The following river trips are generally regarding as the most difficult whitewater excursions in North America that are rafted on a frequent basis by commercial outfitters. This is not an all-inclusive list since other rivers, during higher water levels may certainly become ‘advanced’ or even ‘extreme!’ If you are considering rafting any of these Class V rivers or for that matter any difficult Class III-IV+ river, it is important that you have previously rafted Class IV whitewater and that you are in excellent physically condition.
American (Giant Gap)
A very demanding Class V rafting trip through Tahoe National Forest in Central California should only be attempted by experienced, physically-fit rafters.
Cherry Creek
An exciting and demanding upper tributary of the Tuolumne with an abundance of V+ whitewater for extreme paddlers.
Forks of the Kern
One of state’s premier multiday adventures with plenty of exciting, strenuous and physically demanding whitewater action in gorgeous and remote Sierra
canyons.
Kaweah
One of the state’s steepest and most challenging whitewater runs may be rafted in the spring following heavy Sierra
snowpack.
North Fork Yuba (Upper)
Near historic gold-rush town of Downieville, the Upper North Fork trip is considerably more difficult than the lower Yuba.
Salmon (Upper)
Challenging advanced one-day trips on Class IV-V upper or Nordheimer section in Northern California features several steep drops.
Trinity (Burnt Ranch)
One of state’s most-challenging commercial whitewater runs is located in the isolated canyons of Northern California’s Trinity National Forest. Top physical condition and previous Class IV rafting experience are mandatory.
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Northern Rocky Mountain States
Idaho · Montana · Wyoming |
Snake (Murtaugh), Idaho
During early spring, the Murtaugh section has some of the state’s largest and most demanding whitewaters.
Animas (Upper)
The upper section, located high in the snowcapped San Juan Mountains between Silverton and Durango, provides a very challenging and scenic multiday whitewater experience for advanced paddlers.
Piedra
Narrow and steep box canyons create a very demanding spring river adventure for physically fit rafters north of Pagosa Springs.
Clear Creek
A highly technical and demanding spring river trip through very steep and narrow canyons less than thirty minutes drive west of Denver.
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Northeast States
Maine · New York · Massachusetts · Vermont |
Moose, New York
Near Adirondack Park, the northeast’s most challenging commercial whitewater run is only rafted in April. Rafting trips on the Moose are reserved for experienced and physically fit whitewater enthusiasts.
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Mid-Atlantic States
Pennsylvania · Maryland · West Virginia · Virginia |
Youghiogheny
(Upper), Maryland
The Upper Yough, located near Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland, rates as one of the more technical commercially-rafted stretches of whitewater in the world.
Gauley
(Upper), West Virginia
One of the world’s premier whitewater adventures, the upper Gauley offers highly challenging whitewaters during the fall draw-down of Summersville Lake.
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Southeast States
Georgia · South Carolina · North Carolina · Tennessee · Kentucky |
Chattooga (Section
IV), Georgia/South Carolina
Challenging whitewater in one of the most inaccessible and beautiful canyons in the southeast. Previous rafting experience and good physical shape are recommended.
Levisa (Russell
Fork), Virginia/Kentucky
Whitewater enthusiasts seeking a challenge even greater than the upper Gauley or upper Yough trips may find it on the Russell Fork.
Watauga
(Gorge), North Carolina
Offers adventuresome rafters an excellent early spring challenging whitewaters in one of the regions most technical whitewater gorges.
Reventazon (Peralta)
The Peralta or Guayabo section of the Reventazon is Costa Rica’s most difficult whitewater stretch. Its continuous and powerful whitewaters, include more than thirty Class IV-V rapids.
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