Safety Code of American Whitewater



This code has been prepared using the best available information and has been reviewed by a broad cross section of whitewater experts. The code, however, is only a collection of guidelines; attempts to minimize risks should be flexible, not constrained by a rigid set of rules. Varying conditions and group goals may combine with unpredictable circumstances to require alternate procedures. This code is not intended to serve as a standard of care for commercial outfitters or guides.



International Scale of River Difficulty (see Section VI of the Safety Code of American Whitewater for complete descriptions)

This is the American version of a rating system used to compare river difficulty throughout the world. This system is not exact; rivers do not always fit easily into one category, and regional or individual interpretations may cause misunderstandings. It is no substitute for a guidebook or accurate first-hand descriptions of a run.

Paddlers attempting difficult runs in an unfamiliar area should act cautiously until they get a feel for the way the scale is interpreted locally. River difficulty may change each year due to fluctuations in water level, downed trees, recent floods, geological disturbances, or bad weather. Stay alert for unexpected problems!

As river difficulty increases, the danger to swimming paddlers becomes more severe. As rapids become longer and more continuous, the challenge increases. There is a difference between running an occasional Class-IV rapid and dealing with an entire river of this category. Allow an extra margin of safety between skills and river ratings when the water is cold or if the river itself is remote and inaccessible.

The links below lead to the 3 parts of a list of examples of commonly run rapids that fit each of the classifications. Rapids of a difficulty similar to a rapids on this list are rated the same. Rivers are also rated using this scale. An overall river rating should take into account many factors including the difficulty of individual rapids, remoteness, hazards, etc. Each rapids is rated at a specific range of levels. Note that under some circumstances a paddler may find that similarly rated rapids seem to differ an extraordinary amount due to unusual factors that may include boat type, weather, fatigue, and limited experience on certain types of whitewater.



Safety Code of American Whitewater

International Scale of River Difficulty - Standard Rated Rapids


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Class IV-
Rapid Name(s)
River, Section(s)
State
Level
Northeast





Blue Ledge Hudson River Gorge NY
5.5'

Staircase Swift NH
1.5'-2'

High Falls Cheat Canyon WV
3'-5'

Double Z New River Gorge WV
1-2.5' (3-5000)

Wonder Falls (including approach)
Big Sandy Cr., Lower
WV
6- 6.5
Rocky Mountain





Zoom Flume Arkansas, Browns Canyon CO
2500

Jaws Flathead, M. Fk. MT
.5'

Lunch Counter Snake, Alpine Canyon
WY
6000

Big Kahuna Snake, Alpine Canyon
WY
10,000

Spotted Horse Hoback WY
1.5'
Southeast





Entrance Chattooga, Sect. IV
GA/SC
1.8'-2.3'

Frank Bell's French Broad, Sect. 9 NC
2000-3000

Rattlesnake / Fang Daddy's Creek Canyon
TN
700-3500

Boat Buster Wilson's Creek Gorge NC
1-3”
West Coast





Ned's Gulch Merced, Red Bud to Suspension Bridge CA
1500

Mercury Green River Gorge, Upper WA
2000-2200

The Nozzle Green River Gorge, Upper WA
2000

Rubber Salmon, Middle Fork ID 5000

House Rock Colorado, Grand Canyon
AZ
15,000-22,000

Blossom Bar Rogue R., Grave Cr. to Foster Bar OR
3000





Class IV
Rapid Name(s)
River, Section(s)
State
Level
Northeast





Fayette Station New River Gorge
WV
0' (2600)

Sweet's Falls Gauley, Upper
WV
2400-3200

Mash (Upper & Lower) Gauley, Lower
WV
2800-3200

Pure Screaming Hell Gauley, Lower
WV
2000-3200

S Turn or Z-Drop Tygart Gorge WV
4.5'

Middle Keeney New River Gorge WV
1-2.5' (3500-5100)

Rip Gorge (Ripogenous Gorge) Penobscot R., W. Br., Ripogenous Gorge
ME 2000-3000

Bastard Youghiogheny, Upper
MD
2-2.2'

Heinzerling (Pillow Route) Youghiogheny, Upper
MD
2-2.2'
Rocky Mountain





Number Four Arkansas, the Numbers CO
1000 (<3')

Sunshine Arkansas, Royal Gorge CO
2000-3200

Pine View Falls Cache la Poudre, Pine View Run CO
1500

Skull Colorado, Westwater Canyon UT
3500-5000

Zoom Flume Arkansas, Browns Canyon CO
3000

Number Three Arkansas, the Numbers CO
2000-2500 (3.5-4')

Number Two Arkansas, the Numbers CO
2000-2500 (3.5-4')
Southeast





Corkscrew Chattooga, Sect. IV GA/SC
1.8'-2.3'

Seven Foot Falls Chattooga, Sect. IV GA/SC
1.8'-2.3'

Jared's Knee Tellico, Ledges TN 500-800, 2'-3'

Ten Foot Falls (including entrance) Wilson's Creek Gorge NC
6”
West Coast





Chamberlain Falls American, N. Fk. CA 1000

White Lightning Cispus, Upper WA
1200

Ned's Gulch Merced, Red Bud to Suspension Bridge CA 2500

Granite Colorado, Grand Canyon
AZ 15,000-22,000

Hermit Colorado, Grand Canyon
AZ 15,000-22,000





Class IV+
Rapid Name(s)
River, Section(s)
State
Level
Northeast





Pillow Rock Gauley, Upper WV
2400-3200

Meat Cleaver Youghiogheny, Upper
MD 2-2.2'
Rocky Mountain





House Rock Gallatin MT .5'-1'

Eye of the Needle Piedra, Lower CO med/high

Number Four Arkansas, the Numbers CO 2000-2500 (3.5-4')

Snaggletooth Dolores CO high

Number Five Arkansas, the Numbers
CO 2000-2500 (3.5-4')

Number Six Arkansas, the Numbers
CO 2000-2500 (3.5-4')
Southeast





Bull Sluice Chattooga, Sect. III-IV GA/SC
1.8'-2.3'
West Coast





Husum Falls White Salmon WA 1200-1800

Clavey Falls Tuolumne CA 900+

Lava Falls (right side) Colorado, Grand Canyon
AZ 2000

Boulder Drop Skykomish WA 5000

Surprise
Payette, S. Fk. ID 2000




For more information, see the story behind the American Whitewater Rating Scale Project.



For additional copies please write to:

American Whitewater
PO Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723
email: info@amwhitewater.org


Copyright 1998, American Whitewater

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