Gauges

This remote river has no official gauge and can fluctuate through the day if there is enough snowmelt coupled with warm temperatures. Check the river at the take out bridge. If the water is right at the riverside vegitation, the river will be high and Hairpin becomes a class IV. If you can see exposed gravel on the shoreline, Hairpin is class III. The lower section of the river will cheese grate your boat at lower flows.

Take Out

From Grande Prairie travel west towards the BC border. Shortly after crossing the border turn left onto the Heritage Highway (94 km from GP). Travel south down the teeth chattering Heritage Highway towards Tumbler Ridge. For those who know the Kelly Lake approach, the trip will be a bit shorter. Kinuseo Falls in Monkman Park

Aprroximately 11 km before you reach Tumbler, turn left to head towards Monkman Park. This turn off is well signed and you will also see the coal mining plant on the left as well. Travel 49 km towards Monkman Park. Take a short stop to see the impressive Kinuseo Falls..but get on your way, otherwise it could be a long day.

Continue shortly past the falls turnoff through the park to Bully Creek Road. Turn left and travel for exactly 1.4 km, turn right. Here you will see a gate. Most times the gate is open, but if it is closed go back to the main park road and travel past Bully Creek Road to the campground. There is a ranger cabin there and you can get them to open the gate. It wouldn't be a bad idea to register your trip with the rangers here as there is no cell coverage for emergency situations.

Once through the gate, travel 4.0 km to the take out bridge. Take a look at the water levels here and park just past the bridge on a pullout. When we did the trip we dropped off a cashe here as well as the shuttle bike. I would seriously recommend to bring a second vehicle (truck) to run this river. There are bears all throughout this part of the country. We saw two large bears on the way to the put in, and found another one sniffing the truck when we went to retrieve the truck after running the river. Otherwise, have bear spray and an air horn for the ride back. One can't help but feel like a cruton in a big bear salad!

It is approximately a 3 hour drive from Grande Prairie to reach the put in, leave early and prepare to get back late.

Put In

Continue up the road for 10 km (km 14) to the next bridge, put in here.

Overview

This remote creek has a real serious feel to it, especially when you paddle in smaller groups. High canyon walls, tight moves, and serious whitewater all make for an exhausting day on the river. Those who are mentally and physically prepared will enjoy this trip, higher flows makes this river quite interesting. Oh, and bring your bug spray and bear spray...you may use both!

With a mild start on class II whitewater, you soon find yourself on the verge of the first rapid...Hairpin. This rapid can be scouted on river left..with some difficulty you can scout the lower 6 foot drop.

Scenic canyon in remote BC, enjoy! As you continue down you will travel through the deep canyon, ever wondering..what is around the next corner. Relax, many of the rapids below can be easily scouted and they usually have good eddies to get into.

After a few pool and drop slides and ledges you will encounter a huge house rock right in the middle of the river. This rapid is House Rock Rapid. After negotiating the ledges past the house rock you travel up to the larges feature of the river..Imperial Falls.

This class V drop thunders through a tight overhanging canyon and is very ominous. You can scout (if you dare) on the right side, or simply portage on the right down the ledge to a slanting shelf which decends right near the base of the falls. Here you have to bravely seal launch into the froth of the falls. Below a couple of ledges ends this section.

The rest of the river eases off with a few class III ledges and chutes. The lower section to the take out will give your boat a real facelift. Be sure not to wince too much when you hear the polyetheline ripping off of your boat!

For those wishing to run this creek, be prepared with at least two 80 foot throwbags, a spare paddle, carabiners, prussiks, extra webbing, first aid kit, and a survival kit. Bear spray is a serious consideration.

Imperial Creek Highlights

Hairpin III-IV
House Rock Rapid III+
Multiple Ledges (too many to count) III
Scenic Canyon
Imperial Falls V

Rapid Description

Hairpin III-IV

Hairpin is the first major drop you encounter on the Imperial. It consists of a two part move at the start of the main canyon. As you enter the drop follow the green tongue to a deflection wave on the river left side of the river just above the hairpin. Do not hug too closely to the rock shelf on the river left side as there is a submerged rock just below the hairpin.

Negotiate the hairpin slide just above the lower drop. Catch the eddy above the drop and immediately get over to the river left side. Tackle the 4-6 foot drop on river left. If you run the drop on river right, be prepared for a boney ride over the drop.

At higher water levels the hairpin flushes quickly to the right side of the drop, at lower water levels the drop is easier to negotiate. Scout with difficulty on the river left side. Portage with greater difficulty (definately not recommended) on the river left side above the canyon.

House Rock Rapid III

House Rock Rapid lower drop river left side

House Rock Rapid is easily identified by the house rock that takes up to half of the canyon width. Start off by negotiating the suprisingly sticky flat hole off of a small slanting ledge above the house rock. Do not underestimate the power of the current above the house rock. Travel to the right side of the house rock where you then have two options for the lower ledge. The first option is to take the right of center chute which bounces off a pillow and into a flat knotch. This pillow can be sticky at higher water levels. Option two is to meander to the river left side where you can rock boof off an interesting horn of rock which splats you into the flat hole at the bottom.

Multiple Ledges III

This river is riddled with 1-5 foot ledges, too numerous to mention. Many are pool and drop, and a few have linked moves which require careful negotiation through razor sharp shale. Many of the drops can be scouted from your boat, but one or two may require a peek from shore.

Scenic Canyon

The canyon is quite impressive. You can't help but feel small in this remote section of BC. The canyon walls range from 30 to 300 feet in places. Constant twists and turns will put you a bit on edge as you are wondering..what's around the bend? Rest assured, all of the major rapids can be looked at without being up against an overhanging cliff wall. So, relax and enjoy the scenery...isn't that why you came anyways?

Imperial Falls V

Class V Imperial Falls, portage on river right

Imperial Falls is the largest feature of this section of the river. It is an impressive 12-15 foot monster which pumps through a tight section of the canyon. Those brave (or stupid) souls can negotiate this rapid..but be prepared...there is no alternative for rescue, and you might need a new chin after running this boney drop. Portage on the right side over a ledge and onto a slanting shelf. There is really only room for one boat at a time on the shelf. Seal launch off of the slanting ledge and into the froth below the falls. Be sure not to drop your paddle here as you will be in for a henious epic as there are two more ledges below the falls that must be run.

The rest of the river eases at this time, with a few III-III+ ledges below the falls. You soon reach the flats where the cheese grating begins.

The alternative to returning to Grande Prairie is through Tumbler Ridge on nice paved roads all the way to Dawson Creek. Although it is longer going back this way, it only adds 30 minutes to the drive, and after driving dirt roads all day, it is a nice option.