Adams River Canyon, lower half
Adams River
GAUGE: Visual. Expect summer flows of approximately 100 cms (3500 cfs). You can try contacting Adams River Rafting Company for information or as an alternative for your non-kayaking friends.
SEASON: Throughout the summer (May-October). Usually at its best from the end of July through August.
ACCESS: Nearest town: Chase (Yahoo map). Approximately 40 miles (65 km) east of Kamloops follow the signs for Adams Lake and turn off Highway 1 to head north. In 2.9 miles you will reach the take-out bridge acrosss the Adams (parking downstream river left). To reach the put-in, head back a short distance to the first turn-off heading west along river right. This is Holding Road. Follow the road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to a large pull-out at a bend in the road if you want to scout Devil's Gate. There is a short trail which provides you with a good view of the entire rapid. Continue up the river to a pull-out at mile 4.9 (km 7.8) and an access trail down to the river. The old put-in at the outlet of the lake should not be used. It can be accessed by following the road that turns off down the hill from Holding Road at mile 5.0 (km 8). Although you can still drive down the road and get to the river here, the remains of the torched bridge are a reminder that land ownership has been a tense situation here. While the local rafting company pays a fee to use this access, your shuttle vehicle will not be safe here.
DESCRIPTION:
Although the Adams River is only rated class II, more experienced paddlers can find several fun rapids on this river. There are continuous rapids consisting of nice glassy surf waves and strong eddy lines where playboaters can try out their latest moves. It's a beautiful river and in late summer the water is warm as it flows out of Lake Adams.
A short canyon section, Devil's Gate, near the end is the one spot where the difficulty is class III+ at moderate flows. Although this section is short, hazards are limited, and there is a big pool at the bottom, it can be a little intimidating for those who came for the class II rapids. It's very obvious as you approach and see the bedrock walls squeeze together with exploding waves just over the horizon line. You can take a conservative line along the left, grab an eddy, and then peel out to ride the wave train down through the second half. Check out this rapid on the shuttle and you can scout or portage along river right.
An added attraction to this river is the salmon run. Every four years (next in 2002) the river is home to the largest sockeye salmon run in North America. The river comes to life in September and October as over two million fish make the the 405 km journey up the Fraser, through Hell's Gate, up the Thompson, and into the 12 km Adams River where they spawn and die. While the fish return each year, the peak runs that come every four years are most impressive.
Adams River Canyon, lower half
For additional information check out descriptions in the following guidebooks:
Whitewater in BC's Southwest
Whitewater Trips for Kayakers, Canoeists and Rafters in British Columbia
