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Playspot: Canada, Alberta, Calgary, River Kananaskis, Kananaskis Hole.

What's it like

A small yet bouncy hole formed by a rock ledge on river left. There are two good large eddies. Known locally as 'Hollywood Hole' (probably because the location has been used for numerous films and commercials) The hole is approx 3 metres wide and 2 feet deep. Many cartwheels in both directions, splits cleans ends etc are all easily possible, although left hand ends are easier than right ones. The hole is very deep but when cartwheeling right some precision is required as it is easy to hit the rock ledge.

The consequences of a swim here are very minimal with lots of slow flowing flatwater downstream of the hole. The water is dam controlled and always cold, about 12ºC. The dam lets out water all year with summer being the most desirable season because of the warm air temperatures (20's ºC).

How to get there

From Calgary, go west to highway 1, turn off on Kananaskis road south, right before the mountains (there are obvious signs). Drive for approx 10 km, past Canoe Meadows and approx 1km past info center theres a right hand turn for the Widow maker. Hollywood hole is 100 downstream of the put in...

More info

Visit www.transalta.com for water level info.

Events

Kananaskis Rodeo every summer.

Info sources

Patch Bennett