Lynn River

GAUGE: Local paddlers maintain a color-coded staff gauge (photo) on a tree in Bridgman Park on river right just downstream of the Keith Road bridge (yellow-low, green-med, orange-high, red-higher, gauge covered-consider someplace else).

ACCESS: Nearest town: North Vancouver (take-out map). The take-out is at Bridgman Park located just downstream river right of the Hwy 1 and Keith Road bridges across the Lynn. To reach it from Hwy 1 take exit 21 for Mountain Hwy. Follow this road 0.1 mile (0.15 km) south and turn west onto Keith Rd. Continue 0.1 mile (0.15 km) to Bridgman Park which is adjacent to the Keith Road bridge across the Lynn.

To reach the put-in (put-in map) turn left out of the park onto Keith Rd. At mile 0.1 (0.15 km) turn right on Mountain Hwy. At mile 0.3 (0.5 km) turn right on Arborlynn Dr. At mile 1.0 (1.6 km) turn right on Hoskins Rd. At mile 1.5 (2.4 km) turn right on Wembley Dr. At mile 1.8 (2.9 km) turn right on Ross Rd. and then take an immediate left on Duval Rd. At mile 2.2 (3.5 km) turn right onto Peter's Road and follow it into Lynn Canyon Park. An alternate route, if driving straight from Highway 1 and not from the take-out is to take the Lynn Valley Road exit and head north on Lynn Valley Road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before turning onto Peter's Road which you follow for 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east into the park.

Once you are in the park you can pick up a trail map from the education center. You have two options for the put-in. The typical put-in is to take the Centenial trail down to the river and cross at the Twin Falls foot bridge. Continue downstream along river left and put-in on the rocks at the pool below Twin Falls. This access involves climbing down stairs and although shorter it is steep. If you want to avoid the stairmaster experience and the crowds of folks on the trail (an issue on weekends) then follow the gated gravel road at the south end of the park which follows a gradual grade down into the canyon. Turn left at the first gate you see marking a service road that heads back upstream and within a few hundred meters you will find an informal switchback trail down to the river which you can see below. This puts you in at the same pool but on river right. Either way expect it to take you about 15-20 minutes to get down to the river.

DESCRIPTION: This river has to be one of the most amazing class III/IV whitewater runs ending in a major North American city. You pass through residential neighborhoods on the shuttle and it's hard to imagine that a magical gorge is hidden away just behind the homes. The run starts at Lynn Canyon Park and if you've never been it's worth it to take a few minutes to check out the impressive series of cascades that are visible from the trails and footbridges within the park. The run starts at the end of the major waterfalls below Twin Falls. Here there is a large pool with easy river access.

The run starts out in a relatively open section but the walls quickly close in as you bounce through the first gravel bar rapids and enter the gorge. The run continues through the gorge with excellent class III-IV pool-drop rapids and stunning scenery with large mature trees lining the canyon. You would never know you are passing through the neighborhoods of North Vancouver and it's easy to imagine you are off on a wilderness adventure. It's possible to boat scout most of the rapids, about a dozen packed into this short but action-filled run, and there are only a couple where the route is not entirely obvious. One involves a shot down the right towards a big bedrock wall before you skirt across hard left negotiating your way through a series of small boulders. Keep your eye out for a couple of holes which sneak up on you and be aware of potential wood hazards. The best rapids end abruptly as the gorge opens up but the run continues for a short distance with fun and continuous class III all the way to the take-out (at lower flows this section can be a bit of a grind across gravel bars). You will cross under a foot bridge before you reach the Highway 1 bridge and then the Keith Road bridge, with the take-out on river right below.

Paddlers entering the gorge.

One of many fine rapids on the Lynn.

Another beautiful section on the Lynn.