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

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





Ramcat Youghiogheny, Middle
PA
1.8-2'

Piddly Youghiogheny, Lower
PA
1.8-2'
Southeast





Powhite Ledges James, downtown Richmond
VA
5'





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





Staircase Shenandoah
WV
3.5'

Lambertville Rapid Delaware
PA/NJ
sub-2'
Rocky Mountain





Salida Arkansas, Salida Race Course
CO
med
Southeast





Delabar's Rock Nantahala, Gorge
NC
3.25

Needmore Little Tennessee River
NC
1000

Pony Pasture James, downtown Richmond
VA
5
West Coast





New or Main Play Wave Payette, Main
ID
reg

San Juan American, Lower
CA
normal





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





Camel-Walrus Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.8-2'

Bull Falls Shenandoah
WV 3.5'

Skinner's Falls Delaware
PA/NJ Summer (1200)
Rocky Mountain





Thibodeau Blackfoot
MT 1'

Access No. 10 Rapid Green
WY
.5'-1'

Fool Hen Flathead, N. Fk.
MT 1'-1.5'

Spotted Horse Hoback
WY
3”-6”
Southeast





Patton's Run Nantahala, Gorge
NC
3.25 (800)
West Coast





S-turn Mokelumne, Electra Run
CA
600-2000

Row Boat Cache Cr., Rumsey Run \\ (Bear Cr. to Rumsey)
CA
450+





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





Dartmouth
Youghiogheny, Lower
PA
1.8-2'

Eddy Turn
Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.8-2'
Rocky Mountain





Smelter Rapids Animas, Durango
CO 1000

Yankee Jim's Revenge Yellowstone
MT 3000-5000
Southeast





Roller Coaster Nolichucky Gorge
NC 1500-2000 (2-2.2')

Nemo Emory
TN 1500-2000

Powerline James, downtown Richmond
VA 5'
West Coast





Row Boat Cache Cr., Rumsey Run\\ (Bear Cr. to Ramsey)
CA 450+





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





Dimple-Swimmers Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.6-2

Railroad Esopus Cr.
NY summer

Slalom Rapids Tohickon Cr.
PA 1.8

Entrance Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.8'-2'

Zoar Gap Deerfield, Fife Brook
MA 900-1000

Railroad Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.8'-3.5'
Rocky Mountain





Raft Ripper Arkansas, Browns Canyon
CO 1000-3'

Seven Steps Arkansas, Browns Canyon
CO 2500

Pinball Arkansas, Browns Canyon
CO 2500

Government Rapids San Juan
UT 5000

Lunch Counter Snake, Alpine Canyon
WY 10,000

Split Rock Rapid Yellowstone
MT 3000-5000
Southeast





Nantahala Falls Nantahala, Gorge
NC 3.25

Double Trouble Ocoee, Middle
TN 1200-1600

Diamond Splitter Ocoee, Middle
TN 1200-1600

Narrows Chattooga, Sect. III
GA/SC 1.8'-2.3'

Grumpy / Snow White / Entrance
Ocoee, Middle
TN 1200-1600

Double Suck Ocoee, Middle
TN 1200-1600

on the Rocks Nolichucky, Gorge
NC 1500-2000 (2-2.2')

Wooten's Folly Clear Creek
TN 2000-3000

Dick's Creek Ledge
(First Ledge)
Chattooga, Sect. III
GA/SC 1.8'-2.3'
West Coast





Meat Grinder / Quartermile American, S. Fk., Chili Bar run
CA 1800

Wolf Creek Selway
ID 2.8'

Railroad Bridge Drop Green, Headworks
WA low-mod

Trouble Maker, S Turn American, S. Fk., Chili Bar run
CA 1000

Oak Springs Deschutes
OR mod

Rubber Salmon, Middle Fork
ID 2'

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

Triple Threat American, S. Fk., Chili Bar run
CA 900-5000

Rock and Roll / Satan's Eyeball Wenatchee, Lower
WA 6000





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





Maze Cheat Canyon
WV
2.5-3.5

River's End
Youghiogheny, Lower
PA 1.8'-3.5'

Big Nasty Cheat Canyon
WV
3'-5'

Fayette Station New, Gorge
WV
1-2.5' (3500-5100)

Gap Falls
Youghiogheny, Upper
MD 2-2.2'
Rocky Mountain





Zoom Flume
Arkansas, Browns Canyon
CO 1000-3'

Snaggletooth
Dolores
CO med

Santa Rita Hole Animas, Durango
CO 6000

Smelter Rapids Animas, Durango
CO 6000

Black Mountain
Hoback
WY 3”-1.5'
Southeast





Broken Nose (Veg-o-matic) Ocoee, Middle
TN
1200-1600

Rooster Tail Nolichucky Gorge
NC
2400-3000

Quarter Mile Nolichucky Gorge
NC
1500-2000 (2-2.2')

Table Saw Ocoee, Middle
TN 1200-1600

Double Drop Cumberland, Big South Fork Gorge
TN 2000-2500

The “El” Cumberland, Big South Fork Gorge
TN 2000-3000 (2.5')
West Coast





Trouble Maker, S Turn American, S. Fk., Chili Bar Run
CA 1800-2000

Blossom Bar Rogue, Grave Cr. to Foster Bar
OR 1500

Minefield Skykomish, N. Fk.
WA
1500

House Rocks Snoqualmie, M. Fk., Middle-Middle
WA
1500

Ledge 1 Green, Gorge
WA
1200

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

Powerline / Cable Drop Skykomish, S. Fk.
WA
2000-3000

Pipeline Green, Gorge
WA
3000
  \\


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



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

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