The Gatling Gorge or Gatlin gorge as it's also known is a Class V section of the Clearwater River.
Whilst you can start at Redsprings Picnic Area, doing a full Clear-water (75km) in a day is often when this section is run, starting on the Upper Upper Clearwater (10km) from the lake-down to the town, this can also be done as an over-nighter. Be prepared for a lot of flat water between the sections, after the upper-upper is a long 10km paddle to get into Gatling Gorge which in itself is a 34km section.
Currently it's not possible to take-out after this section as the road to the Upper Clearwater is washed-out, so you'll be paddling to the Kettle at least (12km extra). A full descent can take 6-8+hours, not involving the shuttle! Just doing Redspring to Kettle takes about 4 hours, and there's still 9km to go to get back to town.
150cms is high water for this section, currently not sure on the lowest end for this section.
The main crux of Gatlin Gorge is 5 drops in a committed canyon that at one point is very narrow. Once into the main part of this section you are a long way from a road, the last major rapid is at the confluence with Murtle River, and there there is 20km+ of flatwater to go!
Drop 1 is a big S bend rapid with a lot of laterals and holes to avoid at the bottom through a tight canyon.
Drop 2 has a big hole on the river right.
Drop 3 is a shelf drop run down the center.
Drops 4 and 5 are less significant and scoutable/portagable, you'll have to decide if these are worth it!
The run classically continues into the
Upper Clearwater with most paddlers who ran the Gatlin Gorge running the Kettle and ending up doing a fast lap of the
Clearwater Play-Run too.
Also in this area is the class V Raft River, both a full descent of the Clearwater and some of the Raft River by
Pierce Huser here.Beta from multiple paddlers and video footage, author has not run this section, please contact BCWhitewater to update an incorrect information or provide some photos for this guide!