Elaho

Elaho River, B.C.
About 7 miles above Elaho Squamish Confluence to tin Shack about three miles above confluence
Class IV to V depending on water levels
Levels: When everything else is dry

On a low water year as such, this is an awesome run to have in your quiver. This year when everyone was scraping down the sky week after week at 1,800 CFS. We were boating awesome Class IV that was like a pool drop Boulder Drop for four miles. I haven't done this run at high water yet, but I have heard it is full on class five. This isn't hard to believe with the tight granite walls and house size boulders. At low levels though it's a run where huge boulders obscure the bottom of the rapids and nice pools separate the drops.

When you're driving up the Elaho above the confluence, the road will get too high to see the river for awhile. Then the road and river will meet again, and two gnarly drops will come into view. I don't know what would possess anyone to run these two drops, so we put in below them.

After putting in, let the fun begin. Most drops will require scouting because the huge boulders will block your view. Even though the run is in a gorge, there is always good places to stop and scout.

Lots of good drops and lots opportunity to use your boof Stroke, John S.

Another good ledge on the Elaho

Right about when the Gorge ends in a huge pool, you'll come to the hardest drop on the run. It's a twelve foot falls into a rather foamy pool with a rather interesting exit. From here on out, it's a relatively easy float to the take out.

Author exiting the Gorge.

The highlighting twelve footer.