The Etive is one of Scotland’s favorable pool drop rivers. Situated on the West coast of Scotland, North-West of Crianlarich / Tyndrum or South of Fort William.

Glen Etive is just off the A82, it attracts many paddlers to take on some medium drops.

Glen Etive is popular not only for the river Etive but for the tributaries that flow into the Etive.  Allt a Chaoruinn and Allt Mheuran being the more common ones run. Paddling the river Etive, particularly Right Angle Falls, is not unlike the Allt Mheuran, in that these rivers are the most common rivers where kayakers will suffer spinal compressions when landing from the bigger falls!  You have been warned!  That said, most paddlers run the river with no problems at all.

Depending how large your group is it can take anything from 20 minutes to three hours, depending on experience and local knowledge. James Fleming and Ian Letton hold the, unofficial, world record time, for kayaking the river. 24 minutes!

There are 7 noticeable drops / rapids on the river, offering different grades of difficulty and challenges these are Tripple Falls (III+), Letter Box (-IV), Ski Jump (III), Crack of Doom (-IV), Crack of Dawn ( IV), Rock Slide (III+) Right Angle (IV).

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Coming off the A82 and driving up through Glen Etive to the river (about 4Km) you’ll start to see the river on your left.  It’ll appear low and scrappy.  That’s not a bad sign.  However, to get a better reading you’ll need to get to the first rapid. 

At Triple Falls have a look at the first two drops / rapid.  If the second drop is a river wide stopper that looks really grippy, walk away!  If, however, the water is pouring over the main shoot and breaching over on the river right with a small piece of rock showing then it’ll be okay. Between these is a moderate level. 

Triple Falls (III):  So called cause there are two drops (however, triple would leave you to think there were three. It's my opinion, the first rapid slides into the second 'drop' making only two real drops.).  That said the third is more of the drop than the first two.  The first rapid quickly runs in to the second.  The line is straight forward.  Between the second and third you’ll have about 30 seconds.  Running the last drop driving your bow on to the folding river right seam you’ll land it better than driving your boat straight down.  Either way, there is a large pool at the bottom to collect any flotsam.

Letterbox (-IV):  From Triple Falls to Letterbox is some 200 meters, not that far.  Get out river right and have a look!  This rapid is normally run on the left.  Boofing over a very grippy hole is the move to do.  Not doing this and getting caught in the hole at the bottom and you’ll be back looping with a swim to finish off! Good to have a rope ready here!

Ski Jump (III):  Is about 50 meters, directly after Letterbox.  Inspect this whilst your looking at Letterbox and it’ll save you getting out and looking twice in quick succession.   Probably one of the more easier drops on the Etive the line is straight forward. However, watch your landing here. Some boaters land it too flat.

Crack of Doom (-IV):  Lurking further on you’ll soon come on top of Crack of Doom.

Inspect this from River right!  Make sure you have safety set up on this one as the lead in can be a bit rocky in low water.

The diagonal stopper catches the unaware out and live bait rescues are sometimes called for here.  In high water the first diagonal hole is very grippy!  Cut through the small gorge and land in the pool at the bottom. 

Crack of Dawn (IV):  Watch this one!  Normally a portage!!  Crack of Dawn has a very, very shallow pool on the river right line.  I have done it once, never again.  You’ll run the risk of drinking your boat, hurting your ankles or lower legs, be warned!  When the river is at moderate levels a “sneak” route opens up on the extreme river left.  However, this is not without it’s risk!  Be wary at Crack of Dawn! Normally a portage!

Rock Slide (III+):  As it says on the tin, sliding down rocks.

Right Angle Falls or Eas an Mhoir (IV):  Now, to one of the biggest drops on the river.  Right Angle Falls brings a whole load of paddlers to the Etive.  Almost all will take pictures, stories and great tales to tell their pals and friends.  However, there will be the odd one or two that will recall this is where they broke their back!  Land this wrong and guess the story you’ll be telling!
Right Angle is quite simple, run the chicane, run in, eddy out in the pool above the drop and smile as you then run Right Angle.  At moderate levels think of missing the chicane and try and straight line the run in, which will lead you to running the drop with out the break out.  The landing is normally okay and almost all boaters wash away from the drop.  Take loads of pictures and your family will be in awe of what you have done.