Thompson River
GAUGE: Thompson bl. Spences Bridge on the BC river data page (be sure to switch the view to discharge). Best play levels are considered to be 350-600 cms (12,250-21,000 cfs) but look for flows under 500 cms for the Frog to be in.

18,500

SEASON: Boaters flock to this river in September when flows come down enough to make this an excellent play run.

ACCESS: Nearest town: Lytton (Yahoo map). Take Highway 1 north to Lytton. Turn left following the sign for Highway 12 and head 0.8 miles through town on Main St. This road loops back up to Highway 1 but you will want to turn down to the left on Highway 12 (near the hospital) and continue for 0.4 miles. You will cross the Thompson River. Pull off the road on the river right side of the bridge. It's a 5 minute hike down to the river along the private access road on the downstream side of the bridge. To reach the put-in, head back across the river and up towards town. Take a left following the road that loops 0.6 miles back up to Highway 1 and head east. Once you're on the highway it's 9.5 miles to the put-in at the Frog. Pull off along the highway and climb down to the river at the Nicoamen River confluence. There is a good trail down to the river here.

Camping: The most convenient camping is at Skihist Provincial Park which is along the shuttle route 5.7 miles west of the put-in. There is also camping available along the Stein and up on the ridge on river right. Inquire with local paddlers for details.

Description:
The Thompson is a great late-season run that attracts boaters from across the region for fun play boating and impressive scenery. Although there are opportunities for a run that starts further upstream (mostly class II), most put-in at the Frog which is the start of the best rapids. In fact, many regard the Frog as one of the best play features in the region and it is a popular park and play spot (350-450 cms are ideal for this spot). At flows of 350-600 cms the overall run is considered class III+ to IV- bigwater run. As levels increase the run becomes more demanding with fewer good play features.

The best features on this run come at the start but there are several fun play spots throughout the entire length of this run and the canyon scenery is amazing. The Frog is the first feature and if you want to avoid the few strokes of warm-up paddling you can even put in right here at an alternate parking area. Depending on levels the Frog is a great hole and surf wave combination just upstream of a massive mid-stream chunk of bedrock that resembles a frog. During the month of September this is one of the most consistent play features in the entire region and the easy access makes it a popular park-and-play site.

While one can spend hours at the Frog, the next fun rapids are only a short distance downstream. The first horizon line leading into a big bouncy wave train takes you toward Witches Cauldron, a whirpool eddy at the end of the wave train along river right that is generally avoided.

After a short recovery section you will be at the Cutting Board. This rapid is a marked by a mid-channel bedrock island. The preferred line is down the river left channel. Stay with the main flow as the current cuts hard right and takes a dogleg back towards the center. The most challenging part of this rapid is the start which you can see from the top. Once it disappears around the corner, the river calms down again. The river right channel has been run but there are some massive hydraulics at its base and you'd better scout carefully if you're considering a line down this side.

If you have an epic at the Cutting Board, you have some recovery time at moderate flows before you approach Little Jaws. This straightforward rapid is a precursor to Jaws which comes a short distance downstream and is probably the second most challenging run after the Cutting Board. Follow the main flow but make sure you're headed towards river left by the time you get to the bottom. There is a massive hole on river right near the end of this drop.

At this point you are done with the most challenging drops on the run. Great scenery and several fun playspot remain. After a section of flatwater you will come up to a spot where two bedrock pillars rise up from either side of the river. Pull out downstream of the one on river right for Lunch Stop. This is a popular place to take a break as folks take turns hitting the catch-on-the-fly surf waves towards the center of the river. Paddlers sometimes hike back upstream for a second shot at these fun waves.

After Lunch Stop the river mellows out again to intermittent class II/III but there are still plenty of fun play spots.

The last part of the run contains some flatwater but some of the most impressive scenery on the run. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, particularly bears that can be seen feeding on the salmon runs during the fall.

Just when you think there aren't going to be any more rapids, Exit comes along which is the last big drop on the run. The character of this rapid changes significantly with river levels because it is subject to the backwater effect of the Fraser River (the confluence is within site of this rapid). It contains a big surf wave when the Fraser is low.

To reach the take-out, paddle under the railroad bridge and Highway 12 bridge. Pull out on the beach on river right at the confluence with the Fraser River and hike up the private access road to Highway 12.

For additional information check out descriptions in the following guidebooks which you can purchase through the AW virtual bookstore.

Whitewater Rivers of Washington

World Whitewater

Whitewater in BC's Southwest

Whitewater Trips for Kayakers, Canoeists and Rafters in British Columbia