Tips for tubing the Puntledge River in Courtenay

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

It has been a record breaking summer in the Comox Valley in terms of heat and drought conditions but fortunately with dams on the Puntledge River, water levels can be controlled which is good news for “tubers”. Tubing is an institution here and for good reason –it is a great way to cool off on those hot summer days. With a forecast of 2 more weeks of warm weather ahead it is certainly a perfect opportunity to dig out that tube and head down the Puntledge River in Courtenay, B.C. if you haven’t already done so. So far this year we have been done the river several times so here are some tips that we can share if you are new to tubing. Tip 1 -Where to put in? Many people start at the fish hatchery on Powerhouse Road.  Park near the fish hatchery access road and walk around or past the gate. Part way down you will see a sign pointing to “Tubers Trail” and take that to the put in. This trail is steep and slippery in places so may not be suited to people with smaller children.   The section from Powerhouse Road to Puntledge Park is abit faster with more rapids than the lower section from Puntledge Park to either the Condensory Bridge or Lewis Park (see Tip 6 for first timers)  Tip 2-Good footwear really helps on this section and we tend you use kayak booties or well fitted water shoes since they give reasonable grip and are great for protecting your feet once you are in the river. Tip 3- We sometimes use a kayak paddle to help steer and manoeuvre but most people don’t use one. If you have one bring it along since tubes on their own are not very manoeuvrable. 

                             Heather and Keith in the easier section below Puntledge Park 

Tip 4- We also have found that putting a life jacket over the mesh on the bottom of the tube keeps your bum and lower back from hitting too many rocks. If you are using a truck inner tube keep your “bum up” when you go over rapids to avoid hitting “bottom” in the shallow sections. We hear people complain all the time about the rocks that they hit and how sore their back or bum is- a life jacket in the bottom really helps. The photo below shows our set up -the life jackets neatly fit across the bottom of the tube and rest on the mesh. Tip 5- Bring along a real water proof case for car keys or anything else you don’t want to get wet. A ziplock bag likely won’t cut it. Tip 6-First timers or those with younger children may want to do just the lower section starting from Puntledge Park and we suggest a pull out just below the Condensory Bridge since the last part can be slow, especially if there is a high tide. For newcomers to the Comox Valley,  Puntledge Park is at the intersection of 1^st and Urquhart Avenue and the Condensory Bridge is off of Anderton Avenue.  For those that want a real float with few rapids then the trip from Condensory Bridge to Lewis Park is recommended. Tip 7- Since the river is dam controlled water levels can change from day to day so be aware of warnings posted along the river. Tubing shouldn’t be taken lightly and accidents do happen on the river. Look ahead and be prepared to get off of the river if you see hazards ahead. Although few people wear  life jackets they are recommended for people who are poor swmmers. Tubing is an institution in the Comox Valley and it is the ideal way to spend a couple of hours on a warm day.

                                      Keith in the faster upper section with more rapids