| Class: | 5 |  | |
| Flow: | Harris gauge 1.53 - 1.63 | ||
| Length: | 7 km | ||
| Time: | 5 hours | ||
| Portages: | 1 (or more) | ||
| Gradient: | 3.2 %, 8 % for steepest km | ||
| Season: | Winter, Spring when other runs are too low | ||
| Put-In: | Second Bridge over Lens | ||
| Take-Out: | Lower Bridge over Lens on Old Pt Renfrew road | ||
| Link: | Google Directions to Put-In | ||
| Link: | Map Quest | ||
| River Daddy/Mom: | JanD |
Interactive map:
Map script: techrageo
Back to: Overview River Map
Run description:
Sometimes some of the best rivers do not get run for a long time. Lens Creek was one of them. We started running this river in Spring of 2005 (after Braden and Conner assured us that it’s good). Lens Creek is probably the best Creek on the island. I really enjoy this classic creek a lot. The creek has two distinct canyons. The upper canyon is tight, boxed in, but not very deep.
It has about 9 class 4 - 4+ drops, some of which might need scouting the first time down. The canyon starts shortly after the put-in and ends in a very scenic meandering flatwater section with massive oldgrowth logs wedged inbetween the canyon walls.
The open section to the next canyon is fairly straightforward but has afew drops (up to 4+) that are worth scouting the first time down the run. Some boulder drops have sieves and big boulders that obscure the view.
When the creek approaches the lower canyon, the walls slowly close in and the boulder drops get steeper and steeper. The river will flow towards a headwall and do a sharp right turn and then another left turn with a big cliff on river left. Get out and scout the next few drops. This section has several class 5 drops. At the flows I have been there most were walkable but it is a good idea to scout everything from the left shore before committing.
The horizon lines get bigger after the first entrance drops and there is a waterfall that we sneak on a far left channel. You’ll get to a big boulder jumble on the left. This is the beginning of Stairway To Hell. Stairway To Hell is a long slide that ends in a sharp right turn into a big hole. It then continues over a few boulders into a tiny pool (gone at higher levels) and goes through a steep slot into a pool below. At high levels it is not possible to walk here and the drop is a must run class 5 where the lower slot has to be run blind.
After this is another hard drop that cannot be walked. At higher water this drop becomes very powerfull. Next is a series of two waterfalls, of which only the first has been run at the right level. Get out to walk or scout the first falls on the right, then portage over the midstream boulder. Get out immediately after this and walk the next falls on the left.
The portage needs some rope work and swimming but you’ll figure it out when you got this far.
After that only fun stuff (up to 4+) is left and then a flatwater paddle out to the bridge.
Here are four pictures from the put-in and take-out bridges. They show a perfect medium flow. (Thanks to Jeff from Washington for the pics!)
u.l.: Put-in bridge liiking upstream
u.r.: Put-in bridge looking at drop upstream
l.l.: Take-out bridge looking at river right downstream
l.r.: Take-out bridge looking upstream
