Arkansas

What a great section of the Arkansas! 'Committing class IV run' above should be emphasized. I think Sunshine and Sledgehammer rapids are under estimated in the description here. It seems misleading IMHO to suggest Sunshine is class III below 2000 cfs. I ran the Royal Gorge section for the second time on 3-July-2016, with the Parkdale gauge reporting right at 2000 cfs. My first Royal Gorge run was during the first week of July 2014 at ~1700 cfs. At both cfs levels, I would rate Sunshine as a IV+ rapid, comparable to Pillow Rock and Iron Ring on the Upper Gauley. I consider even the left side of Sledgehammer to be solid, big water class IV at these flows. I understand the class III rating for the remainder of the gorge, but paddlers should be aware that in the 1700-2000 cfs range there are continuous 4-5+ ft standing waves, with very few eddys, for approximately 3 miles starting in the Narrows. Swims here could easily be on the order of a mile or more. Don't forget to look up!