Learn about the Rapids
madawaska river/Madoueskak sipi
River Rating: Class II/II+
The Madawaska flows through unceded Algonquin territory, beginning at Source Lake in Algonquin Park and winding 230km before she meets up with the Ottawa River in Arnprior. We will only get to know a small portion of her, spending our first two days getting acquainted with the rapids of the Lower Madawaska learning to paddle and swim through her currents.
Whitewater training day
Today is an exciting day as we get to know the Madawaska River - learning to manoeuvre our boats (and bodies!) through her currents as we paddle and swim through a few sets of rapids. The rapids we will play in this day are called…
Jessup’s Chute (Class II/II+): A classic play spot for the Madawaska valley, this rapid is short and sweet. We’ll begin by jumping off of halfway through the rapid from Piano Rock into a fun, deep wave train to learn how to swim in moving water; if you’re feeling it (and loving it) we can swim from higher up for a longer, wavier ride.
The Lower Set (Class II): A perfect rapid to learn on, the Lower Set is a longer rapid than Jessup’s with lots of options to make it more or less difficult. This rapid has three different entrances, with a section in the middle to learn how to rock dodge, point our boats where we want them to go, and stop in calm pools of water partway down the river. At most water levels, there is a fun wave at the bottom to finish this off. One of the best parts is that we can run this rapid over and over again!
The day run
We will learn how to run a river by paddling down the beautiful Madawaska River for the day. This day is dedicated to more practice paddling our boats, scouting lines through rapids, and supporting each other’s needs throughout the day.
This section of the river is called the Lower Madawaska/The Snake (because she looks like a snake from an aerial view) and offers us a drop-pool section to paddle, meaning a rapid is followed by a big, calm pool of water. Depending on water levels, there are about 8 rapids in this section of river, with a portage trail running alongside the whole river. This trail gives us options to scout, walk or portage rapids you’re not comfortable with.
The rapid names we know have been given by the paddling community:
Island (Class II+): A short, yet fun and challenging introduction to the Day Run. This rapid varies a lot depending on water levels, ranging from a big wave train to a more technical, precision-based rapid. This is a great one to start with, as we’ll be able to hop out of our boats and “scout,” which provides an excellent way to sharpen our river reading skills and make a plan with our paddling partners.
Dog’s Leg (Class II): The longest on the Day Run, this rapid offers cruisey, rock-dodging flow with a fun surprise at the bottom.
The Narrows (Class II/II+): Again, this rapid is water-level dependent. At higher levels, there are two bigger river features that require a “thread-the-needle” maneuver; at this level, you can also practice putting your boat in places midway through the rapid to hone your skills. At lower levels, The Narrows features a straightforward step-like rapid ending in a big, calm pool of water.
Exam Time (Class II): If your guides are feeling cheeky, they may challenge you to pick your own line through this rapid. Nothing more, or less, complicated than finding the most water flow and dodging some rocks.
Rifle Chute (Class III): This is the rapid with the most elevation loss, creating some of the biggest wave trains at higher water levels. We’ll be able to get out and scout this one too, but regardless, be prepared to put your hands up and say “YEEEOW"!” Unless, of course, you’re the one steering.
Split Rock (Class III): Rachel’s favourite rapid at all water levels. Split Rock is split into two channels by (you guessed it) a big rock. The righthand channel features a horizon line that obscures the water downstream right up until you get to the lip of the rapid, which makes this a reaction-based based. Not much time for thinking or planning, just doing — flow state at its finest.
Post-Split (Class II): Just downstream is the little brother of Split Rock, Post-Split. Just make sure you line yourself up right and enjoy the bump n’ grind water slide into the calm pool of water below.
Racquette (Class III): Probably the most technical rapid of the day, Racquette requires you to slow waaaaay down, maybe even backpaddle! The entrance requires a lot of maneuvering to line up and make sure you miss the infamous “Can Opener” rock at the bottom of the channel.
The Rattle (Class II): What’s at the end of a snake? A rattle! This is a fun, straightforward wave train to end the day with a bang. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
dumoine River/Cakawitopikak Sipi/Ekonakwasi Sipi
River rating: Class II+/III
This is the bulk of our journey, where every day will look a little bit different depending on the weather and river flow. We will usually aim to be finished drinking coffee, eating breakfast and packing down camp before 9 am so we can be pushing off of shore at that time. We promise that paddling in the morning is beautiful - you won’t regret it. Everything else is up to the river. Generally, we will be eating dinner between 6 and 7, and will spend our evenings in a variety of activities - music making, story telling, learning, crafting and connecting. Every trip will look different as it will be a unique collection of women with a unique collection of gifts to share.
Day 1
We begin at Lac Benoit after our 3-hour shuttle. We’ll chat about packing up our boats and kick the trip off with a 1-km long Class II+ rapid called Bridge Rapid. A straightforward rapid that we’ll read as we paddle, with a big eddy halfway down to regroup in. This will flow right into the lake our first campsite is on.
Day 4
Day 4 is our portage day and is also our longest stretch of flatwater. While there is a class II+ rapid peppered in, for a long portion of this day, we’ll flow between tall sand cliffs as the river narrows. Eventually, she widens out to a flat marsh above the Class VI waterfall, Grand Chute.
Here we’ll get our steps in as we embark on our 1-km portage around Grand Chute. Don’t worry though, we’ll be sure to stop and enjoy the views at a sweet lunch spot. After the portage, we’ll take time to rinse off the sweat of our labour in the river before we paddle to our campsite for the night on Lac Robinson.
Day 2
One of our most continuous whitewater days, with a lot of elevation drop. This day has back-to-back rapids, like Triple Play, Canoe Eater, The Snake, Dance Me Outside, The Sleeper, Log Jam, Gooseneck, Thread the Needle and Little Steel. Most of these rapids are class II+, with one class III, but all are so different they’ll keep you on your toes. There is also a pullover over a small waterfall and a short, but challenging portage into our campsite today.
Day 5
This is our Red Pine rapid day. Considered some of the more technical rapids on the river, Red Pine rapids 1-5 range from Class II-III, with plenty of variety and challenge. Today’s rapids end with a short pullover Patton’s Chute, where we may stop to enjoy lunch and warm up on the rocks if the sun has graced us with his presence.
The rest of the day is smooth sailing on fast-flowing water past the majestic Bald Eagle cliffs, through the class II Three Sisters rapid and onto our campsite near Bowman Falls.
Day 3
Today is a good mixture of whitewater and flatwater. There are still several fun class II+/III rapids, like Big Steel, but the day feels a little more spread out and spacious. Lots of non-whitewater exploration of secret waterfalls, wide open lakes and a luxurious float down the Cobblestone Highway.
Day 6
Our last day. We will have a couple of hours of paddling before we cross the mighty Ottawa River to Driftwood Provincial Park. From here, we’ll shuttle our vehicles over to our take-out, organize our gear, share some final words and say our fare wells.
rapid classification
This International Rating System is thanks to American Whitewater and the good folx of the paddling community. This system is used so that we can compare difficulty of rivers around the world. Know that rivers are dynamic beings and their rapids can change based on weather, water levels and shifts in riverbeds/banks from flooding. Although two rapids can be classified the same, e.g. Class III, no two rapids are identical and will have their own unique characteristics, features, flow and challenge.
Class I Rapids
Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.
Class II Rapids: Novice
Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class II+”.
Class III: Intermediate
Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class III-” or “Class III+” respectively.
Class IV: Advanced
Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require “must” moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class IV-” or “Class IV+” respectively.
Class V: Expert
Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain** large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV, Class 5 is an open-ended, multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc… each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: increasing difficulty from Class 5.0 to Class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from Class IV to Class 5.0.
Class VI: Extreme and Exploratory Rapids
These runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a Class VI rapids has been run many times, its rating may be changed to an apppropriate Class 5.x rating.