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WHITEWATER RAFTING IN THE UNITED STATES

Welcome to Bigroads.com's guide to whitewater rafting in the USA!

A good chunk of the U.S. population will take a whitewater rafting trip at some point in their lives, and nearly all will forever remember it fondly. What many people may not realize is that the United States is chock-full of great rivers to raft. In fact, some of the best and most thrilling rafting adventures on the planet are found in the USA.

Full day rafting trips typically cost in the $75-$150/per person range, with the rate mostly depending upon the specific river and location. Multi-day expeditions are much more expensive, often costing many hundreds or even several thousands of dollars. However, multi-day trips offer an unparalleled river experience and are usually well worth the cost. If you are looking for a "once in a lifetime" sort of trip, a long rafting journey on rivers in states like Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Alaska should suit you quite nicely.

OARS is probably the premier rafting guide company in America, but there are literally hundreds of rafting guide companies across the United States to choose from, with many offering a variety of half day, full day, and multi-day trips, usually on several different rivers in their local region. We have listed OARS and several other outstanding guide companies on this page based on personal experiences and online reviews from websites like Tripadvisor and Yelp. We do not accept paid advertisements on Bigroads.com, so all recommendations we make are sincere.

Presented below are the major whitewater rafting rivers that are commercially guided in the United States, along with their rating (class I, II, III, IV or V), duration, season, and some general notes about the river or trip. This list intentionally excludes rivers that are not commercially guided (i.e. other rivers that are run by whitewater kayakers). Please email us @ gparsons66@hotmail.com if you believe we missed any of the major whitewater rafting rivers that are commercially guided in the USA, or if you have any other information you think we should include for any of the rivers presented below.

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN ALASKA

For the ultimate in dramatic mountain and glacier scenery plus outstanding wildlife watching opportunities, look no further than whitewater rafting in Alaska. Alaskan rivers do present many challenges though: many rivers are glacier or snowmelt fed, and can vary widely in character based upon current water levels. Many trips also require a charter or bush plane flight (or two), and these flights don't come cheap. Logistical planning can also be challenging. And then there's the Alaskan grizzly bears and mosquitoes you've heard about. But if you desire the ultimate thrill that is an Alaskan multi-day rafting adventure (and you can actually afford it), this is one trip you should absolutely take.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Alaska	Alagnak River	Class II/III	5-7 days	June to August	trips are typically 65-75 miles in length and require charter flights in and out; the Alagnak is perhaps more famous for sportfishing than it is for rafting; this can be a class II trip if you design your trip to skip the class III canyon portion
Alaska	Alsek River	Class IV	7-14 days	late-May or early-June to early August	travels up to 150+ miles through both Alaska and British Columbia (bring your passport); supposedly only one class IV rapid with rest being generally rated II-III; floats through the "largest non-polar ice cap in the world"; widely considered to be a world-class rafting trip
Alaska	Chickaloon River	Class III	2-3 days	June to September	requires a bush plane flight to the start (you float back); NOVA River Runners runs 2-3 day trips and is strongly recommended
Alaska	Chitina River	Class III	3-10 days	June to August	most trips on this river seem to also include a portion of the Nizina River
Alaska	Copper River	Class II	6-10 days	June to August	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip
Alaska	Kennicott River	Class II/III	day trip	June to August	rapids are sometimes only class II, depending upon water levels
Alaska	Matanuska River	Class III	2 days	June to September	travels approximately 30 miles near Anchorage
Alaska	Nenana River-Upper	Class II/III	day trip	May to September	along the eastern boundary of Denali National Park
Alaska	Nenana River-Nenana Gorge	Class III/IV	1-2 days	May to September	along the eastern boundary of Denali National Park; Raft Denali offers a 33-mile 2-day trip
Alaska	Nizina River-Upper	Class II/III	4-6 days	June to August	most trips seem to combine the Nizina River & the Chitina River
Alaska	Six Mile Creek	Class IV/V	day trip	May to September	Kenai Peninsula
Alaska	Talkeetna River	Class III/IV	3-5 days	June to September	bush plane trip required; a very popular multi-day Alaskan trip
Alaska	Tana River	Class IV/V	5-6 days	June to August	36-mile long trips appear to be the norm; "the crown jewel of remote Alaska white water rafting in Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve"
Alaska	Tatshenshini River	Class III/IV	10-12 days	June to September	often combined with a trip on the Alsek River; OARS runs an 11-day trip (through an Alaskan affiliate)

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN ARIZONA

Arizona offers the most famous whitewater rafting trip in the entire world: the Colorado River through the heart of the Grand Canyon. You don't have to take the full 18-day trip through the entire canyon, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. Some guiding companies offer short trips on the Colorado (some as short as 1-day trips).

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Arizona	Colorado River / Grand Canyon	Class V	1-18 days	April to October	this is the most famous whitewater rafting trip in North America (and perhaps the world); many different trips and boat types are offered on this river; the longer trips typically offer some side-trips to ancient ruins, swimming holes and other sites; motorized rafting trips are also led through the Grand Canyon; there are some 1-day Grand Canyon rafting trips offered, but what's the point in doing that?
Arizona	Salt River	Class III/IV	1-4 days	early-March to April or May	springtime rafting in a 2000-foot deep canyon; class IV is only seen on the multi-day trips (day trips only experience class II/III rapids)
Arizona	Verde River	Class II/III	1-2 days	late-February to mid-April	in low winter years, season can end in March; the river has one class IV rapid, but it is sometimes portaged; Arizona's only federally-designated “Wild and Scenic” river

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN CALIFORNIA

California offers enough rafting trips to keep you satisfied for years. The South Fork of the American River is one of the most popular rafting day-trips in the USA.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
California	American River-South Fork	Class III	1-2 days	March to October	typically run as a day trip, but an overnight option is available; the most popular whitewater rafting trip in California; one of the most popular rafting trips in the USA; easiest of the forks of the American River
California	American River-Middle Fork	Class III/IV	1-2 days	April to September	typically run as a day trip, but an overnight option is available; has the "weirdest & wildest Class IV rapid in California"
California	American River-North Fork	Class IV/IV+	day trip	April to May or sometimes June	9.5 mile run
California	Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne	Class V/V+	day trip	July to early-September	supposedly the craziest regularly-run class V river in California (and one of the most challenging commercially guided rivers in the USA); has 15 class V rapids; prior rafting experience required
California	East Carson River	Class II/III	1-2 days	May through June or July	length of season dependent upon snowmelt
California	Kaweah River	Class IV/IV+	day trip	mid-April to June	prior rafting experience recommended; "non-stop action"
California	Kern River-Lower: Jungle Run	Class II/III	day trip	May to September	one of several runs on the Lower Kern River; 9-mile trip
California	Kern River-Lower: Big Water	Class III/IV/IV+	day trip	May to September	one of several runs on the Lower Kern River; 12-mile trip
California	Kern River-Lower: Big Water & Jungle Run	Class III/IV/IV+	1 night / 2 days	May to September	a 2-day, 21 mile trip that combines both Jungle Run & Big Water sections
California	Kern River-Upper	Class III/IV/V	day trip	mid-May to mid-June	some trips do sections with nothing greater than IV; other trips do sections with some class V's; Kern River is the most popular river in Southern California
California	Kings River	Class III/III+	1-2 days	April to mid-July	runs along the borders of Sierra and Sequoia National Forests
California	Klamath River-Lower	Class II/III	2-4 days	April to October
California	Klamath River-Upper	Class IV	1-2 days	May to September	close to California/Oregon border
California	Merced River-Upper	Class III/IV	day trip	early-May to early/mid-June	has a very short season; near, but not in, Yosemite National Park
California	Merced River-Lower	Class III/IV	day trip	mid-April to mid-July
California	Sacramento River-Upper	Class III/IV	1-2 days	April to mid-June	optional class IV+ rapid; day trips are more common than the 2-day trips
California	Salmon River/Cal Salmon	Class V	1-2 days	April to early July	season can end shorter in low snow winters; sometimes also combined with the Scott River; often called the "Cal Salmon"; many say this has the best class V rapids in California
California	Scott River	Class V	day trip	April to early June	"an incredible and seldom run river with technical and continuous class IV and V rapids"
California	Stanislaus River-North Fork	Class III/IV	day trip	April to May or early June	"some of the most technical Class IV whitewater rafting in California"; sometimes trips are also offered in October
California	Trinity River	Class II/III/III+	1-2 days	April to September	even better for families/small children than the South Fork of the American River
California	Trinity River-Burnt Ranch Gorge	Class V	1-2 days	June to September	previous rafting experience often required
California	Truckee River	Class II/III	day trip	May to September	7-mile trip near Lake Tahoe
California	Tuolumne River-Main	Class IV/V	1-3 days	April to September	one rapid is sometimes classified as class V, but Class IV is the norm; the full Tuolumne River experience is an 18-mile 2 or 3 day trip
California	Yuba River-Lower	Class III/IV	day trip	May to July	9-mile trip
California	Yuba River-Upper	Class V	day trip	May to July	8-10 mile trip; strong swimming ability required; there are many different sections of this river that can be run, and some guides do different sections

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN COLORADO

Colorado offers some of the most memorable rafting day trips in the USA, especially on various sections on the Arkansas River, which is one of America's most popular rafting rivers and offers over 60 miles of raftable water. Trips for the Arkansas River typically leave from either Buena Vista, Canon City or Salida. For more great information about rafting in Colorado, visit the CROA or Raft Colorado websites.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Colorado	Animas River	III/IV/V	1-2 days	April to September	Durango-area rafting trips; the typical summer trips that most tourists take are along the Lower Animas, which has mostly class III rapids; the upper section of the Animas River actually has some Class V rapids and is typically done as part of an overnight trip; a 2-day trip will typically travel 36 miles
Colorado	Arkansas River-Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Parkdale	Class II/III	day trip	May to September	a 19-mile trip that is "great first-time rafting trip for families"
Colorado	Arkansas River-The Narrows / Wildhorse Canyon	Class III/IV	day trip	May to September	11-mile trip
Colorado	Arkansas River-The Numbers	Class IV/V	day trip	May to August	a steep and technical whitewater rafting river; this 18-mile trip is the next step up after you have rafted the Brown's Canyon section of the Arkansas
Colorado	Arkansas River-Royal Gorge	Class III/IV/V	day trip	May to September	some of the best whitewater rafting in the USA; passes through the 1,100ft deep Royal Gorge; prior rafting experience is usually highly recommended but not required
Colorado	Arkansas River-Brown's Canyon	Class III/IV	1-4 days	April to September	often combined with Bighorn Sheep Canyon for "the best rafting thrills near Denver & Colorado Springs"; a 36-mile overnight trip is very popular; a one day trip on this river is supposedly Colorado's most popular rafting trip
Colorado	Blue River	Class II/III/IV	day trip	May to July	this 10-mile trip passes through Arapaho National Forest; rafting guides are typically based in Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco and Kremmling
Colorado	Cache La Poudre River	Class II/III/IV	day trip	May to August	Colorado's only federally-designated "Wild & Scenic" river; near Fort Collins & Rocky Mountain National Park; guides typically offer half and full day trips
Colorado	Clear Creek River	Class IV/V	day trip	May to August	this river has several sections that vary widely in difficulty/rating; the closest rafting to Denver; half day and full day trips are offered by several rafting companies
Colorado	Colorado River-Shoshone Rapids / Glenwood Canyon	Class II/III/IV	day trip	May to September	class IV rapids in spring; class III is more typical during summer and fall; half day and full day trips are offered by several rafting companies
Colorado	Colorado River-Ruby Canyon / Horsethief Canyon	Class I/II	day trip	May to September	more of a float trip than a rafting trip, but there are some minor rapids
Colorado	Colorado River-Gore Canyon	Class II/III or V	day trip	May to August	the normal rafting trip through Gore Canyon is only class II/III, but some guiding companies offer an additional 6-mile trip through class V rapids (which is often called "the ultimate challenge in Colorado rafting")
Colorado	Dolores River	Class III/IV/V	1-4 days	April to June	about 50 or the 200 miles of the Dolores River is commonly rafted; one of Colorado's best multi-day rafting trips; only some sections of the Dolores have class V rapids; there are many different trips offered on the Dolores River
Colorado	Eagle River-Lower	Class II/III	day trip	May to early-July
Colorado	Eagle River-Upper	Class IV/V	day trip	May to early-July	one of the most intense rafting trips in Colorado
Colorado	Elk River	Class III	day trip	May to early-July	a one-hour, 6-mile trip; Bucking Rainbow Outfitters offers trips
Colorado	Green River-Lodore Canyon	Class II/III	3-5 days	May to October	this 44-mile trip is more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip; floats through Dinosaur National Monument; mostly in Colorado but a portion is also in Utah
Colorado	Gunnison River-Gunnison Gorge / Gunny Gorge	Class III	day trip	May to September	this 14-mile rafting trip also includes a scenic 1-mile hike to start the trip; day trips are the norm, but some rafting companies offer 2 day trips
Colorado	Lake Fork River	Class III/IV	day trip	May to July
Colorado	North Platte River	Class III/IV	1-3 days	May to September	various trips of 6-35 miles typically depart from Fort Collins, Steamboat Springs or Laramie, Wyoming; excellent trout fishing
Colorado	Piedra River	Class III/IV	1-2 days	May to July	has a lower and upper section that are often combined into a 2-day trip
Colorado	Rio Grande River	Class II/III	day trip	May to June	trips typically start in Creede
Colorado	Roaring Fork River	Class III/IV	day trip	May to September	trips typically start near Aspen; the Upper Roaring Fork River is particularly intense
Colorado	San Juan River	Class II	3-6 days	May to June	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip; typically run in springtime; the majority of this trip is actually in Utah
Colorado	San Miguel River	Class II/III	1-5 days	May to early July	trips typically start in Placerville (near Telluride); "one of the last free-flowing major rivers in the USA"
Colorado	Taylor River	Class III/IV	day trip	May to August	trips typically start in Gunnison or Crested Butte; one section is mostly class III, another section is mostly class II, and the Lotis Creek section is class III/IV
Colorado	Uncompahgre River	Class II/III/III+	day trip	May to September	15-mile rafting trips typically start in Ridgeway; rafting through Ridgway State Park
Colorado	Yampa River	Class III/IV	4-5 days	May to early-July	this 48-mile trip passes through two states (Colorado & Utah) and Dinosaur National Monument; generally only class IV during the spring snowmelt; most trips are run by companies out of Steamboat Springs; "some of the most scenic class III-IV whitewater on earth"

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN CONNECTICUT

Connecticut doesn't offer much in terms of whitewater, but the Housatonic River at the height of spring snowmelt can pack a nice quick punch.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Connecticut	Housatonic River	Class IV	day trip	April & May	only runs on limited dates in spring

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN GEORGIA

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Georgia	Chattahoochee River	Class III/III+	day trip	unknown	2.5-mile stretch of river in the heart of Columbus; their website claims class V, but the video doesn't support it
Georgia	Chattooga River-Class II Section	Class II	day trip	March to November	7-mile run along border of GA & SC; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"
Georgia	Chattooga River-Class III Section	Class III/IV	day trip	March to November	most popular section of the Chattooga River; runs along GA & SC border; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"
Georgia	Chattooga River-Class IV Section	Class IV	day trip	March to November	some of the most intense rafting on the East Coast; runs along GA & SC border; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN IDAHO

Idaho is world-famous for its multi-day rafting expeditions that pass through some of the deepest and most scenic canyons on Earth. Trips down the Snake and/or Salmon Rivers should be on everyone's bucket list. ROW Adventures and OARS are considered two of the premiere commercial guides in the state.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Idaho	Bruneau River	Class III/IV	3-5 days	May to mid-June
Idaho	Clearwater River-Middle Fork	Class II	day trip	July to September	more of a float trip than whitewater rafting; one of the original 8 U.S. rivers that were designated "Wild and Scenic" in 1968
Idaho	Lochsa River	Class III/IV	1-3 days	May to July	fast & technical river with 30 substantial rapids in 30 miles
Idaho	Moyie River	Class II/III	day trip	May to June	typically only run in spring
Idaho	Payette River-South Fork	Class III/V	day trip	May to September
Idaho	Salmon River-Lower	Class II/III	4-5 days	May to August
Idaho	Salmon River-Main	Class II/III	5-6 days	June to September	80 mile trip
Idaho	Salmon River-Middle Fork	Class III/IV	5-6 days	June to September	100-mile trip; the most intense rafting on the Salmon River; some of the finest whitewater rafting in the USA; world-famous; "rafting doesn’t get any better than this"
Idaho	Selway River-Lower	Class I/II	1-2 days	June
Idaho	Snake River/Hells Canyon	Class III/IV	3-6 days	May to September	passes through the deepest canyon in North America; "nothing compares to Hells Canyon"; some of the finest whitewater rafting in the USA; world-famous rafting; a federal-designated "Wild & Scenic" river; flows through Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Idaho	St. Joe River	Class II/III	day trip	May to July	northern Idaho

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN KENTUCKY

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Kentucky	Big Sandy River	Class V/V+	day trip	weekends in October	the most challenging run in Kentucky and some of the most challenging rafting on the East Coast; only run on limited dates in October
Kentucky	Cumberland River	Class III	day trip	May to September
Kentucky	Elkhorn Creek-Gorge Section	Class II/III	day trip	March to September

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN MAINE

Maine offers three rivers for whitewater rafting, and it's tough to pick a favorite because they are all a blast. Both the Kennebec and Dead Rivers are run by outfitters that are based off US 201 in or near the town of The Forks, whereas the Penobscot River is run by outfitters out of the Millinocket area. If you are looking for a family-friendly trip, the Kennebec can't be beat. For scenery, the Penobscot River is king. Our favorite commercial guide in the state of Maine is Northern Outdoors (mostly because they have a wonderful lodge, a microbrewery, and plentiful cabin rentals) in the town of The Forks. In addition to Northern Outdoors, NEOC is another highly recommended Maine guiding company.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Maine	Dead River	Class IV	day trip	May to October	limited run dates based on dam releases; the most consistently intense rafting in Maine
Maine	Kennebec River	Class IV	day trip	May to October	run May through October; the most fun family-friendly rafting in New England; includes a swimmable section; look for "high release" dates if you want more exciting rapids.
Maine	Penobscot River	Class IV/V	day trip	May to September	run May through October; the most scenic rafting in New England; close to Baxter State Park; when the water level allows, this trip can include a side trip to a fun natural waterslide

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN MARYLAND

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Maryland	Potomac River-Mather Gorge	Class II/III	day trip	May to October
Maryland	Youghiogheny River-Upper	Class V/V+	day trip	mid-April to Mid-September	extremely difficult; only runnable on specific days during the week; a portion of this trip is in Pennsylvania and a portion is in Maryland (the river flows north)

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN MASSACHUSETTS

While the rivers of Massachusetts aren't quite as wild & crazy as the far more famous whitewater rafting rivers of Maine, they are still very much worthy of a run. Zoar Outdoors and CrabApple are the premier rafting guide companies in Massachusetts.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Massachusetts	Concord River	Class III/IV	day trip	April to May	trips are very short in length; typically only run in springtime
Massachusetts	Deerfield River-The Dryway	Class IV	day trip	May to October	the most exciting rafting in Massachusetts; limited release dates; we recommend Zoar Outdoor as guides
Massachusetts	Deerfield River-Zoar Gap	Class II/III	day trip	May to October	we recommend Zoar Outdoor as guides
Massachusetts	Millers River	Class III/IV	day trip	April to late-May or early June	typically run in spring only; we recommend Zoar Outdoor as guides

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN MONTANA

Much of the whitewater rafting action in Montana is centered near Yellowstone National Park. The Montana Whitewater Raft Company is perhaps the premier rafting guide company for the three raftable rivers near Yellowstone (the Yellowstone, Madison & Gallatin Rivers).

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Montana	Blackfoot River	Class II/III	1-2 days	April to mid-July	more than 65 miles of this river can be floated, but rafting trips are typically shorter and last 1-2 days;
Montana	Clark Fork River-Alberton Gorge	Class III	day trip	April to September	some rapids can be class IV in high water
Montana	Flathead River-North Fork	Class II	3-4 days	May to September	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip; best conditions are typically from mid-to-late May through mid-June; near Glacier National Park
Montana	Flathead River-Middle Fork	Class II/III/IV	1-2 days	May to September	day trips are often around 15-miles in length; near Glacier National Park; some websites this is class III but some say class IV
Montana	Gallatin River	Class II/III	day trip	May to September	some rapids in the "Mad Mile" can be class IV in high water
Montana	Madison River	Class III/IV	day trip	May to September	the class IV "Kitchen Sink-a" rapid is typically optional; tubing trips are often offered on the Lower Madison
Montana	Yellowstone River	Class II/III//III+	day trip	May to September	near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park; the closest rafting to Yellowstone

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN NEW MEXICO

Rafting in New Mexico is primarily focused around the Rio Grande River. Los Rios River Runners is a fantastic New Mexico-based guiding company.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
New Mexico	Rio Charma	Class II	1-3 days	April to September	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip
New Mexico	Rio Grande River-Taos Box	Class IV	day trip	April to July
New Mexico	Rio Grande River-Whiterock Canyon	Class III	2 days	April to October
New Mexico	Rio Grande River-Rio Grande Gorge	Class IV/IV+	2-3 days	April to July	many sources recommended a trip in May or June
New Mexico	Rio Grande River-Racecourse Run	Class III	day trip	May to October

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN NEW YORK

New York offers four rivers for whitewater rafting, and all are located in the upper regions of the state. The best rafting is typically found during the spring snowmelt season, but all three can normally be rafted throughout summer and early Fall.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
New York	Black River	Class III/IV/V	day trip	May to September	difficulty heavily depends upon river levels
New York	Hudson River-Upper Gorge	Class III/IV	day trip	April to October	17-mile trip from Indian Lake to North Creek
New York	Hudson River-Middle Gorge	Class II/III	day trip	April to October	18-mile trip from North River to the Glen; this trip can be limited based upon water conditions
New York	Hudson River-Lower Gorge	Class I/II	day trip	April to October	18-mile trip from Warrensburg to Lake Luzerne ; this trip can be limited based upon water conditions
New York	Moose River-Middle	Class III	day trip	May to October
New York	Moose River-Lower	Class IV/V	day trip	April only	only runnable at or near the peak of snowmelt; prior rafting experience required
New York	Sacandaga River	Class III	day trip	June to September	near Lake George

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN NORTH CAROLINA

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
North Carolina	Cheoah River	Class IV/V	day trip	April to October	very limited release dates; "the most difficult whitewater in the Southeast"; rafters should be good swimmers and in good shape
North Carolina	French Broad River	Class III/IV	day trip	March to October	half day (class II/III) and full day (III/IV) trips are offered, ranging from 5-9 miles; close to Asheville (one of the greatest mid-sized cities in the USA)
North Carolina	Nantahala River	Class II/III	day trip	April to October
North Carolina	Watauga River	Class III	day trip	unknown

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN OREGON

Oregon offers some of the finest day and multi-day rafting trips in the United States.

A highly recommended guide service that runs several different rivers in Oregon is the Northwest Rafting Company ("NWRC").

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Oregon	Chetco River
Oregon	Clackmas River	Class III/IV	day trip	March to August	the optimal time to run this river is said to be in spring or early summer; rapids are likely to only be class III or perhaps class III+ in summer
Oregon	Deschutes River	Class IV	1-3 days	May to October	a 2 or 3 day trip will cover about 40 miles; a "Wild and Scenic River"; "one of the most impressive gorges in the west"
Oregon	Hood River-East Fork	Class III/IV	day trip	November to April or May
Oregon	Hood River-West Fork	Class IV/V	day trip	November to April or May	"one of the best Class 4 rivers in Oregon"; offered a 1/2 day and full-day trips
Oregon	Illinois River	Class IV/V	4 days	April to early-May	known for its isolation/solitude; eleven class IV rapids and one class V; only a limited amount of trips go down this river, so book early
Oregon	John Day River	Class II	4-5 days	April to June	a designated "Wild and Scenic River"
Oregon	Klamath River-Upper	Class IV/IV+	day trip	April to September	near Ashland in southern Oregon; "over 30 major class III to IV+ rapids"; a designated "Wild & Scenic" river
Oregon	Klickitat River	Class III+	day trip	April to June
Oregon	McKenzie River	Class III	1-2 days	April to October	some guides offer separate lower and upper section trips; an overnight trip travels the 25 best miles along the river
Oregon	Molalla River	Class III/IV	day trip	"winter or early spring"	only run by the Blue Sky Rafting company
Oregon	North Santium River	Class III	day trip	April to September	in summer, the rapids drop to II/II+
Oregon	Owyhee River-Middle	Class IV+	3 days	late-March to early-May	"some of the biggest rapids in the Northwest"
Oregon	Owyhee River-Lower	Class III/IV	4-6 days	March to June	OARS offers a 6-day trip; some of this trip may actually be in Idaho; "one of the most spectacular desert rivers in the U.S.A."; "Oregon's most dramatic whitewater river"; a passage through "Oregon's Grand Canyon"; most sources say this is class III but at least one says IV
Oregon	Rogue River	Class III/IV	1-5 days	May to October	some sources say this is class III, while others says class IV
Oregon	Sandy River Gorge	Class IV/IV+	day trip	March to mid-June	"one of the most beautiful and challenging runs in Oregon"; only an hour from Portland; trips are sometimes run in October and November if water-levels permit; previous rafting experience and good condition recommended
Oregon	Umpqua River-North Fork	Class IV	1-2 days	April to September	one class IV rapid and lots of class II/III rapids

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN PENNSYLVANIA

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Pennsylvania	Cheat River	Class IV/V	day trip	April to June
Pennsylvania	Youghiogheny River-Lower	Class III/IV	day trip	March to October	most popular rafting section on the "Yough"
Pennsylvania	Youghiogheny River-Middle	Class II	day trip	March to October	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip
Pennsylvania	Youghiogheny River-Upper	Class V/V+	day trip	mid-April to Mid-September	extremely difficult; only runnable on specific days during the week; a portion of this trip is in Pennsylvania and a portion is in Maryland (the river flows north)

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The Chattooga River begins its journey in North Carolina and actually creates the border between Georgia & South Carolina. There are several different sections that can be run on this classic rafting river.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
South Carolina	Chattooga River-Class II Section	Class II	day trip	March to November	7-mile run along border of GA & SC; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"
South Carolina	Chattooga River-Class III Section	Class III/IV	day trip	March to November	most popular section of the Chattooga River; runs along GA & SC border; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"
South Carolina	Chattooga River-Class IV Section	Class IV	day trip	March to November	some of the most intense rafting on the East Coast; runs along GA & SC border; a U.S. "Wild and Scenic River"; the "crown jewel of southeastern rivers"

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN TENNESSEE

Tennessee offers the Ocoee River, which is one of the premier (and most famous) whitewater rafting day trips in America. Many different guide companies provide trips of various lengths and difficulties.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Tennessee	Nolichucky River-Nolichucky Gorge	Class III/IV	1-2 days	early-March to mid-June	25 named rapids from class II-IV; "one of the top rafting adventures in the East"
Tennessee	Nolichucky River-Lower	Class I/II	day trip	early-March to mid-June
Tennessee	Ocoee River-Middle	Class III/IV	day trip	March to November	5-mile trip; some of the best rafting on the East Coast;
Tennessee	Ocoee River-Upper	Class IV/IV+	day trip	weekends only; mid-May to mid-September	5 mile trip; some of the best rafting on the East Coast; somewhat limited run dates; site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater competition
Tennessee	Ocoee River-Middle & Upper	Class IV/IV+	day trip	weekends only; mid-May to mid-September	10 mile trip combines Upper & Middle sections; "the finest full day of continuous Class III and IV whitewater action in the Southeast"
Tennessee	Pigeon River-Lower	Class II	day trip	Memorial Day to Labor Day	5-mile trip; season is often extended for weekends only after Labor Day (water-level permitting)
Tennessee	Pigeon River-Upper	Class III/IV	day trip	Memorial Day to Labor Day	class varies based on water levels (some people will only experience class II or III while others will have class IV); season is often extended for weekends only after Labor Day (water-level permitting)

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN TEXAS

The Rio Grande offers the best whitewater rafting within the state of Texas, and trips last anywhere from one to six days in duration. There are a few other rivers in Texas than can be rafted, but they are often heavily water-level dependent and many of these rivers don't have any formalized commercial guiding operations.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Texas	Rio Grande-Santa Elena Canyon	Class II	2 days	Year-Round (but best in winter/spring)	travels through Big Bend National Park along the Texas/Mexico border; best in winter/spring (summer = too hot)
Texas	Rio Grande-Boquillas Canyon	Class II	3-4 days	Year-Round (but best in winter/spring)	this 36-mile trip is best in winter/spring (summer = too hot); "more renowned for its scenic beauty than for a technical, bumpy ride"
Texas	Rio Grande-Colorado Canyon	Class II	1-2 days	Year-Round (but best in winter/spring)	in high water, some of the rapids can be class III; best in winter/spring (summer = too hot)

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN UTAH

Utah is perhaps more famous for its relatively gentle float trips than for its whitewater adventures. However, there is still some intense rafting to be found, especially in Cataract Canyon along the Colorado River. If you enjoy multi-day rafting expeditions, you'll find some of the best trips in the USA in Utah.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Utah	Colorado River-Westwater Canyon	Class III/IV	2 days	May to September	awarded the “West’s Best Short Whitewater Trip” by National Geographic
Utah	Colorado River-Cataract Canyon	Class IV	4-6 days	May to September
Utah	Green River-Flaming Gorge	Class II	3 days	May to September	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip
Utah	Green River-Desolation Canyon	Class II/III	5 days	May to September	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip
Utah	Green River-Lodore Canyon	Class II/III	3-5 days	May to September	this is more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip; floats through Dinosaur National Monument; mostly in Colorado but a portion is also in Utah
Utah	Green River-Split Mountain Canyon	Class III	day trip	May to September	offered by Don Hatch River Expeditions; appears to be 100% in Utah but perhaps a portion is in Colorado?
Utah	San Juan River	Class II	3-6 days	May to June	more of a float trip than a whitewater rafting trip; typically run in springtime; some trips also include a portion in Colorado
Utah	Yampa River	Class III/IV	4-5 days	May to June or early-July	trip passes through two states (Colorado & Utah); generally only class IV during the spring snowmelt

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN VERMONT

The West River is the only commercially guided rafting river in Vermont, and even then, it's only run on limited spring and fall weekends.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Vermont	West River	Class III/IV	day trip	two specific weekends per year	mostly class III rapids; limited release dates (typically one weekend in late April/early May and one weekend in late September/early October); Zoar Outdoors and CrabApple are two highly recommended guiding companies.

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN VIRGINIA

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Virginia	James River-Lower	Class IV	day trip	April to July	class depends heavily upon water levels; "the only whitewater rafting through a major U.S. city"
Virginia	James River-Upper	Class II	day trip	April to July	class depends heavily upon water levels; "the only whitewater rafting through a major U.S. city"
Virginia	James River-Combined (Lower + Upper)	Class IV	day trip	April to July	combines both the Lower & Upper sections; this trip is sometimes called "Falls of the James River"

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN WASHINGTON

Washington offers a strong variety of full day and half day rafting trips. The commercial guide River Rider offers a variety of day trips on several rivers in Washington.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Washington	Elwha River	Class II/II+	day trip	April to September	Olympic Mountains scenery; 6-mile trip; a dam was recently removed on this river, so the season may change in the future
Washington	Elwha River-Elwha Canyon	Class III/IV	day trip	April to September	Olympic Mountains scenery; 9-mile trip; a dam was recently removed on this river, so the season may change in the future; waterflow typically has to be below 1500cfs
Washington	Hoh River	Class II	day trip	February to October	go early in the season for more challenging water levels
Washington	Klickitat River	Class III/IV	day trip	April to June	15-mile trip in remote wilderness
Washington	Methow River	Class III/IV	day trip	late-April to early-August	11.5 mile trip near Lake Chelan
Washington	Nooksack River	Class III/IV	day trip	late May to August	9-mile trip on river fed by the water & glaciers of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan; late May or June is considered the wildest and best time to raft
Washington	Sauk River	Class III/III+	day trip	April to early August	7-9-mile trips; some outfitters run trips in late March as well
Washington	Skagit River-Upper	Class II/III	day trip	April to October	10-mile trips near Ross Lake; peak season is August & September
Washington	Skykomish River	Class IV/V	day trip	April to early August	8-9 mile trips; closest rafting to Seattle (1hr away); the only class V rapid ("Boulder Drop") is actually class IV if water is less than 7,000cfs; class I float trips are also offered on the Skykomish; the "Big Daddy" of Washington rafting
Washington	Sol Duc River	Class III	day trip	February to June
Washington	Spokane River	Class III	day trip	May to August	runs through Riverside Sate Park; close to downtown Spokane
Washington	Suiattle River	Class III	day trip	July & August
Washington	Tieton River	Class III/IV	day trip	September	limited 15-mile runs in September only
Washington	Wenatchee River	Class II/III/IV	day trip	April to October	perhaps Washington's most popular rafting trip; from April to early July, the river is typically class III/IV and is a 14-mile journey; from early July through October, the river is typically II/III and is a 6-mile journey
Washington	White Salmon River	Class III/IV	day trip	April to September	also has an optional class V rapid; 8-mile trip
Washington	Wind River	Class IV/V	day trip	April to June	previous rafting experience required

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia's whitewater rafting is infamous, mostly because of the fall season trips on the Gauley River. If you want to raft the Gauley, make reservations as far in advance as possible.

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
West Virginia	Gauley River-Lower	Class III/IV/V	day trip	September to October only	some of the finest whitewater rafting in the USA; as advanced as a river gets for a 1st time whitewater rafter; less intense than the Upper Gauley; make reservations well in advance as this is a classic river trip
West Virginia	Gauley River-Upper	Class IV/V/V+	day trip	September to October	some of the finest whitewater rafting in the USA; prior experience heavily recommended for this "Upper Gauley" trip; make reservations well in advance as this is a classic river trip
West Virginia	Gauley River-Upper & Lower	Class IV/V/V+	2 days	September to October	this is the classic West Virginia rafting adventure; a 26 mile trip through 100 rapids (53 of which are rated class III or higher); includes the Upper river, which requires previous rafting experience; make reservations well in advance as this is a classic river trip
West Virginia	New River-Lower	Class IV/IV+	day trip	May to September	this portion of the New River is often called the "Grand Canyon of the East"; views of the 876-foot tall New River Gorge Bridge (popular with BASE jumpers)
West Virginia	New River-Upper	Class III	day trip	May to September	swimming opportunities

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN WYOMING

STATE	RIVER	RATING	DURATION	SEASON	NOTES
Wyoming	Snake River	Class II/III	day trips	May to September	there are several varieties of rafting trips offered on the Snake River near the Jackson, Wyoming area, and they typically range from 8-21 miles in length

TOP TEN WHITEWATER RAFTING DAY TRIPS IN THE USA

Here are the top 10 whitewater rafting day trips in the United States. In full disclosure, it was difficult to make such a top ten list, because how can you really compare one river to the next? Anyway, here's the list. Take note that we have intentionally excluded the class V/V+ extreme rafting trips that require strong skills/experience (like Cherry Creek in California).

American River, California
Arkansas River-Royal Gorge, Colorado
Chattooga River, Georgia & South Carolina
French Broad River, North Carolina
Gauley River, West Virginia
Kern River, California
New River, West Virginia
Ocoee River, Tennessee
Penobscot River, Maine
Wenatchee River, Washington

Runner-ups: Nenana River, Alaska; Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania; Dead River, Maine; Deschutes River, Oregon

TOP MULTI-DAY WHITEWATER RAFTING EXPEDITIONS

These multi-day rafting expeditions are world-class. Take at least one of these trips at some point in your life (preferably sooner rather than later because you may discover you want to do more).

Alsek River, Alaska
Colorado River, Arizona
Colorado River, Utah
Green River, Colorado
Green River, Utah
Owyhee River-Lower, Oregon
Rogue River, Oregon
Salmon River-Middle Fork, Idaho
Snake River-Hells Canyon, Idaho
Talkeetna River, Alaska
Tana River, Alaska
Tatshenshini River, Alaska
Yampa River, Utah & Colorado

TOP TEN U.S. STATES FOR WHITEWATER RAFTING

Here are the best states for whitewater rafting in the United States:

Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Maine
Oregon
Tennessee
Washington
West Virginia

Runner-ups: Texas, North Carolina

INTERNATIONAL RAFTING SCALE OF DIFFICULTY

From the Safety Code of the American Whitewater Affiliation:

Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.

Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.

Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims.

Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable wave and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting is necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended.

Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to above average endangerment. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes, or steep congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies may exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is mandatory but often difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential for survival.

Class VI: Extreme. One grade more difficult than Class V. These runs often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable, but may include rapids which are only occasionally run.

HELPFUL LINKS

OARS
Rafting.com
Raftwet.com
Wikipedia's List of Whitewater Rivers
20 Legendary Whitewater Rivers
Rapid Classification Guide

Kennebec River, Maine

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