Canoeing and Kayaking the Upper Barron, (Koah to Myola) North Queensland, Australia

The Upper Barron - Koah to Myola - 6 hours plus lunch




The Upper Barron (Koah to Myola) is a much more serene river trip , less accessible, but satisfying no the less.

A group of intrepid kayakers did this trip....in single boats and no canoes. Canoes would have choked up the carnage total for sure.

The river winds it's way along the Tablelands but within the river, black rock and shallow portages make the trip a little difficult.



The river starts at Koah with a flatwater paddle but soon gets into edgy Grade 2 rapids.

The first interesting rapid that is worthy of a note is one we called "Three Ways" basically for the three ways that you could approach it.

However, on closer inspection, it was decided to attack it straight down the middle....as River right had a very bony, and a very sharp drop onto unkind rocks. River left contained a few caught up logs and due to the skills of the party at the time...the two drops and turn right was the decision accepted.

























The second noteworthy challenge that the intrepid party had come across was a race of about 250 metres not unlike the Rock Garden in the Mulgrave. However, it had one difference. It contained a little nasty Grade 3 at the end of it....of which a couple of travellers (moir and BC) came to grief... Thus the "Crunch" was born.











The crunch gave absolution to the ladies of the party and we found that a chicken shute on River Right which had a drop and flow of about 1.5 metres in height. Don't forget this was in medium to low water. Apparently the safe journey is river left with a small chicken shute granting you access to the flatwater easier













The last noteworthy challenge is a very pretty cascade drop of three of which we called "The Step Down" . That's exactly what it was with the last one being a turn as soon as you enter the boil.

This then pretty area would push you out to a local named place called "Big Sands" a very popular swimming area.












Once that was completed the journey leveled out into pretty river being flatwater most of the way. A few little flows through at the Mantaka Bridge and closing on Myola helped aid the sheer boredom of flatwater paddling.

Remembe, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints, and take nothing but photos and memories.

On a sad note, one of our group of paddlers left us for the big city Brisvegas and we hope to see her back again in the future....good luck Ms Victoria Carillo....we all miss you.