| Class: | 4 (5) | ||
| Length: | 70 km | ||
| Time: | 3 days | ||
| Season: | mid - late Summer, depending on year | ||
| Put-In: | Fly-in from Whistler | ||
| Take-Out: | Frazer River ferry | ||
| Link: | Google Directions to Put-In | ||
| Link: | Map Quest |
Interactive map:
Map script: techrageo
Back to: Overview River Map
Run description:
This is one of the classic multiday trip in BC. It goes from the alpine near Whistler to the desert near Lytton. Weather is usually very warm in this valley which makes for some great paddling. The trip starts with a portage that takes a couple hours to get to a point where the river is big enough to paddle and not blocked by trees and log jams. There is an easy trail on river right to follow. When you get to the top of a big hill, you can see the North Stein coming in from the north. Follow the trail down and when you are pretty close to the river, bushwack down and put in. If you do it right, there should be no logjams to walk around.
After the North Stein comes in, you get some extra volume and the drops will start soon after. The first day is mainly rock slides in an open valley, some have wood, others don’t. All major drops are worth scouting. After that the rivers enters a canyon with some quality whitewater.
Then, there is a full day paddling on flatwater. You will pass a cabin and great camping spots.
The last day is the best of all and features continuous read and runn grade 4 whitewater (harder at high levels). This section starts at a suspension bridge that spans the river. This is also a possible put-in if you hike up from the bottom of the river. There are many drops that are very fun and most of them are read and run, depending on your confidence level. Two exceptions are devils escalator (class 4+) and the devils staircase (class 5). So always pay attention to significant horizon lines and scout when unsure.
The runs ends when it flows into the Frazer River. Paddle down to the Ferry and take out. Hopefully a shuttle bunny is waiting with cold beer.
Overall this is a great trip and we really have to thank those hippies and tree huggers from the 80ies that saved this valley from logging! If you do not like to fly or don’t have the money, you should consider the North Stein, which gets you to the Stein and in addition features some big granite drops. Also this run has been done in a day. That, however, does not imply that it’s a great idea for everyone to do that.
Other runs on the Stein River: