Paddling on the Cascade River

Cascade River - Perfect Class 3 River, loved by many Bow Valley paddlers. Access to the river requires a 1.5 hour / 6.4km hike on a gravel road frequented by many Grizzly Bears. Requires a bit of dedication. The Cascade starts off easy with lots of good eddy's to warm up on. Soon things pick up as the river winds down the valley producing good wave trains and fun holes to boof. Wood seems to always be an issue so keep your head up as the situation is always changing. There is nothing too committing that can't be easily scouted on the Cascade. There is a Class 3/4 corner called Hydrator that can be portaged if you don't feel up to it. Hydrator is where the river makes a right then hard left turn up against the canyon wall. This is the start of the 3+/4 depending on river level Canyon section. Make sure you have a solid roll before entering this section! Before doing this section it is always wise to scout the Canyon for wood along a good trail that goes all the way back to Lake Minnewanka if you had to walk, wood situation permitting. The Canyon then makes a hard left turn into a calm almost pool where it is a good chance to regroup before the last Canyon section straight down to Lake Minnewanka. Then it is a straight shot down with some really fun 3+ rapids and waves to Lake Minnewanka. Once you take out at Lake Minnewanka, walk about 1km back to your car at the fire road, or set this shuttle up prior to running the section. No gauge but it is generally in when Pipestone is in.