I can’t honestly say that I’ve ever heard about El Rio Claro outside of Molina, Chile until today but after seeing this POV helmet cam footage of a kayaker navigating the incredibly tight quarters I’m now fixated on the idea of going there in the coming years.
Kayaker Dane Jackson describes this section of the river as “about as narrow, committing, and epic as it ever gets”. I came across this video in an article in The Inertia where they describe El Rio Claro as ‘whitewater kayaker’s dream’ with endless crystal clear water, drops, and picturesque gorge walls.
If you still need convincing that this is one of the coolest places on the planet for whitewater kayaking, here’s how Dane Jackson (the person filming) describes this portion of the river:
“Outside of Molina, Chile, lies one of the most incredible places to experience. The Rio Claro is a river that you can only truly appreciate its glory, and many sections are only possible to access, by kayaking it. It is about as narrow, and committing as kayaking gets. It is one of my favorite runs in the world, and by far one of the most beautiful. The crystal clear water, the towering overhanging walls of the gorge, and the endless drops. It is a place like one other, and I am always counting down the days till I can drop back in.”
Count me in. Check it out:
This is bumming me out now. Sitting here, at a desk, staring at a computer. Locked inside the USA for the indefinite future with really no way to plan any awesome upcoming trips. I’ve got a hurricane on the way that’s on track to pass right over my house. And I’m thinking about how great life would be if I was in Chile right now paddling this absolutely stunning river.
Maybe I should drag my fishing kayak out into the pool and just sit there and watch this video and live vicariously through the rest of the world…