| Class: | IV (V-portagable) | ||
| Flow: | 100 cms (snow melt) or 130 cms (rain) on the Gold is medium. The gravel bar on river right of the big pool below put-in bridge should be completly covered. Rocks above bridge should look easily runnable. | ||
| Length: | 4 km | ||
| Time: | average of 1.5 hours | ||
| Portages: | It has all been run, but one drop is very boney and easily portaged on left. and the hardest drop is portaged on right. | ||
| Gradient: | 2.5% | ||
| Season: | One of the latest on Vancouver Island due to the high elevation of the watershed. | ||
| Link: | Google Directions to Put-In | ||
| Link: | Map Quest |
Interactive map:
Map script: techrageo
Back to: Overview River Map
Run description:
This run changes significantly over it’s 4 km length. It starts out boney and low, with dark water and sharp black rock. At sufficient flows, this section can be quite fun with numerous ledges, boulder fields, a big slot and a super clean and fun 8 foot falls on the first 1.4 km. There is one portage almost right away a few drops below the put-in. Portage river left. At the confluence with the Pamella, the river changes to whiter rock, and clear water. It feels larger and fuller. It is read and run boulder fields in granite until the next big horizon line. This 18 foot falls is a great drop with a nice piece of rock jutting out just enought to make for a very clean line just left of center. Then eddy out on right and scout the next, more burly 15 foot falls. Watch out for the left corner(speaking from experience) which the water pushes to prity hard. A log has been jamming the entrance to this rapid for 6 years now.
You are now at the confluence of the Quatchka creek. Again the river is bigger, and the rock changes to a few slots, and some boily water. You have some 6 more drops until the take out. The take out is in constant evolution and I am sure will change again sometime soon. Currently, it’s at the very end of the U6 branch. Be sure to have a higher clearance vehicle. There is also the option of a take out on river left at the corner with the big wide ledge. Both have similar height and distance to walk.
Other runs on the Ucona River: