Morocco River Guides
From ICCC
Following the Easter 2009 trip to Morocco, we decided that it would be useful to record some notes that we made on the rivers paddled. We also had access to a German guide book "Marokko zu fuss mit fahrrad und boot", available from Lehmanns, ISBN 3-925660-11-9, as well as the Rough Guide to Morocco.
A different group also visited Morocco in Easter 2010, and these notes were updated and expanded by them.
Please note that this information is provided for guidance only; this was how we found the rivers on the day. As with all content on this site, this page is covered by our Disclaimer.
Contents |
General Notes
- Andy made a map of the rivers paddled.
- In the Easter 2009, the rivers were generally much higher than a normal Easter level. On the second (2010) trip the levels were lower, at a more normal level.
- There are a lot of low bridges across Moroccan rivers built by locals using trees and rocks. They can be difficult to stop before (written from first-hand experience!), and are often hidden around blind corners. They are generally positioned near villages and / or café’s, although exceptions do apply!
- Google maps has excellent aerial photography of Morocco, at least in parts. As with any information, rivers may change - compare Zoom Level 12 and Zoom Level 13 on the Moulouya! (These are of the same location, just the second is zoomed-in by one click)
- You will find that the German Guidebook's maps are sparse, and can be a bit tricky to work out how they relate to a real-life map, especially since roads have been added in the intervening 20 years. The river guides are generally still accurate, although there were exceptions.
- Mobile phone reception was found almost everywhere, including in out-of-the-way villages several hours drive from anywhere. We didn’t test reception in some of the deeper gorges, however.
Oued Dadès (2009 & 2010)
A beautiful and easy river through several sandstone gorges, which can be done comfortably in 2 days. We took 1.5 days in 2010, only managing ~20km on the first day. The road runs next to the river meaning we could have been picked up.
In 2009 we paddled the section from Msemrir (ish) to Imdiazen in about 6 hours, but we were knackered by the end. This could be avoided by putting in at a more sensible place. Not knowing where to go, our driver kept on going further up the valley looking for a bigger river (spot the obvious problem).
With the exceptions of a stream coming from the rocks (visible on the way up) we didn’t find fresh water. This stream was hot, suggesting it had been above ground at some point, and so was treated with iodine anyway.
The level can be tested by comparing the river against the road in one of the higher gorges. Here the road is raised on a causeway within the gorge. If the river is lapping at the road then you’re in for a good time. If it’s much higher you’ll want to exercise more care due to the high number of trees.
Do not underestimate how cold the Oued Dadès is - the river is quite high altitude-wise, and passes through deep gorges. Even when in direct sunlight, it was still not very warm!
Day 1
| Put-in | above the "Colorado Gorge" just below Msemrir at a confluence where an equally sized river joins the Dadès. Above this the river is flat. Approximately here. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Approximately here, just upstream of the gorge where the river and road are at the same level. There is a big auberge river left, on a left-hand bend, just before the very narrow gorge where the river floods onto the road. There is camping at the auberge, and a couple of hotels nearby.
Camping was fairly easy in 2010, although the valley was populated with lots of land being used for irrigation. We camped on a beach, which would have been covered by the river at higher water levels. We attracted several children over the evening, possibly due to our fire (driftwood was easy to find). |
| Time | 6 hours (but we put in a lot higher than recommended here. Maybe 3-4 hours instead?) |
| Grading | II-III |
| Hazards |
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Day 2
| Put-in | Previous take-out |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Big N10 road bridge just outside Boumalne-Dadès (31.374762,-5.99066). If you are coming from Marrakech, there is a roundabout where the left turn takes you up the Dadès valley. If you turn right here, you reach the bridge after about 100m, with a big lay-by. |
| Time | 6 hours |
| Grading | II-III |
| Hazards |
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Oued Oum er-Rbia (2009)
A challenging Grade IV run through a deep valley. This river caused us issues, so do not underestimate it.
The main problem with this river is the construction of dams. The work is ongoing as of April 2009, and you would have to do it in several stages to avoid the works.
We only managed the first 3km-ish before we took off (two lost boats and a lip bitten through). Don't let this put you off though; it was great before these things happened!
| Put-in | Sources Oum er-Rbia (signposted from both Khenifra and Mrirt) |
|---|---|
| Take-out | First Substantial Bridge (although it's not a road bridge) after hardest rapid (see below) |
| Length | 4km |
| Time | 3 hours (not including epics) |
| Grading | IV (IV+/V?) |
| Hazards |
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Had we managed to continue, we would have ultimately taken out at El Borj. As you enter the town driving North East, there is a petrol station on the right.
Oued Ahanesal (2010)
Access is on a paved road to Tilougguite, then a dirt road to Cathedral rock. There is a guest-house at the Cathedral rock which was very busy, although camping was possible. The dirt road was actually very good and was either well maintained or had recently been graded.
The Ahanesal joins the Melloul shortly after Cathedral rock. This caused a dramatic increase in volume. The level can be inspected at Tilougguite where the river passes through a narrow gorge. If the gorge is full, with grey water boiling over the rocks at the end of the gorge you’re in for a good run with plenty of grade IV. It will go very happily with less water.
The river is essentially flat until Tilougguite. From here it picked up with a grade IV rapid around every corner. There are sections of grade II between most rapids. These will be dependent upon the water level. The penultimate grade IV rapid is marked by two massive boulders, one in the centre of the river, one in the left hand side. After this the river begins to quieten.
Our campsite was several km after this point, in the gorge just above a series of grade III rapids. It is recognised as a long grass bank, river right. At the end of the bank the river makes a sharp right turn over a grade III drop. A trib (which may be dry) comes in from the left bank. A spring joins the river here, flowing over a pebbly beach.
Below this the river surges though narrow gorges, eventually spilling into the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir. You pass under a foot bridge at this point. Further down, as in the Oud El Abid, you may have to pass though approx 500m for wood sludge, blown here from across the reservoir. We reached this point early in the morning, but took perhaps two more hours to reach the reservoir proper. As soon as we reached the reservoir (at approx midday) the wind picked up making crossing to the far bank very difficult.
| Put-in | Cathedral rock. Whilst the road goes higher it is meant to be very bad. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Main road between Bin-el-Ouidane and Taguelft. Agree where you will meet your driver on the way up and we suggest you don’t go near the barrage (it is guarded by men with guns). |
| Length | 50km??? |
| Time | 1.5 days from Cathedral rock. Putting on at Tigougguite allows it to be done in one day, but start early. |
| Grading | III-IV (although it is easier above Tiguogguite). |
| Hazards |
|
Assif Melloul (2010)
Access to the Melloul is via an excellent paved road to Anergui. We saw photos of the river above Anergui in the Dades hotel, Azilal. It looked good, and were we to return we would probably spend five days going from Ilmilchil to the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir. Were you to do this you could spend the night at Anergui and possibly also Tilougguite. There are shops in both places, although the one in Anergui looked to be very basic.
A road is maked between Anergui and Tilougguite, however this was washed away over several sections in November 2009. It is impassable by landrover, possibly even by donkey. You could walk down it.
This river is described by Marokko zu fuss mit fahrrad und boot as being grade I-III. It wasn’t. Landslides have dramatically increased the difficulty of this section, with there being lots of grade IV, and two grade V rapids. The first grade V is denoted by two massive blocks which have fallen into the river. A landslide is immediately below, although this cannot be seen from the river. This is easily portaged on the washed out road, river right. The second is immediately above the old road bridge which carries the road from river right to river left. This is itself 100m below a grade IV rapid and is more difficult to portage, since the road is much higher and up an unstable bank. From this point the river is essentially flat until Tilougguite.
| Put-in | Anergui |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Tilougguite |
| Length | 30km |
| Time | 1 day |
| Grading | III-IV (V) |
| Hazards |
|
Oued El Abid
Just above Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir (2009 & 2010)
A pretty winding river. Not too difficult with plenty of play waves to practise those flat spins; it was a relaxing and confidence-building paddle after the 2009 epics on the Oum er-Rbia.
You can go further; however, it is quite a lot further, and you have to paddle some flat water created by the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir at the end. Additionally in 2010 a raft of wood chip (perhaps 500m long) had been blown into the river mouth from the reservoir which would have hindered our exit. The guidebook says the final 6km to the lake contain grade IV-V rapids, although this was not confirmed by us.
| Put-in | Red-and-white girder bridge north of Tagelft, approximately here |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Red-and-white girder bridge with a road, approximately here. There is another red-and-white girder bridge in between, but this didn't have a paved road on it. |
| Length | 16km |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Grading | I-III |
| Hazards |
|
Around the Ouzoud (2010)
The level in this section of the river is controlled by the barrage for the Bin-el-Ouidane lake. It appears to rise by several meters depending on whether or not it is generating. It was completed at ultra low levels, possibly 5cms.
| Put-in | Red-and-white girder bridge north of Ouzoud, on the road between Ouzoud and the Marrakesh-Beni-Mellal highway, approximately here. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Tabia, village with communication mask, below the Ouzoud river. Approximately here. |
| Length | 16km |
| Time | 4 hours, longer if you climb the Ouzoud river (but you need permits to run this section). |
| Grading | IV-V, depending on flow. II below the Ouzoud. |
| Hazards |
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Ouzoud (2010)
We attempted to buy permits for the Ouzoud in both Azilal and Ouzoud, without success. A local suggested the police may also be persuaded to look the other way, which, as in 2009, they were not. The locals don’t appear to like kayakers doing this section – it is very touristy indeed, telling us within minutes of arriving that we needed permits. We believe this is due to someone getting a back injury on one of the drops. The resulting rescue looks bad to the very many tourists upon which this village is utterly dependent.
We believe permits can be purchased from the administration buildings (look for a Moroccan flag and go inside) in Beni-Mellal (i.e. as far from Ouzoud as possible) for the princely sum of Dh 250 per paddler.
Read the section on the Oued Al Abid (around the Ouzoud). The Ouzoud flows through a 100% siphon at the confluence which must be walked around.
Oued Lachdar (2010)
We attempted to run the 8km or III-IV from Skat to the new barrage (built since the guide book was published) near Ait-adi. The creating of the barrage may require a 2km paddle out over flat water, although we did not investigate. The river levels were very low (possibly due to an up-stream barrage), preventing us getting on. The main road crosses the Lachdar between Tennant and Demnate (shown as the take out in the guide book). Much more water was visible here suggesting this section may be runnable due to water being released from the barrage.
Oued Ourika
Upper section (2009 & 2010)
An awesome Alpine-style river which is only a couple of hours' drive from Marrakech. It is easy to believe that you are somewhere in the Alps, with the snow-capped peaks of the Toubkal Massif in the background. This river was the highlight of the trip for me!
This river in Setti-Fatma is steep and continuous with few eddies, although it does relent a little once you leave. At high levels the section in the village could be very challenging. There are plenty of low bridges, set up so tourists can cross to cafés on the far bank. You will need to walk round many of these stopping by grinding up onto gravel banks.
This river ran in 2010 with comparatively little water in it. It’s full of rounded boulders meaning you can ride over then without damaging your boat.
| Put-in | Setti-Fatma. Inspect the river on the way up and look for the place you want to put on. There is a car part at the very top edge of the town, after the paved road has ended. Above this the river looked a little flatter, although we didn’t inspect it. It’s not listed in the guide book. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Igri, approximately here. |
| Length | 10km (Setti-Fatma to Igri), 15km (Settim-Fatma to Abghalou) |
| Time | 2-5 hours (depending on how easily you can read-and-run grade IV). |
| Grading | III-IV, with sections of continuous IV |
| Hazards |
|
Lower section (2010)
Below Arhbalou the river fans out making it much easier. Possibly the gradient also reduces. This section requires more water than the upper – since the river is wider.
| Put-in | Arhbalou, although this is difficult to find since the entire valley is rapidly becoming one conurbation. A reasonably sized trip crosses under the road and a mosque is opposite. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Bridge crossing the river at Tnine de-l’Ourika. This is the first road bridge, although there was evidence of others being built, approximately here. |
| Length | 15km |
| Time | 4 hours (depending on water levels). |
| Grading | II-III |
| Hazards |
|
Oued Reraia (2009)
A gentle and pretty (but scrapy) river. A short drive from Marrakech.
| Put-in | Asni. Follow the road out past the youth hostel to the bridge. Approximately here. |
|---|---|
| Take-out | Road bridge just outside Tahannout, approximately here. There are actually two concrete bridges (I guess the old and new road bridges). |
| Length | 9km |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Grading | II |
| Hazards |
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Other Moroccan river guides
- The Poly.
- Chris Easterbrook.
- UK Rivers Guidebook - planning a trip to Morocco.
- UK Rivers Guidebook - Maroc.
- Tower Hamlets canoe club, March 2009.
