Below is a table of extracted trips from around the Calagary area. It is simply the sample trip list from BWCC as available on the net. However I've deleted some columns, and grouped the trips by River rateing.
RIVER | BWCC CLASS | START | FINISH | KM | HRS* | Int. Grade |
RIVER DESCRIPTION |
Bow | Novice | Bowness Park | Point McKay | 5 | 2 | I | Children welcome when parent's skills are intermediate. |
Elbow | Novice | Sandy Beach | Fort Calgary | 9 | 4 | I | Shallow river with some rocks and eddies. Scenic parks and gardens. A good family trip when parents' skills are intermediate. |
Bow | Novice | Graves Landing | Fish Creek Park | 15 | 3 | I | Paddle through the city on the Bow |
Bow | Novice | Bowness Park | Calgary Zoo | 18 | 4 | I | Pleasant family paddle through the city. Parent's skills should be competent. Can be a long day for newcomers. |
Highwood | Novice | High River | Highway #547 | 18 | 5 | I | Quiet paddle for the family. Lots of bird life. |
ANNUAL KICK OFF on the Bow | Novice | Clubhouse | Fish Creek Park | 19 | 5 | I | Annual KICK-OFF Trip. Traditional season opener. Potluck brunch followed by an afternoon paddle. |
Bow | Novice | Bearspaw Dam | Calgary Zoo | 21 | 6 | I | Pleasant family paddle through the city. Children welcome when parents' skills are intermediate. |
Bow | Novice | McKinnon Flats | Carseland Weir | 22 | 6 | I | A pleasant paddle for the famiily. Children welcome when parent's skills are intermediate. |
Bow | Novice | McKinnon Flats | Carseland Weir | 22 | 6 | I | A pleasant paddle for the famiily. Children welcome when parent's skills are intermediate. |
Bow | Novice | McKinnon Flats | Carseland Weir | 22 | 6 | I | A pleasant paddle for the famiily. Children welcome when parent's skills are intermediate. |
Rosebud | Novice | Rosebud | Rosedale | 30 | 6 | I | Beaver Dams and shallows; require basic manouvering skills |
Red Deer | Novice | Highway #876 | Jenner Bridge | 30 | 15 | I | Easy paddling, hiking, bird watching through Dinosaur Privincial Park |
Bow | Novice | Fish Creek Park | McKinnon Flats | 32 | 6 | I | Long duration. Suitable for families and cameras. Birding trip; see herons, pelicans and more. |
Bow | Novice | Fish Creek Park | Carseland Weir | 54 | 12 | I | |
Bow | Novice + | Ghost Dam | Cochrane | 18 | 5 | I+ | "Some large waves, big eddies rapids, Good move up from Novice" |
Kananaskis Weekend | Nov/Int/Adv | Kananaskis/Bow | I+ II | ||||
Fish Creek | Intermediate | 37th Street S.W. | Burns Ranch | 18 | 4 | II- | "Small creek, tight turns, potential for sweepers. DIFFICULTY CLASS DEPENDS ON WATER LEVEL." |
Bow | Intermediate | Canmore | Seebe | 22 | 5 | II- | Fast, wide river. Sweepers, log jams, braided channels. River Reading and decision making skills required. Fantastic view of Mt Rundle. |
Bow | Intermediate | Lake Louise | Red Earth Creek | 30 | 6 | II- | Potential for sweepers and log jams. Scenic trip in Banff National Park |
Milk | Novice + | Goldsprings Camp | Clarinda Bridge | 60 | 12 | II- | "Rocky, small undercuts, requires good skills to avoid wrapping boats. Paddle spectacular canyons in Badlands. Hike in Writing-on-stone Prov Park" |
Kananaskis | Intermediate | Canoe Meadows | Seebe | 8 | 4 | II - | Excellent for practicing eddy turns and ferries. Some tight turns & surf spots. Potential for sweepers |
Highwood/Sheep | Intermediate | Sheep confluence | Sheep confluence | 0 | 4 | II | "Rock gardens and ledges" |
Kananaskis | Advanced | Widow Maker | Canoe Meadows | 3 | 3 | II | Some II +. Practice maneuvering and surfing on the race course. Take your skills from Intermediate+ to low Advanced, increase your confidence. |
Highwood | Intermediate | Longview | Hogg's Camp | 16 | 4 | II | Rapids, rocks, surfing waves and fine scenery. Big waves (Int+) if high water, use of floatation and helmets is advised. |
Highwood | Intermediate | Highway #547 | Highway #552 | 16 | 5 | II | Solid intermediate paddling. Some rock dodging and ledges if low water. Scenic canyon. |
Bow | Intermediate | Banff | Canmore | 22 | 5 | II | Fast, wide river. Sweepers, log jams, braided channels. River Reading and decision making skills required. Fantastic view of Mt Rundle. |
Red Deer | Intermediate | Ya Ha Tinda | Airstrip | 28 | 10 | II | Scenery, shallow rapids, sweepers, tight bends, even a ledge. |
North Saskatchewan | Intermediate | Horburg | Brierlies | 29 | 12 | II | Enjoy big waves, small ledges and gorgeous scenery. Large river. Try it again the 2nd day. |
Waterton/St.Mary/Belly | Intermediate | phone tour contact | II | Solid intermediate paddling. Springtime canoeing in a beautiful area. Three rivers in three days. | |||
Red Deer | Intermediate | Horse Camp | Mountainaire Lodge | II | |||
Bow | Intermediate | Lake Louise | Castle Junction | 25 | 5 | ||
Red Deer Weekend | Int/Adv | LAST SPLASH BASH | II, II+ | ||||
Elbow | Advanced | Canyon Creek | Paddy's Flats | 4 | 2 | II+ | "Class III ledge. Excellent introduction to advanced paddling. Good maneuvering practice, rocks and ledges." |
Elbow | Advanced | Canyon Creek | Allen Bill Pond | 8 | 3 | II+ | "Class III ledge. Excellent introduction to advanced paddling. Good maneuvering practice, rocks and ledges." |
Sheep | Advanced | Gorge Creek | Sandy McNabb | 12 | 4 | II+ | Some class III. Beautiful small river, rocks, chutes, ledges and fun. |
Elbow | Intermediate + | Allen Bill Pond | Bragg Creek | 12 | 4 | II+ | Scenic, small river with gravel bars, surfing waves and some sweepers. Floatation and back ferry skills essential. |
Highwood | Intermediate + | Ing's Creek | Longview | 12 | 4 | II+ | Many small ledges. Narrow canyon, Good surfing @ med flow & above, beautiful rock formations. |
Elbow | Intermediate + | Allen Bill Pond | Bragg Creek | 12 | 4 | II+ | Scenic, small river with gravel bars, surfing waves and some sweepers. Floatation and back ferry skills essential. |
Elbow | Inter+/Adv | Cobble Creek | Elbow Falls | 15 | 5 | II+ | "Gravel bars, boulder gardens, small ledges. Rainy Canyon is Advanced in high water. Floatation and back ferry skills essential." |
Oldman/Crowsnest weekend | Intermediate + | Maycroft | Airstrip | 19 | 5 | II+ | Sweepers and possible logjams. |
Red Deer | Advanced | Mountain Aire Lodge | S-Bend | 19 | 8 | II+ | Class III ledge and rapid. Whitewater play trip: ledges, rocks, surfing!! Intro to advanced at low water, challenging at medium to high water. |
Red Deer | Advanced | Airstrip | Cache Hill | 19 | 8 | II+ | Class III ledge and rapids. Whitewater play trip: ledges, rocks, surfing!! Intro to advanced at low water, challenging at medium to high water. |
Bow | Advanced | Mosquito Creek | Bend | 25 | 5 | II+ | Spectacular scenery. Boulder rapids, lake. Good for beginning advanced paddlers (Int+ if low water). |
Castle | Advanced | West Castle Road | Castle River Camp | 41 | 10 | II+ | "Beautiful and fast. Falls, major ledges and a boulder-strewn canyon. Surfing extravaganza!!" |
Kootenay | Intermediate + | MacLeod Meadows | 3rd bridge (Crestwood Bridge) | 80 | II+ | Some class III-. Solid upper intermediate skills required. Swims can be long and boat recovery difficult. Canoe camping. Famous as a scenic mountain river tour. | |
Kootenay | Int+/Adv | 1st bridge (Baymag Bridge) | Canal Flats | II+ | Fast, exciting, beautifu.Requires good skills to avoid long swims. Two class III rapids | ||
Bow | Advanced | Bend | Lake Louise | 7 | 3 | III | Class IV canyon (portagable). Fast run at med/high flows, requires confident decisionmaking and river reading skills. " |
Sheep | Advanced | Sandy McNabb | Near Turner Valley | 19 | 5 | III | Small river. Lots of fun and beautiful, too! Suitable for beginning advanced paddlers when water not high |
Burnt Timber | Advanced | N. Burnt Timber bridge | Shell Road | 35 | 12 | III | "Small, fast. Rock gardens, tight turns, log jam? Other options: Waiparous Ck, Panther R.?" |
Thompson (B.C.) | Adv+ to Extr | Gold Pan | Lytton (Fraser R.) | III | BIG water. Waves to 10 feet. Usually warm. | ||
Red Deer | Advanced | Air Strip | Woczenchuks Camp | III | Class III ledge and rapids. Whitewater play trip: ledges, rocks, surfing!! Intro to advanced at low water, challenging at medium to high water. | ||
Horsethief / B.Burns | Extreme | phone tour contact | III - IV | Exciting and demanding eastern B.C. rivers. | |||
Mistaya/Upper Bow | Adv+/Extreme | Phone tour coordinator | 8 | III/IV | Challanging water. "The big flush","the S-bend and "the Canyon". Some portaging. Early start | ||
Highwood | Advanced+ | Green Ford Camp | Sullivan Hill | 9 | 4 | III+ | Class III & IV rapids, Busy and challenging. Beautiful Narrow River with Canyons. Water may be Hign (More demanding) |
Oldman | Advanced+ | Hidden Creek | Maycroft Rapids | 46 | 11 | III+ | Class IV + falls. Lots of ledges, tight maneuvering. Must be a confident advanced paddler. |
Pall./U.White/Findlay | Advanced | phone tour contact | III+ | "Class III+ - IV drops (IV+ in high water). Demanding, technical, small-to-medium volume in a very beautiful setting." | |||
Sheep | Extreme | Blue Rock | Gorge Creek | III+ | Grade IV @ high water, Class III - IV sheep falls. Small river, numerous ledges, Challenging run" | ||
Kickinghorse | Extreme | above Hunter Creek | Golden | III+ | Class III to IV drops. Fast, lots of boulders, pushy and demanding." | ||
White (B.C.) | Advanced | Upper Bridge | Kootenay R | III+/II+ | Beautiful scenery, fast flush, demanding paddling. | ||
Toby | Extreme | Panorama | Above Smitty's | 18 | IV | Really Extreme! Class III to IV drops. Expect to carry (scramble) past some crops. | |
Red Deer | Advanced | Mountain Aire Lodge | Coal Camp | 39 | 10 |