To get there: Look for a book called Backroads Mapbook (volume 4) the Kootenays. You will find it useful for boating in the West Kootenays.

From Nakusp: To get to Kaslo, leave Nakusp, on highway 6, heading to New Denver.
From New Denver, turn on highway 31A to Kaslo. At Kaslo, turn left onto Highway 31 which will take you along Kootenay Lake, and eventually Duncan Lake. There will be a road turning off to the right between Duncan and Kootenay Lake. Take it. You will end up at a T-intersection (1km or less). Turn Left onto the Duncan River Forest Service Road. Between 8 and 10km down this road, a steep road leaves to the right (not 4wd...well maintained forestry road). This steep road, is called the Glacier FSR. Just before you get here, you should have passed a bridge over Glacier Creek, which is your takeout.

To put in, drive up the road, and look at the creek, which is down a deep gorge to your right (mostly out of sight). About 5km up the road give or take a few km, you will see the main gorge, which is unmistakable, and un-missable. It is a series of waterfalls, potholes, pinches, and general insanity that has so much appeal to run. We were there when the water was too high. We were in the right season, however, the headwaters of this drainage are very logged out, and the slightest rain, causes epic high water.

This section has been run a few times, and looks to be some of the finest water in BC.

Description: The steep gorge at the top, is basically the top of the run. Above, Glacier Creek flows on a meandering gravel plain. This gorge is definite Grade 5 - 6 depending on flow. It looks very runnable, and very inviting to me at lower levels. Below this upper gorge, the creek flows in a deep canyon, with a mix of bedrock and boulders, mostly grade 4-5 (from what I've heard) but having not paddled it, I would go at it with a full day, and the realization that there might definitely be some harder stuff in there. It looks nice though, awesome bedrock/boulder BC creeking. Can't wait to get back here!

NOTE: A nice hippy lady has a small Farm, a few km above the Gorge. Don't run over her horses, which are sometimes on the road. Also, there is another Forestry Road, which must be at about 8-10km up the Glacier FSR. Its called Deep Creek road, and follows up a drainage. Knowing the geology of the area, I would check this out if I were you, because it has a definite potential to be a steep low volume waterfall choked run.

From the Ferry: Head towards Trout Lake on highway 31, going around the North end of Kootenay lake. You will loop around, and end up at the same spot, where you cross between Duncan and Kootenay Lake, then follow the description above

Spencer Cox.

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