Nicola River (class 2-3)

Length: 25 km, 4-5 hrs
Dates: May-June
Times: 10:45 am

The Nicola is an early-summer gem, perfect for first-time and veteran paddlers. We recommend the Nicola for youth, school groups, families and anyone looking for fun, fast-paced action. The Nicola flows through the hottest and driest region in Canada. Starting in the arid BC Interior near Merritt, the Nicola flows through ranch lands and rugged pine-forest canyons enroute to the Thompson River in Spences Bridge.

REO owns 2 riverfront acres on the Thompson, our Nicola take-out. The rapids on the Nicola are all Class 2-3 except in high water when several drops become Class 4. It is a fun, perky river with an average gradient of 50 feet per mile (steeper than the Thompson river).

Nicola whitewater rafting bc river raft VancouverOf all our rivers, the Nicola is the best choice in May and June for those wanting easy and intermediate rapids. At this time of the year, our premier trip on the Nahatlatch is high, fast and may be too intense for younger paddlers. The Nicola River is the best option for day trip rafters from Kelowna and the Okanagan. The Nicola put-in is a 2-hour drive from Kelowna.

The Nicola is a perfect paddle rafting river and a favorite of our youth and school groups. The Nicola also makes an excellent first day of rafting on our multi-day packages and retreats.

After floating 23 km on the Nicola, the river enters the mighty Thompson river, which we float to our riverside ranch in Spences Bridge. REO's Thompson River property is the meet location and take-out for Nicola trips. This property is 3.5 hours from Vancouver, 2 hours from Kelowna, and 1.5 hours from the REO's Nahatlatch River resort.

Best rapids: Red Rock Canyon, Ballistic, Headthumper and 17 more Class 2-3 drops.

Our minimum age to raft the Nicola is 8 years, subject to river levels and experience.