The Cheakamus flows 44 miles (70 km) in a northwesterly direction into and out of Cheakamus Lake southeast of Whistler before turning south and into Daisy Lake, alongside Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler. The Cheakamus continues south out of Daisy Lake and through Cheakamus Canyon, creating strong rapids and a waterfall before emptying into the Squamish River at the community of Brackendale immediately north of Squamish.

The Cheakamus River provides excellent steelhead and salmon fishing, and is highly regarded as a whitewater rafting and whitewater kayaking river.

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking: As it flows through Paradise Valley in Garibaldi Provincial Park, the Cheakamus River is a clear emerald colour, except in those places where it billows with whitewater. The total length of its run is just under 7 miles (12 km) from the put-in for kayakers at the north end of Paradise Valley Road to the take-out just above the Cheekye Bridge on the Squamish Valley Road. Except for a rough, Class-III section at the midpoint where Culliton Creek enters the river, this is a consistent run with a predictably steady, Class-II descent. Water levels in the Cheakamus River are controlled by a BC Hydro dam farther upstream, on Daisy Lake near Whistler.

A steady flow is guaranteed, as much for the health of fish stocks in the river (a debatable point with local anglers) as for paddling. The takeout at the bridge is next to the SunWolf Outdoors Centre on the east bank of the river. Caution is suggested should you wish to paddle below this point. Boulders pushed into the river from the nearby Cheekye River have created a drop below the bridge that may be more than less-experienced kayakers or rafters can handle.

Fishing: Freshwater river fishing happens on the Cheakamus River almost year-round. Fishing is strictly catch-and-release on all the rivers and creeks in the Squamish region. Unlike the nearby Squamish River into which it flows, water in the Cheakamus is clear year-round. Anglers cast from the banks of the Cheakamus for coho salmon in October and November, for steelhead from late February to April, and for dolly varden char year-round. Best access to the banks is from the north end of Paradise Valley Road. Head west of Highway 99 on Squamish Valley Road to reach Paradise Valley Road.

Camping: Cal-Cheak Forest Service Recreation Site is located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north of Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. Visitors must cross the railway tracks, then journey a short distance beyond to reach the first of three small locales around which rustic campsites are grouped in a pleasant, heavily forested location. The sound of the Cheakamus River and Callaghan Creek, which merge beside the sites (hence the site's hokey, hyphenated name), helps drown out traffic noise from Highway 99 and the BC Rail line.

Nearest Towns: Squamish, Whistler, Callaghan Valley, Sea to Sky Highway

Nearest Parks:
Tantalus Provincial Park
Alice Lake Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park