Paddling on the Pinawa Channel

Pinawa Channel - The Pinawa Dam section of the Pinawa Channel is an excellent spot for beginner boaters looking to work on their skills and is especially convenient as it maintains a steady flow due to the diversion dam upstream. The run consists of 2 distinct sections flowing through smooth Canadian Shield bedrock and are separated by a decommissioned hydroelectric dam that must be portaged. The upstream section has 1 feature, a clean 50 ft long bedrock slide with multiple lines. The lower section contains a several small drops and features including a pourover, a boof ledge, and a sticky weir style hole/drop. Hazards of this run include water flowing through the old dam, and swimmers. Also be aware and always scout for obstructions in the run as people will often throw picnic tables into the falls.