversial megaprojects threatening Chile’s free flowing rivers. Dynamite excavation has begun in earnest. It may your last year to run this world class river so make all efforts to get there before it is gone…I feel like I am writing what I wrote about the Bio Bio in mid 90’s.

Other nearby rivers include the Curringue, Fuy, Florin, and Llancahue.

Jared Seiler in Margarita’s canyon foto by Eva Luna Ramirez

To reach the class 4-5 upper run from Pucon it is a 2-1/2 hour thru Lican Ray, Coñaripe and then the frontier town of Liquiñe. From Liquiñe follow the road east towards Argentina for 3-5 KM then take first left following sign towards Paimun. The put in the locked gate and the end of the road where the Rio Paimun enters the Llizán. The takeout is approximately 6 KM downstream where a road winds down to a bridge over the river and this turn is marked with a sign “Agro Turismo Ñipuche De Rañinuleufu”.

Jared in one of the Llizan drops

The Upper run starts out with 2 KM of easy fast moving flat water and then comes to the crux of the run. A 200 meter long basalt canyon with some burly holes and possibly logs. A wooden bridge crosses over the middle of the rapid and it can be scouted from river right by getting out at Senora Margarita’s house to take a look. Below here the river opens up with several read and run class 4 rapids and at least one possible portage. The takeout is just above the 8 meter high Salto Fosphoros which leads into a lower canyon. A good eddy just above the falls on river left leads up into a campground and the road, The upper run averages 65 FPM gradient factoring in the flatwater and water levels should be in the 10 to 25 CMS (300 to 750 CFS) range. The upper section of river was first run by Zack (El sapo) Cowan and John Foss in March of 1997.

Put in at the Rio Paimun/ good campsite foto Eva Luna Ramirez

The lower run was first probed a year later by Josh Lowry and Robbie Dastin. The put in for the lower run is the takeout of upper run. The action begins with the 8 meter high falls Salto Fosphoros entering a box canyon at a 90 degree angle. The current at base of falls pushes into an undercut wall. The crux of the run is in the canyon a few hundred meters below the falls. Here lies an unscoutable-unportagable 3 meter falls. In less than 1 KM the river enters the much larger Rio Liquiñe. Class 3-4 rapids with one committing class 5 canyon (again with an unscoutable-unportagable rapid) continue for the length of the 4 km until takeout at Termas Rio Liquiñe in the town of Liquiñe. Per Josh Lowry more people have bailed out on this run that have finished it. The only way to make it down is to catch it at super low flow

View of Salto Fosphoros cascading into the lower canyon foto Eva Luna Ramirez

Notes: The Llizan drainage like nearby Fuy and San Pedro is scheduled for a dam project. In addition a Pisicultura is being built at confluence of Rio Paimun starting in 2008. If either or both go thru this river will be either finished or simply ruined.

If in the area there are 3 hot spring options. In town of Liquiñe are the commercial hot springs. Going east toward Argentina are two others Termas Hipolito Muñoz or the Termas Huilo Huilo (recommended).

Peruvian Kayaker Gian Marco Vellutino

One of the canyons of the Curringue

The river is located east of the shores of Lago Ranco and flows into Lago Maihue. To get to the takeout drive to town of Futrono on North side of Lago Ranco then continue east until pavement ends in Llifen. From here it is approximately 22 km to the turn towards town of Chabranco. You will cross over Puente Curringue and this is the takeout. To reach the put in cross the bridge and follow signs to Termas de Chihuio. The drive is roughly 12 KM and offers no views of the river. The termas are marginal but cheap.

Zack “del Sapo” Cowan

The Put in is directly accross from the Termas and provides a good campsite as well. The river is best run in early summer with december usually being optimal. The river is crystal clear with a mature streambed and two distinct tight walled canyons. The drops are class 4-5 and are all runable yet also portagable if water levels make them unsafe.

Runnable flows on the river are estimated to be 600 to 1500 CFS

Kurt Casey

Eva Luna Ramirez “Curringiando”

Kurt casey at base of Salto Pescado

The river is runnable in spring and very early summer. The first descent was made in early december 2005 by Kurt Casey, Mike deacon and Beech Huntsman. Logistics were provided by Zach “delsapo” Cowan who had a blown out shoulder.

The river is divided into two distinct sections. The upper is 3 km section dropping 153 meters. the upper has less volume than the lower but is also more channelized and more runnable at lower flows. To reach the put in take the road from east from Coñaripe towards Liquiñe appoximately 20 KM. If you reach the bridge over the Reyehueco you have gone to far and need to backtrack about 2 KM and look for a gravel road to the North with a sign for Trafún. Follow the road 5 KM to a manned gate. This is the entrance to Trafún which is a super cool ancient Mapuche community/logging complex. Zach gained us access by mentioning we were hydrologists doing research on the rivers. Once past the gate continue 4 km and you will pass over the Rio Panco which is a tributary of the Reyehueco. the road will come to an island of land between the two rivers and this is the takeout at 422 meters. To reach the put in continue upstream on either river left or river right (the raod makes a complete circle) until you come to a bridge over the upper Rio Reyehueco. Here the river is small in the 150 CFS (5 m/s volume) but more than sufficent for the mini canyons you enter below with small falls and significant boulder drops.

Beech Huntsman Upper Reyehueco foto by Mike Deacon

the lower run has a totally different character and logistics. To run the lower return to main road and go to bridge over the Reyehueco. This is the takeout at 170 km above sea level. The run is 5 KM long and drops 230 meters for average gradient of 37 m/km (185 FPM). The put in is at 400 meters above sea level.

Lower Reyehueco foto by Mike Deacon

To reach the put in continue east 1 KM and make first left. the road will climb steeply for a few km’s then you will need to find a turn to the left. This raods can be a bit confusing due to logging that has messed up the roads. Follow the road until you reahc a school in Mapuche village of Trafún.chico. We parked at the school and walked the 300 meters to the river (the road had been washed out recently by a flood).

Mike Deacon put in Lower Rio reyehueco

The put in for the river is very entle water with a paltry flow of 300 CFS. This was marginal water for the first KM but in the crux proved to be perfect. there are numerous BIG drops on the run but the crux occurs right before the canyon opens near the takeout. At this point the river is diverted into an aqueduct that feeds a fish hatchery. It appears a portage is impossible and the drop is burly and very hard to scout. We felt trapped but eventually ran (partially blind) a 15 plus foot (5 meter) falls with a left to right angle. The drop was clean and finished the run with another 300 km paddle in boogie water to the takeout bridge.

Kurt casey

The middle is section is class 5 with a 50′ waterfall. The put in is at the base of the still un-run Salto Puma which lies 700 meter below the road entrance to the tourist attraction Salto Huilo Huilo. This 4 KM section is short but intense and best run in the dryer months of February and March. The put in involves a 2 KM walk from the road which is not easy to locate. the 2 KM walk to put in starts 700 meters below the feeder road to Huilo Huilo at a black wooden fence (this is also 2.3 KM above the small puente Llallanca). Leave your vehicle here and scramble down to the base of Salto Puma. Take out is at bridge 4.7 KM downriver.

The lower section is a 4 KM long mostly class 3 wave train best run at extremely hi water (greater than 2500 CFS) when the top and middle are unrunnable.. This would like be winter months and spring flows from September to late November..It can be run much lower it just will not have much kick. the put in and takeout are both at the only road bridges that cross the Fuy.

Nearby rivers include Neltume, Enco, LLancahue, Reyehueco, Llizan, San Pedro

Unfortunately there is a damn project in the works and this river may be dry.