A hidden whitewater gem in British Columbia

Jules Domine, Todd Wells, and Kristof Stursa had heard the buzz about the Azure, a remote, rarely-paddled river in British Columbia’s Cariboo Mountains. They knew it promised clean drops, tight canyons, and epic whitewater, but they weren’t quite prepared for the suffer fest ahead. A brutal hike-in, snow-covered trails, tough portages, and nights spent shivering under tarps quickly changed their expectations.

Kristof Stursa

British Columbia's whitewater potential is well known, with many of its rivers on most avid kayaker’s buckets list. Every few years, that list grows thanks to some motivated crews that don’t shy away from exploring new places, even when that implies leaving the comfort of well-known favorites. On that list, the Azure stands out as the river that has it all: bedrock canyons, beautiful clean drops, unrunnable gorges, stout rapids still waiting for someone to step up, nasty portages through Devil’s club, and a very arduous hike in. Flowing through the Cariboo Mountains in Wells Gray Park, it is the most eastern tributary of the Clearwater. The river was first run in 2017 by Team Beer, a highly respected group of kayakers who have opened numerous rivers and traveled the…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2025

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