Rogers Creek

Vitals

Locale: Lillooet Lake, British Columbia
What It's Like: Short run in an amazing gorge - includes the famous triple falls.
Class: IV-V
Scouting/Portaging: Moderate to difficult.
Level: Visual only.
Time: 2-3 hours on the water.
When To Go: July-August - this is a late season run.
Info From: Several visits.
Other Beta: None.
Map: Click here for a map of the area.

Description

There's not a lot to say about Rogers Creek that hasn't already been said. It's one of the iconic river reaches in the south coast area of BC, largely due to the incredibly clean and visually pleasing triple falls in its gorge. You know the one. It's as good as you think it is. The rest of the creek is a fun paddle through a deep granite canyon with several great rapids above and below the falls. The whole package is rounded off by a pleasant bushwhack from the access road to the creek - it wouldn't be BC without a bushwhack now would it?

The flow on Rogers is visual only. July or August will be the best betting time to hit it at a good flow, with both the weather of the week and that season's snowpack playing a role in exactly when it will be good. It isn't glacier fed, so it will dry up eventually. At the take out, the river will look quite low but navigable - check out the photo below to reference a medium level. If you're really concerned about the level you can head up the river right logging road to the 1 km marker where you can see down to the triple falls. This is the make-or-break point in terms of water level - if you see giant boils between the second and third drops it is high.

Rogers Creek is found about 1 hour south on the east side FSR of Lillooet Lake/Lillooet River, leaving from highway 99. It's dusty but scenic. The take out is where the road crosses the creek. It isn't signed, but it is the first major river you cross on the drive south. Alternatively you can paddle out on to the Lillooet River and float a few kilometers downstream to the Skookumchuck/St. Agnes Well hot spring, which is a great place to camp out. There are roads up both sides of Rogers - the best access to the normal run is up the river right FSR (which is signed), several hundred meters north of the bridge. Get up here how ever you can - without 4x4 you might have to park at the bottom of the hill and walk - at the first clear cut after the switchbacks you'll want to bushwhack in along the downstream side of the clear cut. There is more whitewater further up stream, including another triple drop.

There have been access issues here in the past. Don't screw around at the take out, especially upon arrival. Maybe head straight up the FSR and send someone on foot to check the level. Taking out at the hot spring is a good idea. There is an aggressive land owner who lives along the river left (south) FSR who in the past has been unwelcoming to boaters.

The creek after you whack down the clear cut will be wide. The first section is rocky but all good to go. You'll quickly come to a 6-8 foot ledge with a twisty lead in that marks the entrance to the gorge. Some great boulder pile rapids ensue - when you get to a drop that pinches up against the right canyon wall eddy out below on the left to check out the falls.

The line at the triple is apparent. Do go left on the second one as the hole on the right has destroyed errant boaters in the past. Take a while and soak in the splendor here. If you have to, the falls can be portaged on river left. After the falls there is one more rapid - perhaps the best one on the creek - and then some fun boogie (if it isn't low) down to the take out bridge. Quietly paddle past the cabin on river right - if you make it down in one piece, might as well go for a second lap...