4 Whitewater Channels Of The Ottawa River Explained

The Ottawa River is known mostly for the 'Main' channel, since it's where most of the big waves are and where the locals like to spend a lot of their time. While the Main channel is really awesome, I think it would be a shame to visit it and not check out the other three whitewater channels while you're at it. You could do all 4 in a day or two quite happily (assuming levels are high enough for the two bonus channels) and get to surf so many more waves and run loads of lines that you don't get if you stick to the Main. I've put together this guide to try and help make sense of what is undoubtedly the most complicated and confusing river I have run. There are many places where you could choose to go left or right of a big island and therefore a wide range of combinations depending on your exact wishes as a group, the current water levels and your curiosity. I've tried to make it as simple as possible but you really have to go and kayak there to fully understand it for yourself! It is one of the World's best rivers in terms of being able to accommodate any skill level with a huge variety of lines and waves to choose from.

[@jlo8136]

Great video! Summer here we go!!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks! Looking forward to it!

[@reine77]

Thanks for the overview, great information. I'm super excited to go this summer.

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Awesome! If you see a guy in an Exo Party Rexy it's probably me, say hey 😊

[@andrewmendes6057]

Awesome video and explanation of the channels! Such an awesome place to spend the summer, visit and or to come and learn to paddle!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks! Yeah it really is perfect for everyone!

[@SuperLeeroy73]

AWESOME.! My summer place is a mere fifteen minutes from here and we love heading to Letts ... look forward to discovering more

[@TraveltoPaddle]

What a place to live!

[@Jebarus13]

Really cool, thanks for sharing!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks!

[@zachmontroy6954]

I think individual videos on each of the main channel rapids would be more beneficial than high, medium, low water level videos.

[@TraveltoPaddle]

That makes sense, so like a "Lorne" video that goes through the various waves and lines at different levels, but just focus on the Lorne, then others separately?

[@zachmontroy6954]

Great video Alex!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks Monty!

[@darrylknudsen819]

I suggest your option of showing the same river at different water levels with more detailed line descriptions. This will really showcase how the character changes at different. Levels as well as having some WOW factor! In college, my buddies ran Colliseum at 22 feet (in spring of 1995) - it sounded epic! I am half-glad I couldn’t make it that weekend! I’ve only ever run the middle and the main once, at 2 or 3 feet. I spent more time in the Jaques Cartier watershed before I moved out of range to California. LOVE me those Canadian gems, though!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks for the comment, that's a good thing to think about! Yeah it would be good to show the change. Do you think top-to-bottom at each bottom? Or maybe McCoy's high-to-low, then the Lorne?

[@darrylknudsen819]

@@TraveltoPaddle, ahhh, you’re taxing my memory too much. I haven’t paddled the Ottawa since 2000. 😂

[@dug8045]

more epic videos like this one!

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Coming up soon!

[@HeritageStacking]

Great video. As a local why did you not just call the mini channels lost channel and lost of lost? Must be Ontario names or something Quebec side bum. I have heard them called that but Lost Channel sounds ominous. Did you enjoy Anvil?

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Thanks! Now you mention it, I have heard the name Lost channel. I heard Middle to Middle and Middle to Main much more though so I guess that's what was in my mind. If I make an extra video about the two of them then I'll use the proper names 😉 I'll be honest, I did not enjoy my line on Anvil, I was very concerned about my head 😂 a silly one from me really, and since it was already getting dark I called it a day and we moved on. I doubt there will be enough water when i get there this season but I would like redemption!

[@HeritageStacking]

@TraveltoPaddle the line on Anvil is RR beside the little Rock. I only use a shredder so the line for a yak could be more centre like a meter or 2 from RR. If your in the Area hit me up. I would love to show you the quebec put ins a and Black Velvet, Muskrat and a couple other water falls close to Fort-Coulonge QC. You up this season?

[@TraveltoPaddle]

@@HeritageStacking left line definitely went too, I just messed it up! Definitely keen and yes, I'll bring around June-August full 3 months

[@HeritageStacking]

@@TraveltoPaddle you going to be at Owl?

[@TraveltoPaddle]

I'll be hanging out at WT. Black Velvet and Muskrat are the end of the Middle and the rapid below the takeout, right? Or are there more with those names?

[@SaSa-fs8sb]

Water seems a bit muddy at this location

[@TraveltoPaddle]

@@SaSa-fs8sb not really. Most of the world's rivers are not clear water, this is pretty standard. Its sediment and broken down organic matter from trees and plants that creates the colour, not mud.