Granby River Paddle Tour

Check it out

Distance: 12 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Paddling time: 3-4 hours

Season: March through July.

Maps: Canadian topo Grand Forks 82 E/1.

Info: Wild Waves Sport Shop in Christina Lake, British Columbia, (250) 447-6561.

Paddling trip notes:

Access: Put-in: From Provincial Highway 3 in Grand Forks, British Columbia, turn north at east side of Granby River bridge onto Granby Road. Drive nearly 1-1/2 miles, note narrow, unmarked gravel road dropping down to river just north of black slag piles. This leads to old dam site and access site called Slag Beach. To reach put-in, continue north on Granby Road. Pass another river access at 5-1/3 miles. At nearly 10 miles from Grand Forks, bear left at Y to put-in at bridge.

Alternate access also available from North Fork Road on west side of Granby River.

Take-out: Turn off Highway 3 in Grand Forks just west of Granby River Bridge onto Second Street. Turn right (east) at stop, then bend left (north) onto Riverside Drive. At 83rd Street, turn right and into parking area for Barbara Ann Park.

Attractions: Mostly gentle stretch of 65-mile-long river that begins in pristine old growth of Granby Provincial Park and flows into Kettle River. This stretch runs through farmed meadows, with options for more excitement upstream. Sandy beaches exposed by mid-July; excellent for swimming, but water often too low for canoes by early August. White-tailed deer flourish in valley.

Hazards: Possible sweepers, logjams, Class 2 rapids at old dam site, Spit Wally’s Hole.

Comments: This route and extensions can be scouted in pleasant loop drive using roads on east and west sides of Granby River. Bridges cross river at 10 and 17 miles north of Grand Forks. Another bridge and put-in is at Burrell Creek, 28 miles upstream from Grand Forks. (Burrell Creek is only designated campground on lower river.) Anything farther upstream is in realm of expert boaters.

Paddling mostly simple, but decisions must be made at some braided channels, where flows can be better in one route than in another. Always watch ahead for logjams and downed trees.

Most land along river privately owned.

First challenging spot is at big eddy where river piles up against road fill at Niagara. Nice stretch of Class 1-plus riffles follows.

Trip ends with biggest challenges. Watch for rock-pile island at old dam site. Stay right for best channel, then prepare for playful stretch of rapids that can fill your boat in some conditions.

At first sight of large slag piles, begin looking for Spit Wally’s Hole, a keeper wave that looks innocent from upstream, but can be dangerous. Stay river-right to avoid.

Barbara Ann Park has sand beach for take-out.

River can be dangerous to boaters in peak flow period sometime in late May or early June.

Settlers originally called river North Fork of Kettle River. Name officially changed to Granby in 1915, in honor of Quebec mining company that built copper smelter on riverbanks in 1900. Smelter demolition began in 1920, leaving huge black slag piles. Dam built to power smelter removed in winter of 1948.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Granby River Paddle Tour

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