Whitewater Rivers List
Africa
- Zambezi, Zambia
- Nile, Uganda
- Tana River, Kenya
Asia
India
In the north, most rivers in India descend from the Himalayas, bringing with them ample rapids to encounter. Towards the south, most rivers tumble down from the Western Ghats and flow east, with some exceptions. North India
- Zanskar, a Grand Canyonesque experience. Class III-IV. Gradings, as on all rivers, subject to change depending on volume of water.
- Alaknanda
- Bhagirathi
- Mandakini
- Ganges
- Tons
- Kali
- Yamuna
- Teesta
- Rangit
South India
- Kali River (Karnataka), section near Dandeli. Class III-III+
- Cauvery, near Bheemeshwari. Class II-II+
- Upper Barapole, in Coorg. Class III-IV. Very creekish river.
- Sharda, Class III
- Sitanadi
Pakistan
- Sutlej
- Braldu
- Swat
Thailand
- Wang Thong River is a popular whitewater rafting destination in the Phitsanulok Province of Thailand. It has rapids ranging from difficulty levels of 3 through 5.
Malaysia
- Padas, located in Sabah, Borneo. Class III-IV (during rainy season - class V).
- Klias, located in Sabah, Borneo. Class I-II
Philippines
- Cagayan (de Oro) River, located in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Class II-III (upper section - class IV)
- Bubunawan River, located in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Class II-III
- Tumalaong River, located in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Class II-III
- Tagoloan River, located in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Class I-II (upper Tagoloan - Class II-IV)
- Malitbog River, located in Malitbog, Bukidnon, Philippines. Class II-III (creeking)
- Agusan River, located in Agusan, Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines. Class II-III (creeking)
- F.S. Catanico River, located in F.S Catanico, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Class II-III (creeking, water is seldom high)
Europe
United Kingdom
Whitewater rivers in the UK are typically low volume and technical. In England and Wales rivers are typically less than 20 m³/s, and some are run with less than 1 m³/s (usually these involve skidding the kayak down steep rockslides and small waterfalls). In Scotland there are also a few bigger volume (up to about 50 m³/s) rivers.
Almost all runs in England and Wales need recent rain to be at a paddleable level, and many can only be run immediately after heavy rain. In Scotland some bigger rivers can be run for weeks after rain although as with the rest of the country, most need recent wet weather. The paddling season is year-round but the rivers are more often runnable in winter (the wettest months of the year being December and January). Exceptions to this include rivers which have artificially maintained flows from reservoirs. On these rivers flow may increase in dry weather as more water is released. The Afon Tryweryn is one example in Wales.
Most runs offer only a few kilometres of whitewater; often several rivers can be run on a wet day. Some rivers consist of only a single rapid. Only a few rivers (such as the Findhorn and Spean in the Scottish Highlands) have more than a days' worth of paddling, and most of this tends to be grade III or less.
The River Dart excepted, there is no natural whitewater in the (mainly flat) south and east of England. Here whitewater paddlers often go playboating at man made weirs. Hurley weir on the River Thames west of London is probably the most popular. There are several artificial whitewater courses, where water is pumped or diverted though a concrete channel containing obstacles to create rapids. There is a 28 m³/s artificial whitewater course on the Trent at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham (at the National Watersports Centre), a 5 m³/s course on the Tees in Teesside, and smaller courses on the Nene at Northampton, and at Cardington.
In England Commercial rafting is limited to artificial whitewater courses (where it often provides the majority of the courses' income). Bigger and more reliable rivers can be found in Scotland and Wales, in particular the River Findhorn, River Orchy, River Spey, River Tay and the Afon Tryweryn.
There are several sites off the west coast of Britain where strong tidal currents channeled between islands create big volume sections of whitewater. These include the Bitches in Pembrokeshire in Wales, and the Falls of Lora on the west coast of Scotland.
Legal access to whitewater is a big issue in England and Wales. The public are only allowed access to a tiny proportion of the available whitewater, and often this is restricted to a few months or even a few days per year. This limits commercial operations and the activities of clubs, but many individual kayakers still paddle illegally. Rivers are almost all private and access must be agreed with all of the riparian owners (the owners of the land either side of the river) and the owners of the fishing rights, otherwise canoeing or kayaking there is trespass (although landowners can do little other than tell trespassers to leave their property). Agreements rarely exist as there is no incentive for the owners of rivers to let anyone else use them. In Scotland, like most of the rest of the world, access to whitewater is legal and has never been illegal. It has been enshrined in law in the recent Scottish Land Reform act. The Right to Roam act in England explicitly excluded rivers. The British Canoe Union is running the Rivers Access Campaign to raise awareness and bring about changes in the law to permit public access to all inland rivers in England and Wales.
Alps
Popular whitewater rivers in the Alps are mainly medium volume glacier-fed rivers with long continuous rapids and few big drops. The season is short (two or three months in early summer when the snow and glaciers are melting) but the whitewater is reliable in this period. Tourists come from around Europe to kayak and raft – the most popular centres are Briançon in the French Alps, and the area around Landeck in Austria.
Norway
Norwegian whitewater rivers are typically steep pool-drop rivers with many waterfalls, and are run mainly by experienced kayakers. There are also bigger (sometimes glacier-fed) rivers which are sometimes rafted. The season lasts all summer, although some rivers only run after recent rain.
Norwegian waterfalls regularly feature on extreme kayaking videos.
North America
Canada
Canadian whitewater rivers are characterized by the dramatic difference between the high water spring run-off and the summer low water volume. The classification of rapids therefore changes from spring to summer.
Alberta
- Bow River - Horseshoe Canyon, II - III
- Carbondale Creek, Southern Alberta
- Cascade Creek, Western Rockies, III - IV
- Castle River, Southern Albert
- Elbow River, Western Rockies, III+ - IV
- Highwood River, and tributaries, Southern Alberta
- Kakwa River, Northern Alberta
- Kananaskis River, Foothills, II - III
- Mosquito Creek - Western Rockies, II - III
- Mystia River, Western Rockies, II - III+
- North Saskatchewan River, Rockies to Plains, II - III
- Oldman River, Southern Alberta
- Pipestone River, Western Rockies, III - IV
- Red Earth Creek, Western Rockies, IV - V
- St. Mary River (Montana-Alberta), II - III
- Sheep River, Western Rockies, III+ - V
- Slave River, NWT Border, I-VI
- Smoky River, Northern Alberta
- Upper Bow - Western Rockies, Willys Rapid Section, III - IV
- Upper Red Deer River, Alberta foothills, II - III
- Waterton River, Southern Alberta
British Columbia:
- Fraser River, British Columbia
- Alsek, British Columbia - Alaska
- Capilano River
- Chehalis River
- Chilliwack River
- Coquitlam River
- Mamquam River
- Cheakamus River
- Kicking Horse River, III - IV
- Yoho River, Columbia Valley, IV - V
- Toby Creek, Columbia Valley, IV - V+
- Skookumchuck Creek, Columbia Valley, IV
- Upper Fraiser, Columbia Valley, III - IV
- Palliser River, Kootney Valley, III
- Albertson River, Kootney Valley, III - V
- Kootney River, Kootney Valley
- Thompson River, Central, III - IV-
- Stien River, Central, IV - V
- Nahatlatch River, Central, III - V
- Clear Water River, Central, III - IV
- Tatlow Creek, Coastal
- Ryan Creek, Coastal
- Soo River, Coastal, IV - V
- Callahan Creek, Coastal, V
- Kanu River, Coastal
- Homathko River, Coastal
- Dean River, Coastal
- Stickeen River, Coastal, V - VI
- Englishman River, Island, III - IV
Ontario
- Albany River
- Gull River III
- Ottawa River (at the Ottawa River Provincial Park near Whitewater Region, Ontario) III - IV
- Kesagami River
- Madawaska River III
- Magnetawan River
- Magpie River
- Missinaibi River
- Moose River
- Opeongo River
- Petawawa River III - IV
- Spanish River
- Wellandvale/Twelve Mile Creek, in planning stage Niagara Whitewater Park Association
Quebec:
- Coulonge River
- Dumoine River
- Gens de Terre River
- Kipawa River
- Lachine Rapids, Montreal
- Moisie River
- Noire River
- Rouge River
- Rupert River
- Neilson River, IV - V
- Du Nord River, III - VI
- Doncaster River, III - IV
- Taureau River, IV - V
- Broadback River, I - VI
- Gatineau River, III - IV
Manitoba:
- Bloodvein River
- Manigotagan River
- Roseau River
- Seal River
- Whitemouth River
Northwest Territories:
- South Nahanni River, Northwest Territories
- Kazan River
- Elaho River
- Slave River, Alberta Border, Fort Smith - I-V
United States:
Eastern rivers:
Rivers in the eastern section of the United States are usually considered "technical," which means that due to lesser water volume, rafters and kayakers must often direct their craft through boulder-strewn sections of river, through narrow channels and shoals. This requires a degree of "river reading" skill, paddling precision, and understanding of hazards such as undercut rocks and strainers.
Northeast:
The following are some of the rivers in the Northeast that are popular.
- Ashuelot River, New Hampshire, Class 3-4
- Bearcamp River, New Hampshire, Class 2-4
- Contoocook River, New Hampshire, Class 3-4
- Dead River, Maine, Class 3-5
- Deerfield River, Vermont and Massachusetts, Class 2-5
- Farmington River, Massachusetts and Connecticut, Class 3
- Gale River, New Hampshire, Class 1-4
- Gauley River, West Virginia, Class 4-5+
- Housatonic River, Connecticut, Class 1-5
- Kennebec River, Maine, mostly Class 2-4, one Class 5 rapid
- Lehigh River, Whitehaven to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania - a 24-mile (39 km) run, through a beautiful gorge, Class 3; in high water this is a Class 4 run.
- Millers River, Massachusetts, Class 3
- Nescopeck Creek, Pennsylvania, Class 2-3
- Potomac River, Maryland/Virginia
- Penobscot River, Maine, Class 3-5
- Quaboag River, Massachusetts, Class 3
- Rapid River, Maine, Class 4
- Rockaway River, Boonton, New Jersey, Class 4; only a 1-mile (1.6 km) section can be paddled but the gradient is a 120 feet (37 m) for the mile, with the staircase rapids along Rt. 287 reaching 40 feet (12 m) drop in a quarter of a mile.
- Saco River, New Hampshire, Class 3-4
- Swift River, New Hampshire, Class 2-4, 3 sections; Bear Notch Road to Upper Falls, Class 2, Upper Falls to Lower Falls, Class 3, Lower Falls to national forest entrance on Kancamagus Highway, Class 3-4
- West River, Vermont - class 2-3, Ball Mountain to Salmon Hole, Class 3, Salmon Hole to Route 100, Class 2.
- Westfield River, Massachusetts, Class 1-4; 40 miles (64 km) of varying difficulty including Pork Barrel and Knightville
- Winhall River, Vermont, Class 3
- Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania, Class 3-4
New York:
- Black River, Watertown - Class III-V
- Delaware River - Class I-II.
- Esopus Creek - Class II-IV
- Grasse River - Upper section, Class IV - V
- Hudson River, North Creek - Class I-IV
- Middle Branch Oswegatchie River - Bryants Bridge and Sluice Falls sections, Class IV - V
- Mongaup River - Class II-III; about 3-mile (4.8 km)
- Moose River, Old Forge - Class IV-V+
- Niagara River (Whirlpool Rapids) - Class VI, considered by many to be the ultimate whitewater rapids in North America and illegal to kayak in; listed as one of the 5 deadliest rivers in the world to kayak on
- Raquette River - Class III - IV+
- Sacandaga River, Lake Luzerne- Class II-III
- Salmon River - Class I-III
- Ten Mile Creek - Class I-III; about 10 miles (16 km)
Southeast:
Some signature streams in the southeastern United States include:
- Chattooga River, Georgia / South Carolina - sports long, challenging rapids, big drops, and thunderous power; this river can be a challenge for even experts; the Chattooga was one of the rivers used for the filming of the 1973 adventure movie, Deliverance. It is designated as a Wild and Scenic River and therefore offers beautiful scenery and a somewhat wilderness experience.
- Cheat River, West Virginia - Class IV.
- French Broad River, Asheville, North Carolina - featuring a long run of varying difficulty, from flatwater runnable in a canoe to class IV rapids near Hot Springs, North Carolina and the border with Tennessee. The main drawbacks are that the water tends to be muddy or polluted and it is a natural flow river.
- Gauley River, Summersville, West Virginia - has huge rapids, especially at the "Fall Drawdown" (when the reservoir is drained) is a world-class ride; many of them listed as Class V; the Upper Gauley, from Summersville to Mason's Branch, is the tougher section; the Lower Gauley, from Koontz' Flume to Swiss, is still a Class-IV river with significant hazards; navigating the Upper and Lower Gauley in a single day is called "the Gauley Marathon," twenty-six miles of big rapids and paddling.
- Green River, Asheville, North Carolina - the Green Narrows is the steepest "creek run" with regular activity in the Eastern U.S; with a gradient that reaches 600 feet/mile over one short section, The Narrows is a series of blind waterfalls and tight slots; regular, predictable releases from the Tuxedo Hydro Plant upstream draw paddlers on a regular basis.
- James River, Richmond, Virginia - Urban whitewater; Class IV
- Nantahala River, Bryson City, North Carolina - a relatively gentle river, with the final rapid having the propensity to send paddlers in for a cold, exhilarating swim; suitable for beginners.
- New River, Thurmond, West Virginia - the next step up; its rapids are larger than those of the Ocoee, though they are separated by long flatwater pools.
- Nolichucky River, Erwin, Tennessee scenic river; water levels vary greatly (dependent upon rain fall and season); guides' moniker "Bone-i-chucky" attributed to in-stream rock obstructions, particularly at low summer water levels.
- Ocoee River, Polk County, Tennessee - 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak Whitewater Slalom Competition was held on this world-class river; a special section was constructed for the venue, but the "middle" Ocoee is the classic ride that is almost continuous whitewater.
- Russell Fork River - located in Breaks Interstate Park on the border of Kentucky and Virginia, this river drops 150 feet (46 m) per mile in the Russell Fork Gorge, which has been described as a continuous forty-five degree waterfall; it has dangerous rapids, even experienced paddlers have died in its many undercut rocks, and there have been many close calls; for the most experienced rafters and kayakers only.
- Watauga River, mostly cold and clear water Class I-II rapids with the exception of the Bee Cliff Rapids following scheduled high volume reservoir releases during summer months from the Tennessee Valley Authority Wilbur Dam flowing through Elizabethton, Tennessee (Northeast Tennessee); also upstream of both TVA Wilbur Dam and Watauga Dam as a separate, non-commercial run beginning in North Carolina to Johnson County, Tennessee above Watauga Lake; Class IV-V.
West Coast rivers:
In the western United States, the more noted rivers, such as the Grand Canyon have much greater water volume and therefore require a different set of paddling skills. Western rafters also navigate many small, low volume rivers, some with much steeper descents than eastern rivers; however, since the mountains are newer in the west, the hazard from undercut rocks, a problem in the east, is replaced by more frequent log jams precipitated by logging activities near the rivers.
The big-water rivers usually do not require the precision paddling of smaller rivers, but have larger rapids and longer wilderness trips due to the greater length and water flow of the big rivers. The smaller rivers and creeks boated by most rafters offer many one- or two-day trips with difficulty levels from I to VI.
In the West, some paddlers start on the American in California and work their way up to the Rogue and Illinois in Oregon, the Tuolomne (California), the Salmon in Idaho, the Snake, and then the big-water rivers like the Green and Colorado through the Grand Canyon (Arizona), the Fraser in British Columbia, and many Alaskan streams.
California:
- American River
- Cherry Creek
- Kaweah River - Class IV commercial runs
- Kern River
- Kings River
- Klamath River
- Mokelumne River
- Napa River
- Trinity River
- Truckee River
- Tuolumne River
Colorado and Utah:
- Animas River
- Arkansas River - a big river, with many sections ranging from Class I to V, very popular with kayakers and with commercial rafting companies. Numerous runs of all difficulty. Probably the most frequently run and one of the best rivers in Colorado. Something for everyone.
- Boulder Creek
- Cache La Poudre River - Colorado's only federally designated Wild and Scenic River contains sections appropriate for every level of expertise including an easy Class II section, several Class III and Class-IV sections, as well as some Class V. There is a Class VI waterfall that is very dangerous because the last drop is unrunnable. The water pours off a slab into a 2-foot (0.61 m)-wide crack and grinds anything that goes into it.
- Clear Creek (Colorado)
- Colorado River
- Gore Canyon - a Class-IV reach with two significant Class-V rapids. The Gore Canyon run is 9.5 miles (15.3 km) long and is recommended to be run by advanced kayakers between 700 cu ft/s (20 m3/s) and 2,000 cu ft/s (57 m3/s).
- ""Pumphouse"": Class III year round 12 mile reach of river taking out near Rancho del Rio. This meandering run is launched from the Pumphouse BLM facility which lies at the terminus of Gore Canyon. Rapids include Eye of the Needle, Radium and Yarmony.
- I-70 Section - Class-III big water, pushy at times. Dewatered in various sections by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and the water-thirsty inhabitants of the front range.
- "Barrel Springs" - Class IV+ (P) for flows below 2,000 cu ft/s (57 m3/s), and Class V+ (P) for flows over 6,000 cu ft/s (170 m3/s). The Barrel Springs run is about two miles (3 km) long and sits between Hanging Lake Dam and the Shoshone Power Plant. The two big rapids are Upper Death (aka: Kayakers Nightmare) and Life After Death, and the last rapid to mention for this run is Barrel Springs rapid.
- ""Shoshone"": When the Colorado River winds through Glenwood Canyon, more mellow kayaking and rafting can be enjoyed for this less than two mile run. Shoshone is a popular play run for kayakers and commercial rafting companies. More consistent flows bless Shoshone.
- Cataract Canyon: Varies in class from III to V. At over 50,000 cubic feet per second (1400 m³/s), Cataract Canyon becomes class V. The first 48 miles (77 km) from Potash boat ramp are flat water. Four miles (6 km) after the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers Cataract Canyon begins. Major John Wesley Powell navigated the rapids in 1869 and gave Cataract Canyon its name. Cataract Canyon slices its way through Canyonlands National Park. Prior to becoming a National Park in 1964, Canyonlands and particularly Cataract Canyon was a "no man's land". French trapper Denis Julien made his way up the canyon in 1836 and left his inscription near the confluence or the Green and Colorado Rivers, and at many other places upstream.
- Spring runoff from the Uinta, Wasatch, and the western fronts of the Rocky Mountains combines to create some of the most exciting whitewater in North America. Flows have been gauged at over 110000 Cubic feet per Second in 1984. This is much larger than in the Grand Canyon where water is released from the Glen Canyon Dam and therefore regulated. In an average year Cataract Canyon will peak at 35,000 cubic feet per second (1000 m³/s) which creates 32 rapids (depending on water levels in Lake Powell). At over 50,000 cubic feet per second (1400 m³/s) the rapids from rapid 14 through rapid 24 form some of the most awe inspiring whitewater in North America.
- Dolores River
- Green River
- Gunnison River
- Los Pinos River
- North Platte River
- Roaring Fork River
- South Platte River
- Yampa River
Idaho:
- Lochsa River
- Middle Fork Salmon River - Class III-IV
- North Fork Payette River
- Salmon River main stem - Class III-IV
- Snake River
- Payette River main stem
Montana:
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
- Gallatin River
Oregon:
River flow information available from the USGS and Pat Welch River gauges River forecast data available through National Weather Service Popular whitewater rivers in Oregon:
- Bull Run River - Site of slalom course
- Clackamas River - Year-round water, proximity to Portland, and a range of runs make this a popular river.
- Barton to Carver (Class 2)
- Carver to Clackamette (Class 2)
- Bob's to Memaloose (Class 2)
- Fish Creek to Bob's (Class 3-4) - Runnable year round (in kayaks, canoes, and rafts)
- Three Lynx to Fish Creek (Class 3-4) - Runnable winter through late Spring most years.
- Killer Fang (Class 4)
- June Creek (Class 4)
- Deschutes River
- Molalla River
- Table Rock Fork
- Three Bear's
- Nehalem River
- Rogue River
- Salmonberry River
- Sandy River
- Sandy Gorge (Class 4)
- Revenue Bridge to Dodge Park
- Dodge Park to Oxbow Park
- Oxbow to Columbia (Class 2)
- Wilson River
Washington:
The most popular runs in Washington are listed below.
- Green River
- Icicle Creek
- Skookumchuck Narrows
- Skykomish River
- Snoqualmie River
- Wenatchee River - Tumwater Canyon
Wyoming:
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
- Snake River
Oceania:
Australia:
- Tully River North, QLD
- Baron River, Cains
- Penrith White water stadium, NSW
- Nymboida River, Northern NSW
- Mitta Mitta River, victoria
New Zealand:
- Wairoa River (Grade 2-5)
- Kaituna River
- Rangitata River
South America:
Chile:
- Futaleufú River
- Trancura River near Pucón
- Baker River
Ecuador:
- Rio Napo (Napo River) Class 3
- Rio Misahualli (Misahualli River) Class 2