Hells Gate Fraser River

About this spectacle

Hell's Gate on the Fraser River is one of the most dramatic natural water spectacles in British Columbia. Here, the full force of the Fraser—one of Canada's great salmon rivers—is compressed through a narrow granite canyon, creating thundering rapids and swirling whirlpools that visitors feel as much as see. The roar of churning water fills the gorge as millions of litres per second force through a passage barely 35 metres wide. Spray drifts up the canyon walls, and the sheer power of the flow is viscerally overwhelming. An aerial tramway provides a breathtaking overhead view of the gorge before descending to riverside platforms where the rushing water is close enough to feel. Salmon can sometimes be seen battling upstream through specially constructed fishways adjacent to the canyon. The dramatic rock walls, the violence of the water, and the surrounding Coast Mountains create a sensory experience unlike any gentle river vista.

When to go

Apr — Oct, peak Jun — Sep

Getting there

Nearest airport: YVR. Nearest city: Chilliwack.

Booking options

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