On the Lower Nimpkish River you can tackle more than 40 sets of rapids over 20 km (12.4 mi). There are rapids tame enough for apprehensive beginners and wild enough for fearless experts. Every stretch is fun - you can even jump out and swim occasionally!
Another wonderful aspect of this river route is the abundance of wildlife it supports. Elk, deer, cougar, black bear, eagles and schools of salmon (in spawning season) use the river. You have a good chance of spotting one or more of them during a day of rafting.
Tours leave from Campbell River, a 90-minute drive north from Nanaimo. The Lower Nimpkish River is a further 90-minute drive northwest from Campbell River.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Rated: Class II - III
- Approximate time required: 1 day
- Best time: early May - mid-August
- Reservations strongly recommended
A word or two on safety and on the international river classification system:
- The difficulty of the river rapids are rated from Class I - VI, with I being tame water and VI being extremely violent, unrunnable water