Highlights

If you want to go where only a handful of people has ever rafted, this is the trip for you. The Klinaklini was descended for the first time in 1997 with Men’s Journal Magazine and writer Steve Jermanok covering the event. Other magazines such as SELF, Harper’s and even Marie Claire have all followed suit. Since then, Brian and company has led all the other trips down the corridor. Why? First, the river is remote – native populations did not even inhabit the upper river because of inaccessibility. Second, it requires a remarkable logistics to complete the journey – all of our equipment and supplies must be flown in advance and we heli-portage to traverse and impassible canyon. But you won’t notice all the behind-the-scenes work. While guides look after the portage, you can enjoy a remarkable day of heli-hiking through vast glacial icefields and high alpine meadows.

Today, this carefully planned state of the art expedition allows participants to travel where it was once thought unimaginable. And yet, the Klinaklini is a great trip for even those with no rafting history. It is a unique experience to raft through the dramatic Coastal Mountains, past glaciers and the highest peak in British Columbia. When we finally emerge at the Pacific coast, it is into Knight Inlet, a 60-mile long fjord that meets the sea at the north end of Vancouver Island. This area defines the notion of pristine wilderness, nature’s purest form. Discover immense ice caves, wide plateaus of wildflowers and crystal clear air. It seems impossible to imagine that Vancouver and the rush of civilization are just an hour’s flight away.

Full Description

This rare trip features alpine meadows and views of the enormous Klinaklini glacier, waterfalls, wildlife and coastal wilderness. Enjoy thrilling float plane and helicopter rides as well as a rush of massive roller coaster waves.

Rafting the Klinaklini River offers the adventurous traveller a bounty of images and experiences. Your rafting trip begins at the edge of the great interior plateau of British Columbia’s Chilcotin country, at Klinaklini Lake.  This lake is a jewel encircled by pristine wilderness and it’s the perfect habitat for moose, grizzly bears, wolves, cougars and eagles. Enveloped by the peaks and canyons of the Coastal Range, you will be able to see Mt. Waddington, B.C.’s highest mountain, looming in the distance.

The upper river is a narrow and intimate corridor that opens up exponentially as we descend downstream. For the next days your world is filled with new sounds and fragrant aromas. You will marvel at the simplicity of nature and remember how good it feels to leave urban existence behind. Four days in, we reach the upper end of the impassable Klinaklini Canyon. From here, your helicopter—a virtual magic carpet—whisks you away to untouched Alpine meadows, snow-capped mountains and ageless diamond-blue glaciers. We spend an unforgettable day hiking in the Alpine meadows and drifting beside the flanks of Mt. Waddington. At the end of this day of exploring, your helicopter lifts you to the next base camp, at the foot of the majestic Klinaklini Glacier.

The final leg of your rafting odyssey begins with dodging icebergs and ends with gliding through giant forests and valley meadows as you are delivered to the head of Knight Inlet, a stunning fjord that penetrates 60 miles into the Coast Range. The rafts allow us to travel the path of least resistance into this beautiful wilderness. There will be plenty of time in camp for hiking and, conditions permitting, we are planning a layover day at the Klinaklini Glacier. You’ll always have the option of walking longer or shorter distances, and for the more advanced hiker, there are some challenging routes in close range. Options range from undulating meadows to steep ascents and plenty of options are available for those with sensitive knees.

The Terrain
Our trip begins with a dramatic flight into the only calm stretch of the river system at Klinaklini Lake. On the way, we will ride up and over the Coast Mountain range passing many peaks shrouded by glaciers. We spend the first days on the main river of the Klinaklini, a narrow, intimate part of the river with many stretches of big, steep splashy whitewater. Later, we detour to the western arm for a layover day of walking on a glacier. Then, the final days are spent dodging icebergs while the rivers course literally loops around Mt. Waddington, B.C.’s highest peak. With the river finishing at sea level and Waddington’s summit in excess of 14,000 feet, the vertical difference is greater than that of Everest base camp and its’ peak. Our trip culminates with a steady current carrying us through giant forests of cedar and valley meadows before spilling into a tidal lagoon on the Pacific Ocean.

The River
Rafting the Klinaklini River offers the adventurous traveler a bounty of images and experiences. No previous experience is required, yet there are exciting stretches of whitewater ranging from class III – V rapids. Both of the class V drops are optional, as portage routes have been developed, but the long stretches of class IV waves cannot be avoided. The Klinaklini canyon is impassible and heli-portage is mandatory.

Wildlife and Flora
Provincial wildlife officials estimate that there are hundreds of resident grizzly bears living in the Klinaklini Valley and sightings are virtually guaranteed. Other mammals often seen include wolf, wolverine, lynx, marten, mink and moose. In the latter parts of the season, hundreds of bald eagles congregate on the river to feast on the spawning salmon and steelhead. Other birds of prey include the golden eagle, rough legged hawk, red tailed hawk and peregrine falcon.

Mergansers are found throughout the river system and we may see flocks of Canada geese on their migration southward. A variety of songbirds also call the Klinaklini home. All five species of Pacific salmon and steelhead spawn in the Klinaklini during the months of August and September; rainbow trout mingle in their midst. The main insect season is over by the middle of summer and the few remaining mosquitoes will be of little concern.

The forests in the Klinaklini are in their natural state. The upper Klinaklini is forested with pine, spruce and fir. The lower river valleys are forested with stands of giant cedar and hemlock and carpeted by verdant, rich layers of thick mosses and ferns.

Our first night at Nimpo Lake boasts some excellent fishing. The Klinaklini supports dolly varden and rainbow trout on the upper river while record-size salmon spawn on the lower river. We suggest you bring a rod with case and the smallest of tackle boxes with the appropriate lures or flies. People wishing to fish should purchase a licence in Vancouver or at Stewart’s Lodge.