A few hours outside of Molina, Chile, there is an absolutely stunning river. Only a handful of people have truly experienced it, though, because accessing long stretches of it is impossible — unless you’re in a kayak. “The Rio Claro is a river that you can only truly appreciate its glory, and many sections are only possible to access, by kayaking it,” writes Dane Jackson, a world champion freestyle paddler. “It is about as narrow, and committing as kayaking gets.”
The Rio Claro is a whitewater kayaker’s dream, filled with crystal clear water, massive gorge walls, and nearly endless drops. “It is a place like none other,” Jackson continued, “and I am always counting down the days till I can drop back in.”