Muskeg River III+

Gauge is located on highway forty bridge, south of Grande Cache just south of Mason Creek Picnic site.

The mighty Muskeg River (many options for beginners to advanced. The description here is for the main put-in). The main white water portion of the river is Class II-III with a section of class IV. With its many play waves, and friendly holes this river is touted as the favorite after work river run by the local paddlers. The takeout is a laborious climb back up to the highway, with 3 steep, and progressively longer, pitches. 15 minutes to the shuttle if you are ultra fit, 30 minutes if you've been channel surfing all winter long. It is imperative that you take out above the falls and portage the falls. This is not your typical drop as it takes a sharp 90 degree turn to the left, drops 10 m off of a 60 degree slide into a roostertail death ledge which would pin any hair boater...including Tao! If your lucky to pass the pin ledge, then you would be hurdled down the river left side of the falls into the largest flat hole I have ever seen. If you have a death wish, then take a look, but if you still want to see the light of day again...I suggest walking back to the road.

The Lower Muskeg below the falls has been run at class III-IV by some of the locals, but details are sketchy at best. We'll leave the description of this section an unknown as this will only intrigue the hardened adventurer. Happy paddling!

Muskeg River Highlights:

• The surfing wave at the Highway 40 bridge
• The Fraser Ledge
• The Slot - 8ft wide and pumping
• Tumble Weed
• The Little Muskeg Falls, 15ft seal launch for the portage

Note: you must know where the take-out is or risk death going over Muskeg Falls!

Journal

Click here to check out the trip journal for this river.