World Whitewater
Babine/Skeena River
note: information on this page is preliminary and unverified
GAUGE: Skeena River at USK on the BC river data page. Switch the parameter type to view discharge.
SEASON: June to September, but generally a late summer or early fall trip.
DESCRIPTION:
The Babine River is known as one of the world's great steelhead rivers and is also a world-class whitewater river. It is a very accessible multi-day class III/IV wilderness trip, and far enough off the beaten path that you're unlikely to encounter many other folks. The river starts at Nilkitkwa Lake where you begin the journey on the Babine River (80 km) before continuing on the Skeena River (50 km). The rivers flow through a scenic wilderness landscape over 3-5 days of paddling that includes the Babine River Corridor Provincial Park. Past the take-out the Skeena continues on downstream at lower gradient and parrelling the road to Prince Rupert where the river joins the Pacific Ocean.
LOGISTICS: You may want to track down a shuttle driver in Smithers (Yahoo map) which is the starting place for trips on this river. To reach the put-in from Smithers, follow the road that heads east and then north to Fort Babine. This is on Nilkitkwa Lake which is a smaller lake just downstream of Babine Lake. The Babine River forms at the outlet of Nilkitkwa Lake. To reach the take-out, head north out of Smithers on Highway 16 and then turn right at Hazelton following the Skeena River up to Kispiox which is the take-out.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Online guide to the Babine at Claudia Schwab's BC Paddle Page.