Rio Claro - Practice
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Quick Facts
- Class: III
- Distance: 1/2k (1/3 mile)
- Average Gradient: 175 ft/mile (estimate)
- Maximum Gradient: Waterfalls / Cascades
- Temperature: 10 C (50 F0
- Water Quality: Clean, Clear
- Character: Low Volume, Drop-Pool, Waterfalls
General Description
A short series of beautiful drop-pool waterfalls with the three largest in the 18-22 foot range. Each waterfall is connected by a deep pool in a teacup shaped rock gorge.
Hazards
Both the put-in and take-out involve a short but steep climb which may be slippery due to rain. Once you have run the first waterfall you will have to complete the run, which is short but involves two more waterfalls in the 20 foot range. If you find yourself in the gorge but do not feel comfortable running the other two waterfalls, throw your boat over each drop and jump into the deep pools below.
Rapid Descriptions
Three 20 foot waterfalls with flat pools above and below, very straight forward. The first large waterfall is followed by three smaller drops and finally the last two 20 footers. The seventh teacup is not usually run as it makes the take-out more difficult.
Put-Ins and Take-Outs
- The put-in may be a little difficult to find. It is approximately 1/4 mile upstream of the observation deck. Hike upstream on river right. You will be looking for a small trail that is seldom used and may be hard to find, but keep looking. It will take you down the steep gorge 100 feet above the first waterfall.
- Take-out on river right after the last large waterfall. Hike up to the observation deck which will take you to the short trail that leads back towards the parking lot. If you choose to run the seventh teacup, take out immediately following on river right. You may need some assistance with your boat.
Directions
From Santiago head to Molina on Ruta 5 Sur (Route 5 South). Once in Molina head east toward the Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve. It is a gravel road. You will have to pay $1000 pesos (CLP) to enter and park.
Places to Stay / Campgrounds
Camping Los Robles has over 50 sites with water, picnic sites, and toilets. La Flor de la Canela, a private hosteria, is open year-round. Both are located within the Parque Ingles.
Copyright & Term of Use
- Copyrights: (Copyright © 2006, Expediciones Chile) All photos, maps, diagrams, text and computer code is the copyrighted property of Expediciones Chile with all rights reserved.
- Terms of Use: Any type of reproduction, republication, or re-transmission for commercial use is prohibited without the expressed, written permission of Expediciones Chile. Users of this Wiki guidebook may print copies of the text, images and diagrams for personal river running use only. Users may not alter the diagrams or text without expressed written permission of Expediciones Chile. Users must read and acknowledge the disclaimer before printing. Printing implies acknowledgment of the disclaimer.
Disclaimer
- Disclaimer: Under no circumstances should paddlers substitute the information and diagrams in this guidebook for their own sound judgment on the river and their collective experience running rivers. This guidebook is based on Expediciones Chile's twenty years of experience running the Futaleufu River. However, the diagrams and descriptions found here are only approximations of what paddlers will find on the river once they get here. They are not to scale and nor are they completely accurate. Water levels change, rocks move around, landslide debris can enter the river at any time making the diagrams obsolete. Expediciones Chile also reserves the right to update these diagrams and descriptions at any time as we find better ways to illustrate and discuss the rapids. Use this guidebook at your own risk.
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