One of the steepest navigable sections of whitewater in the world has just been descended again, this time with lots of water and some world-class photographers and cinematographers on scene. The Santo Domingo Gorge near Chiapas, Mexico, might be the ultimate playground for the very best waterfall kayakers in the world.
Dane Jackson and Bren Orton paddled down this insanely steep and formidable section of waterfalls on March 3. High water made the descent that much more difficult, as the kayak speeds increased and the hydraulics were that much bigger.
While Jackson should need no introduction, some outside of kayaking may not have heard of him. He’s a four-time Freestyle World Champion, five-time Green Race Champion (and record-holder), four-time North Fork Champion, and three-time Whitewater Grand Prix Champion.
He has also kayaked huge rapids and waterfalls (seven 100-plus-foot waterfalls so far) around the world — and so much more. Jackson makes massive, high-consequence rapids look like a walk in the park and does so with a smooth, unmatched style.
“I have been to so many incredible places all over the world, but the Santo Domingo Gorge is truly a one-of-a-kind sequence of waterfalls,” he said after his successful descent.
“It is one of those places you can’t believe when you see it. You can look up at that majestic sequence of waterfalls and know you can run the entire thing; there is nowhere and nothing like it.”
Kayaking Santo Domingo Gorge
