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Fraser River Raft Expeditions |
800-363-7238 |
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Hyak Wilderness Adventures |
800-663-7238 |
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Kumsheen Raft Adventures |
800-663-6667 |
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REO Rafting Adventures |
800-736-7238 |
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River Rogues Adventures |
604-458-2252 |
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Ryan's Rapid Rafting |
800-665-7926 |
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| Section |
Spences
Bridge to Lytton |
|
Location |
West
of Kamloops, south-central British Columbia |
|
Driving Time |
Vancouver—3
hours |
|
Difficulty |
Class
III-IV |
|
Trip Length |
25
miles (40 km) |
|
Trip Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft, and motorized raft; half-day, one and two days |
|
Season |
May-September |
In 1973 the Thompson
River became British Columbia's first whitewater river to be
commercially rafted. As word of the exciting rapids and magnificent
canyon scenery spread, the numbers of rafters grew. The Thompson
continues to be one of the province's favorite whitewater stretches.
Thompson's
most popular rafting trip is the 25-mile (40-km) one-day trip
through the lower Thompson Valley and White Canyon between Spences
Bridge and Lytton. This section unquestionable has the river's best
whitewater and most awesome scenery. It's thirty rapids—including
The Frog, Devils Kitchen, Witch's Cauldron, Washing Machine, and
everyone's favorite, Jaw's of Death—will excite both first time
and experienced rafters.
While
the demanding whitewater of the Thompson doesn't always permit full
appreciation of spectacular arid canyon landscape, there is still
plenty of scenery to enjoy during the more relaxing stretches. The
Trans-Canada Highway and Canadian National and CP railways closely
parallel the river throughout most of the trip.
During
spring and early summer, outfitters primarily use Colorado
River-style motorized pontoon rafts to shoot the Thompson River's
big rapids. As summer water levels lower, usually by early July,
paddle raft trips become more frequent.
On
weekends in August and September, some outfitters offer overnight
trips on the Thompson and Fraser rivers, including a hair-raising
ride through the famed Class V Hell’s Gate rapids on the Fraser.
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