Ottawa

Middle Channel

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DifficultyIII-IV
Length6.3 mi
Avg Gradient12 fpm
Reach Info Last UpdatedJune 6, 2016

River Description

The 'Middle' channel is often run at higher levels than the Main ( click here). After running McCoy's Rapid (which is common to the Main and the Middle), paddlers head left of the island to run the Middle.


River Features

Putin

Distance: 0 mi

Off Grants Settlement Rd., take a right onto McCoy Chute Trail. Park in the lot and walk down to the putin.
(This putin is the same as the putin for the Main.)

McCoy's

Class: IVDistance: 0.6 mi
Hazard

Scout from an island on the right. This long rapid starts out with a bang! Most paddlers 'thread the needle,' heading just right of Sattler's Hole, lining up to avoid the notorious Phil's Hole on the left. One great way to screw it up is to shy away from Sattler's just a bit, which will give the intrepid paddler no room to avoid Phil's. After Phil's, big water takes you toward river left. Most paddlers curve around right to catch a tongue down the center of the Horseshoe Hole. Great fun awaits at the end! Baby Face, a play wave at the runout, is an awesome bouncy surf at levels around 1 foot or less.
After McCoy's, take a left at the islands to run the Middle.

Iron Ring

Class: IIIDistance: 2.22 mi
Rapid
Iron Ring

S-Turn

Class: IIIDistance: 2.3 mi
Rapid
S-Turn

Butterfly

Class: IIDistance: 2.65 mi
Butterfly

A wave/hole, surfable at higher levels (above 2).

Angel's Kiss

Class: IIDistance: 2.85 mi

After Butterfly, you can attain up a right-hand channel to Angel's Kiss, surfable at levels above about 4. You can also get to the Kiss by running down Little Trickle.

Garvin's Chute

Class: IV+Distance: 3.64 mi
Portage
Waterfall / Large Drop
Garvin's Chute

A gnarly collection of holes and froth, many people walk this one--especially since it's out of character with the rest of the run. Scout from an island on the right. Another line here is the Staircase, the left-most channel with a bunch of ledges and undercuts..

Upper No Name

Class: IIIDistance: 4.15 mi

A playhole which comes in at moderate levels (4+).

Lower No Name

Class: III+Distance: 4.35 mi
Rapid

A bunch of offset holes. Scout on the right.

Velvet

Distance: 4.9 mi

One last playspot, when the river's high enough.

RiverRun Takeout

Distance: 6.3 mi
Take Out

There are several takeouts, each on private property. The charge for taking out at RiverRun Campground is $5 bucks; the charge is included in the camping fee.


EW
Ed Wallace

Nov 4, 2015


July 2013

EW
Ed Wallace

Jul 22, 2014


Iron Ring at 5.75 on the Owl Rafting stick gauge.

JO
John Orr

Aug 18, 2011


Garvins at 0ft

MC
Mikel Carr

Aug 11, 2009


Mikel Carr and Gary Jefferys head north to the great Ottawa River

MM
Mark Mastalski

Jan 1, 1900


The water level was 15 ft. higher than normal for June levels. EJ is showing his playboating students how to rip it up on the wave.
Located on the Middle Channel of the Ottawa, Garvin's is a very popular spot for rafters and kayakers. At this level all rafts were running to the far river left of the main drop shown here.