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Link to current flows

This is a great class III-IV river with east portages around the major rapids.

Below are pictures of the major features at specific flows.

	Castle Falls @ 85cms Water is moving pretty good with the best line down the center Ferrying was a bit of work. A boiling drop on river right that would probably not be that sticky, but not the best line. Tight river left is part of a smiling hole that would not be sticky either, but not the best line. All 5 paddlers ran center with no issues of getting stuck, one swimmer due to boily water.
	Looking Downstream at the falls at 6cms. Now you know what is under the water.
	Looking Upstream at the falls at 6cms. Now you know what is under the water.
	Narrowgate @ 85cms No gravel bars above the drop so easier to line up for the drop. Appeared quite clean, with an easy line at center. River left had a tighter feature that appeared to flush, river right dropped into a squirly pool, followed by the main drop. All paddlers ran close to center. 4 paddlers ran center with no issues.

Here's a map that shows the 'gravel-pit' take-out for the Castle Canyon run. Grade estimates are consistent with Stuart Smith's book and the grade probably increases to IV at about 100 cms or so. In 1995 it hit about 1000 cms (!!) and floated the Canyon Bridge off its concrete pad and the bridge floated/tumbled downstream and was smashed up in the canyon. Most of the steel debris was removed with the flood clean-up but there are still some blue girders in the river, on river left in the boulder garden just below the canyon. (Stew)




Jeff and Irene in Castle Canyon (above) and lunch wave (below) (29 cms, Stew)




From Canyon Bridge (300 cms, Stew)

Stream Team's Castle River
OPTION 1
Put In - West Castle Road - 1 km SW of Beaver Mines Lake turn off on Highway 774 turn N and follow road to bridge on river
Take Out - Castle Falls - follow West Castle Road N for 5.5 km.
Distance - 8 km
Gradient - 6.3 m/km
River Grade - II+
Contains Rapids - Class I to IV+

OPTION 2
Put In - Castle Falls - follow West Castle Road N for 5.5 km.
Take Out - N.B.Kirk's access - about 1 km N of Castle River Bridge on Highway 507 turn W and follow road for about 5 km and turn S to follow road allowance to river.
Distance - 8.8 km
Gradient - 4.5 m/km
River Grade - III
Contains Rapids - Class I to IV+

OPTION 3
Put In - N.B.Kirk's access - about 1 km N of Castle River Bridge on Highway 507 turn W and follow road for about 5 km and turn S to follow road allowance to river.
Take Out - Rodeo Grounds - by Castle River Bridge on Highway 507.
Distance - 8 km
Gradient - 4.5 m/km
River Grade - I+
Contains Rapids - Class I to III

OPTION 4
Put In - Rodeo Grounds - by Castle River Bridge on Highway 507.
Take Out - Canyon Bridge - about 2.5 km S on Castle River Bridge on Highway 507 turn E and follow road to bridge on Castle river.
Distance - 7 km
Gradient - 4.5 m/km
River Grade -II
Contains Rapids - Class I to III+

OPTION 5
Put In - Canyon Bridge - about 2.5 km S on Castle River Bridge on Highway 507 turn E and follow road to bridge on Castle river.
Take Out - Bruno Yagos' access - Follow road E for about 2.5 km and at junction turn right (E), then after about 1.5 km turn S and follow road to river. Note: Prior permission should be sought.
Distance - 2.6 km
Gradient - 8 m/km
River Grade - III
Contains Rapids - Class I to IV

OPTION 6
Put In - Bruno Yagos' access - Follow road E for about 2.5 km and at junction turn right (E), then after about 1.5 km turn S and follow road to river. Note: Prior permission should be sought.
Take Out - Castle River Bridge on Highway 3A
Distance - 10.5 km
Gradient - 3.4 m/km
River Grade - II
Contains Rapids - Class I to III