Vitals
- Locale: Whistler, British Columbia
- What It's Like: Whistler's ultra classic. Clean waterfalls, bedrock and boulder gardens.
- Class: IV-V at medium levels.
- Scouting/Portaging: Relatively easy, except for portaging the big falls.
- Level: Visual.
- Time: 30 minutes to a few hours.
- When To Go: Reliable season from mid May through August - runs after rain in the fall.
- Info From: Many visits.
- Other Beta: None.
- Map: Click here for a map of the river zone.
Description
Callaghan Creek is one of the classic Whistler runs that has few peers. It's often the first stop of and is a must do for anyone on a tour of the coast. It's the best after work run for Whistler locals - once you boof the clean 15 and 20 foot waterfalls you'll know why. Arguably one of the best classic runs in a zone that is packed full of classic whitewater, the Callaghan is a river not to be missed.
The Callaghan is runnable at a broad range of flows, though it does get too high and too low. Unfortunately there's no clear cut gauge and everyone who runs it regularly has their own way to gauge the level. If there are rocks poking through the water on river right above the highway 99 bridge it's ok. If there are no rocks it will be high. Heat waves and the first few weeks of snowmelt in late May and early June aside it is usually runnable for the whole summer, typically on the low side in August. If you're unsure about flows, check with a local. Just be warned that some of the locals run the Callaghan at huge levels that aren't appropriate for a first trip down so be sure to get an honest opinion from them.
Part of the popularity of the Callaghan is the ease of access. The take out is just south of the highway 99 bridge over the creek. Take the Daisy Lake FSR turn off the 99 (downstream, river left - follow the signs for Whistler Bungee). Immediately on your right is the Cal-Cheak Campsite - park in the big open parking lot. The put in is up the river left logging road. Drive just over 3.5 km up and take a left turn on to a spur road. It will fork twice - go left then go right. Park at the turn around near the edge of the clearcut. An obvious trail goes to the river. The paved road up to the Olympic venue on river right doesn't have easy put in access.
The toughest whitewater on this run is in the first 500 meters. Just below the put in is a big ledge with a bad hole - run it far right - if you can't get far right portaging is recommended. Boulder rapids lead into the waterfalls - you'll find a 12-15 foot falls with the iconic 20-25 footer shortly after. The rapid in between is the high water limiting factor on this river - a huge hole develops right above the big one.
Below the waterfalls the river changes to continuous boulder rapids with a few big ones in the mix. At a gradual bend to the left you'll see a large pile of logs on river right - eddy out on the right by the logs - this is Old Dirty Bastard, the biggest non-waterfall rapid. The line involves paddling in and holding on. After more boulders and a bit more bedrock you'll all too soon pass under the highway and get to the take out. Hope you have some gas left in the tank because you'll definitely want to run this one again.
Flying off the first waterfall.
The main event.
Updated Sept 20, 2010
