If whitewater kayaking has a destination bucket list, Terrace, BC is at the top of it.
Terrace is THE home base for white water technical creek runs, big-water rivers, legendary expeditions, and enough paddling options to keep experienced kayakers wanting to come back over and over again.
Terrace is often referred to as the Creeking Capital of the North because of its close to a vast array of whitewater that kayakers from around the world are drawn to.
Take Leland and Andria Davis, visitors from Asheville, North Carolina who drove more than 5,000 km from home specifically to run the white water in the Terrace area. That’s how legendary the rivers around here are and is an example of the extraordinary rivers that adventure that defines the Infinite Coast of BC.
“We’ve always wanted to go and finally made it!”
says Leland Davis.
“I originally heard about Terrace from kayaking videos, more than 20 years ago. It’s always been in the back of my mind to come, and we finally made the drive.”
Terrace is a basecamp to adventure
Davis had previously made the trip to Whistler several times over the years and was connected to whitewater paddlers like Corey Boux, who moved to Terrace from the Whistler/Squamish area because of the easy access to paddling, and epic winters in the back country.
Boux has spent decades paddling rivers across North America, he has sent outrageously tall waterfalls, navigated Class 5 rivers and is among very small group of kayakers who have successfully descended the legendary Grand Canyon of the Stikine River, a 72-kilometer stretch that is considered one of the most committing and challenging big-water runs on the planet.
In fact, he was also featured in some of those early 2000s kayak adventure sport videos that helped put Terrace on the global kayaking map. Boux regularly posts videos of his kayaking runs on his social media accounts – drawing people like the Davises to make the trip to Terrace to check it out.
For Boux, Terrace is a basecamp to adventure.
“I love the variety of rivers 15-20 minutes from town, from big water Class 4 to Class 5 creeks”
says Boux.
“The draw for experienced kayakers is it’s the gateway to the Stikine, but it’s also great local training grounds.”
The easy access to kayaking options is mind blowing.
His favourite runs within a day of Terrace include the Stikine Grand Canyon, the Bell Erving to the Nass, and the Clore Grand Canyon – another classic destination for high level, experienced kayakers.
As for closer runs, he loves Williams Creek , Clore Flinstone above 150 m3/s, Kahtada Creek, and Matson Canyon from the 24 km marker to the landslide rapid. So many options, super close to home.
Davis agrees. While this year is his first time coming to Terrace specifically to kayak, he says the easy access to dozens of kayaking options is mind blowing.
“What really stands out is how much there is so close to town,”
Davis says.
“It’s really dense with kayaking opportunities RIGHT there. You could easily paddle a different river every day for a week.”
But do the rivers live up to the hype?
“Absolutely,”
says Davis, who has been kayaking for more than 40 years.
“We’ve already talked about it, and out of everywhere we have been travelling all summer it’s been one of our favourite spots.”
Davis hooked up with Boux, and some other Terrace kayakers, proving that the international whitewater scene is well connected, there were even some familiar faces from his time paddling in Whistler, like old kayaking pal and Terrace local, Nick Gottlieb.
So while the whitewater was flowing, and lived up to their expectations, it was Terrace’s northern hospitality that really stood out. The paddling community was warm and welcoming, they were happy to show off some of their favourite places like Williams Creek and the Kalum River.
The Davises continued on to Alaska and Whitehorse on their road trip. On their next trip back north, Davis says, Terrace may just be the ultimate destination rather than stopping on route to Alaska.
So why choose Terrace?
- Terrace offers easy access to large volume class 3-5 rivers like the Copper River, The Clore and sections of the Kalum River that provide the kind of technical whitewater that keeps experienced paddlers checking river levels and making last-minute plans.
- Terrace has a super welcoming paddling community
- Bucket list white water runs that live up to the hype
- Proximity both to high adrenaline rivers, but plenty of way less technical paddling options too.
- For non-white water break-day paddles, Lakelse Lake, Sand Lake and Kalum Lake are smooth as silk and cater to paddle boarding, kayaking and large expanses perfect for kite surfing and windsurfing.
- Terrace is a warm, welcoming city with lots of amenities, accommodations, restaurants and public facilities. It’s the perfect basecamp for day trips and expeditions.
For more information
Visit our Boating & Paddling page under Outdoor Adventures:
Check out Leland & Andria Davis’ Whitewater Travel Guide to 294 of the continent’s best rivers:
Blog by Tourism Terrace
