A Wet State
The Tip of the Iceberg

The Tip of the Iceberg

California Idaho Tennessee West Virginia Virginia North Carolina Georgia Alabama Mexico Chile Japan France



          The order of difficulty is an approximation. Please understand that at various flows runs can be more or less difficult. Many of the runs listed I have only run once or twice. Therefore, I of course cannot have a perfect frame of reference to compare all the runs. This however is meant only to be a general guide of runs to look at for a specific class of whitewater. You might also check what levels I have done each run at to see how well my ratings apply to the current flows.
          Also, you might notice that the order of difficulty isnt always in order with the difficulty which I rated the run. this is because I ranked compared to overall impressions. How tired was I after the run, how many rapids, were rapids portagable etc. So just because a run is listed below a class III run, it may still be class IV- or whatever.

Rating Explanation

Some California Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
American River, Main San Juan I to II 3.0 7.5
Mokelumne River Electra II 7.0 7.0
Truckee River Reno Whitewater Park II+ 9.0 9.0
Trinity River Hawkins Bar to Willow Creek II 5.5 5.5
Mokelumne River Middle Bar II+ 6.0 8.0
American River, North Fork Ponderosa Way II+ to III- 7.0 8.0
Russian River Comminsky-Preston II 5.0 5.0
American River, South Fork C to G II to III- 6.0 7.0
Trinity River Willow Creek to Tish Tang II+ 6.5 6.5
Kern River, North Fork Kernville (At Low Water) II+ to III 6.0 6.0
Trinity Weitchpec Gorge II+ (III) 7.0 7.0
Clear Creek (Klamath Tributary) Lower II 9.0 9.0
Trinity River, Stuarts Fork Lower II+ to III- 6.0 6.5
Kern River, North Fork Fairview II+ to III- 7.0 7.0
Sacramento River Dunsmuir to Castle Crags II+ to III 3.0 3.0
Russian River Squaw Rock II (III) 5.0 5.0
Kern River, North Fork Limestone III+ 7.0 7.0
Kern River, North Fork Cables (At Low Water) III-IV 7.0 7.0
Trinity River, East Branch of the North Fork Lower III to III+ 8.0 8.0
American River Confluence / G-Wave (High Water) III to IV 9.0 8.0
Battle Creek Coleman Fish Hatchery III 7.0 6.5
Trinity River Tangle Blue III- 7.0 7.5
Smith River, South Fork Lower III- (IV) 8.5 8.5
Truckee River Floriston II to III (With 2 IV's) 7.0 7.0
Sacramento River Sim's Flat to Pollard's Bar III 7.0 7.0
American River, South Fork The Gorge III to III+ 8.0 7.5
McCloud River Wyntoon III-IV 4.0 7.0
Cache Creek Rowboat Rapid II+ to III 8.0 8.0
New River Middle III-IV 6.0 5.5
American River, South Fork Chili Bar III to III+ 7.0 7.0
Eel River Pillsbury (High Water) III to IV 7.0 6.5
Trinity River Pigeon Point III- to III+ 7.5 7.5
Feather River, North Fork Rock Creek II+ (III+) 5.0 5.0
Smith River, Middle Fork Patrick's Creek IV- 6.5 6.0
American River, Silver Fork Middle III- to IV 8.5 8.5
Stony Creek (Sacramento Tributary) III to IV+ 5.5 5.5
Yuba River, North Fork Below Highway 49 III+ to IV 7.5 6.5
Pitt river Reach-4 IV- to IV (IV+) 7.0 7.5
Pitt River Reach-5, Lower III- 7.0 7.0
Salmon River, North Fork Upper IV- 8.0 8.0
Feather River, North Fork Big Bend Run III+ (IV+) 7.5 6.0
Smith River, Middle Fork Knopki Bridge IV 7.0 8.0
McCloud River Ah-di-na Camp III-IV 8.0 7.5
Mokelumne River, North Fork Below Tiger Creek Dam III to IV 7.5 8.5
Kern River, North Fork Chamise Gorge (At Low Water) III to IV 8.0 8.5
South American, Riverton to Peavine Riverton to Peavine III to IV 9.0 9.0
Mark West Creek To Santa Rosa IV 6.0 6.0
Walker River, West Fork Above Walker IV- to IV+ 6.0 6.0
San Joaquin River Horseshoe Bend III/IV to IV+ 7.5 7.5
Klamath River Ikes Falls III+ to IV+ 7.5 6.0
Sacramento River Castle Crags to Sim's Flat IV- 6.0 6.0
Feather River, North Fork Big Bend Dam IV+ 9.5 6.0
Pit River Pit Falls III+ to IV- (V) 6.0 8.5
Silver Creek, South Fork Ice House Dam to Road 31 IV- (IV+)(logs P) 6.5 6.0
Merced River, South Fork Lower III+ to IV 8.5 7.5
Klamath River Hell's Corner IV to IV+ 7.0 6.5
American River, North Fork Chamberlain Falls IV 8.0 8.0
Yuba River, North Fork Goodyear Bar IV (V) 6.0 6.0
Indian Creek (E. Br. N. Feather Tributary) Lower III to IV 7.5 7.5
Deer Creek Below Wildwood IV 6.0 6.0
Kern River, North Fork Ant Canyon (At Low Water) IV 8.0 7.5
Squirrel Creek Deer Creek Tributary IV to IV+ 6.5 6.5
Squaw Valley Creek (McCloud Tributary) IV 8.5 8.5
Salmon River Butler Flat IV 9.0 9.0
Pitt River Reach-5, Upper IV-IV+ 8.5 8.5
Stanislaus River Goodwin Canyon III to IV+ 5.5 6.5
Feather River, North Fork Cresta III to IV 8.0 8.0
Canyon Creek (Trinity Tributary) Into the Trinty IV- to IV+ 8.0 7.5
Brush Creek Lower IV- to IV+ 9.5 9.5
Bear River Below Dutch Flat III-IV (V) 4.0 2.0
Cosumnes River, Main Upper IV- to IV+(P) 7.5 4.0
Merced River El Portal IV to IV+ 7.5 7.5
Bear Creek (Cache Creek Tributary) Into Cache Creek IV to IV+ 8.0 8.0
Kaweah River, Middle Fork Gateway/Dinely IV- to IV+ 8.0 8.0
Yuba River, South Fork Washinton to Edward's IV-(P) 6.5 7.5
Feather River, North Fork Lobin IV 8.0 8.0
Yuba River, South Fork Edward's to Purdon's IV 8.5 8.5
Sacramento River Box Canyon IV 9.0 9.0
Tuolumne River The Lower "T" IV to ... 7.0 6.0
Clear Creek (Sacramento Tributary) Below Whiskeytown IV- to IV+ 7.5 7.5
Dinkey Creek (North Kings Tributary) Lower IV to IV+ 5.0 4.5
Trinity River, East Fork East Fork IV to IV+/V- 7.5 7.0
Yuba River, South Fork Golden Quartz IV- to IV+ 8.5 8.5
Eel River, South Fork Ten Mile Creek IV 8.5 8.5
Feather River, East Branch of the North Fork Virgilia IV to V- 7.0 7.0
Dinkey Creek (North Kings Tributary) Cherry Bomb IV to IV+ 8.0 8.5
Rattlesnake Creek (South Eel Tributary) Below Highway 101 IV to V 7.5 7.5
Wolf Creek (Bear River Tributary) To Bissel Ct. IV to IV+ 5.5 5.5
Kidder Creek Lower IV to IV+ 8.5 7.0
Yuba River, South Fork Jolly Boys IV- to IV+ 7.5 7.0
Feather River, West Branch Naked Lady IV to IV+ 8.0 7.0
Lavezolla Creek Lower IV(P) 7.5 7.5
Coffee Creek To Clair Engle Res IV to IV+ 8.5 9.0
Stanislaus River, North Fork Boards Crossing/McKays IV then IV+ to V- 9.0 8.5
Kern River, North Fork Thunder (At Low Water) IV to V 8.5 8.5
Mokelumne River, North Fork Devil's Nose III+ to V 8.0 8.0
San Lorenzo River Henry Cowell Park to Paradise III-IV 7.0 4.5
New River Upper IV+ 7.5 7.0
Smith River, South Fork Kelsey Trail IV to V 8.5 8.5
American River, Middle Fork Tunnel Chute IV to IV+(P) 8.5 6.0
American River, South Fork Kyburz IV to IV+ 8.0 8.0
Cosumnes River, Middle Lower IV 8.0 8.5
Kern River Miracle to Democrat IV- to IV+ 8.0 7.0
Trinity River, South Fork Three Bears IV to IV+ 8.5 8.5
Smith River, North Fork Lower IV+ 9.0 9.5
Diamond Creek North Smith Tributary IV to IV+ 7.0 5.5
Smith River, South Fork South Fork Gorge IV+ 9.0 9.0
Yuba River, Middle Fork Our House Dam IV to IV+ (V) 8.0 8.0
Pauley Creek Lower IV to IV+ (V) 8.5 9.0
Pauley Creek Middle IV to IV+ 8.0 8.0
Mill Creek (Sacramento Tributary) Lower IV to IV+ 9.5 9.5
Salmon River, North Fork Lower IV to V- 8.0 8.0
Yuba River, Middle Fork Plumbago IV to IV+ 7.0 6.5
McCloud River Ash Camp IV+ 8.5 9.0
American River, South Fork Slab Creek IV+ to V-- 8.0 7.5
Bear River Below Highway 174 IV+ 7.0 7.0
Cottonwood Creek, North Upper IV+(2P) 7.0 6.0
Deer Creek (Sacramento Triburaty) Lower IV+ 9.0 8.5
Smith River, Middle Fork Siskiyou Gorge IV+ to V- 9.0 8.5
Scott River Canyon Run IV to V 7.5 7.5
Hayfork Creek Lower IV to V 8.0 7.0
Stanislaus River, Middle Fork Dardanelles III+ or IV to V 5.5 5.0
Deer Creek (South Yuba Tributary) Nevada City IV to V Then? 4.0 3.5
Yuba River, South Fork Summit IV+ to V- 9.0 9.0
Smith River, Main Oregon Hole Gorge (at High water) IV+ 7.5 7.5
Goose Creek Lower IV to V 8.5 8.0
Putah Creek Upper (at High water) IV to V 8.5 8.5
Salmon River Nordheimer IV-V 9.5 9.5
Kaweah River, North Fork Lower IV to V- 8.5 7.0
American River, North Fork Giant Gap IV to V- 9.0 8.0
Kaweah River, North Fork Upper IV+ 8.5 7.0
Yuba River, North Fork Wild Plum IV+ to V- 9.0 9.0
Tuolumne River, North Fork Lower IV to V- 7.5 7.0
Clear Creek Upper IV to V 9.5 9.5
Salmon River, South Fork Gorge IV to V 9.5 9.5
American River, North Fork Generation Gap IV to V 8.0 8.0
Trinity River Burnt Ranch Gorge IV (2V) to V 9.0 9.0
Feather River, North Fork Tobin IV to V- 8.0 8.0
Dinkey Creek (North Kings Tributary) Superdink! V- to V 9.0 7.5
Stanislaus River, Middle Fork Donnells IV to V 9.0 8.5
Kern River, North Fork Forks of the Kern IV-V 9.5 9.0
Canyon Creek (South Yuba Tributary) Arctic Mine IV+ to V- 8.5 8.0
Kern River, North Fork Salmon Falls V 7.0 7.5
Yuba River, South Fork Spaulding IV+ to V+ 6.5 6.5
Clavey River Upper IV to V 9.0 9.0
Weber Creek (South American Tributary) The Weber IV+ to V 8.5 7.5
Slate Creek Sacramento Tributary IV+ to V 8.5 8.5
Willow Creek(Trinity River Tributary) Carhood Section V 7.0 7.0
Fordyce Creek (South Yuba Tributary) Fordyce IV to V 9.0 9.0
Feather River, North Fork Poe Canyon IV+ to V 7.5 7.5
Yuba River, South Fork 49 to Bridgeport IV+ to V 9.0 9.0
New River Gorge IV+ to V 9.0 7.5
Feather River, South Fork Little Grass Valley IV+ to V(3P) 9.5 9.0
American River, South Fork Lovers Leap IV+/V- to V 8.0 8.5
Silver Creek Into Golden Gate V- to V 9.5 8.0
Tuolumne River Cherry Creek V- to V 9.5 9.5
San Joaquin River Tied For First IV+ to V 9.5 9.0
American River, Middle Fork End of the World V- to V 7.5 7.5
Feather River, Middle Fork Devil's Canyon V 9.5 9.5
Trinity River, North Fork Hobo Gulch IV to V 9.5 9.5
Yuba River, North Fork Love's Falls V to V+ 9.5 9.5
Dry Meadow Creek Tea Cups V 9.0 6.5
Van Duzen Goat Rock V 7.0 6.0
Silver Creek, South Fork AutoBahn to the Lake V(P) 9.5 9.5
Brush Creek Upper V 9.5 4.5
Canyon Creek (South Yuba Tributary) Upper IV+ to V+ 7.5 9.0
Feather River, South Branch Middle Fork Upper V 10.0 9.5
Feather River, Middle Fork Bald Rock V to V+ 9.5 9.5
American River, North Fork of the Middle Fork Lower V 8.5 8.0
Cosumnes River, Middle Upper V to V+ 9.0 8.5
Kaweah River, Middle Fork Hospital Rock V to V+ 9.0 9.0
Tule River, Middle Fork Middle Tule V 9.5 9.0
Cherry Creek (Tuolumne Tributary) Upper IV+ to V+ 10.0 9.5
Rubicon River Lower V 9.0 9.0
American River, South Fork Golden Gate V to V+ 9.0 9.0
Stanislaus River, North Fork Ramsey's V to V+ 8.0 8.0
Dinkey Creek (North Kings Tributary) Waterfalls V to V+ 10.0 9.5
Stanislaus River, North Fork Hell's Kitchen V to V+ 7.0 7.0


Some Idaho Runs -By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Camas Creek Lower III- 6.0 6.5
Big Creek Lower III+ 6.5 7.0
Salmon River, Middle Fork Wilderness III (IV) 5.5 8.0
Payette River, South Fork Staircase IV 6.5 7.0


Some Tennessee Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Cain Creek / North Chickamauga Vortex Gorge Iv to IV+ 8.5 8.5
Ocoee River Lower III 6.5 6.5
Upper III to IV 6.5 6.5


Some West Virginia Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
New River Gorge III 6.5 6.5
Gauley River Upper IV+ 9.0 8.5


Some Virginia Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Russell Fork Gorge IV to V 9.0 9.0


Some North Carolina Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Green River Narrows IV to V+ 8.0 9.5


Some Georgia Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Rock Creek Below Lula Lake IV to V 8.5 8.5
Tallulah River Gorge IV to IV+ 9.0 7.5


Some Alabama Runs - By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Little River Suicide and Upper 2 IV to IV 7.5 7.5


Some Mexico Runs -By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Rio Ojo Frio Damian Carmona III to IV- 6.5 5.0
Rio Tampaon 5th Canyon III to III+ 7.0 8.0
Rio Valles Micos III to IV 9.9 9.9
Rio Valles El Salto III+ to IV 9.9 9.9
Rio Santa Maria 3rd and 4th Canyons IV-V 7.5 8.0
Tips when traveling to Mexico

Some Chile Runs -By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Rio Liucura Lower II to III 6.0 6.0
Rio Trancura Lower III to IV- 7.0 7.5
Rio Maichin Lower IV 9.0 9.0
Rio Trancura Upper IV 7.0 8.0
Rio Coilaco Coilaco Falls IV to IV+ 7.0 7.0
Rio Liucura Lefincul Canyon IV to V- 9.0 7.5
Rio Palguin Lower IV to V 8.5 8.5
Rio Llancahue Upper IV to IV+ 8.5 8.5
Rio Palguin Upper IV to V 9.5 9.5
Rio Tinquilco Tres Saltos V- to V+ 9.0 9.0
Rio Nevado Upper V to V+ 9.5 9.5
Rio Nevado Lower V to V+ 9.5 9.0
Rio Puesco Upper V 8.0 8.0
Tips when traveling to Chile

Some Japan Runs -By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Nakatsugawa Lower III to IV 6.0 6.0
Agatsumagawa Gorge III to IV 9.0 9.0
Tonegawa Momijikyo, Minakamikyo, and Suwakyo III to IV 8.0 8.5
Kamagawa 7 Pools IV- to IV 8.0 9.0
Shimagawa Waterfalls IV to IV+ 8.0 8.0
Nakatsugawa Below the Red Bridge III to IV 7.5 8.0
Zakogawa Upper III to IV (one V) 7.0 7.0
Fuefukigawa Nishizawa Canyon IV to V 9.0 8.0
Above the Red Bridge IV to V 8.5 9.0
Yunokoyagawa Terihakyo Canyon IV to V 8.5 8.5
Kiyotsugawa Kiyotsu Canyon IV to V 9.5 9.0
Zakogawa Lower V 9.0 8.0
Tips when traveling to Japan

Some France Runs -By Difficulty

River: Run: Difficulty: Whitewater Ranking: Overall Ranking:
Vecchio Middle IV to V- 7.5 7.5
Fium Orbo Middle IV to IV+ 9.0 9.0
Golo Scala di Santa Regina IV+ 8.5 9.5
Fium Orbo Upper IV to V- 8.0 8.0
Tips when traveling to Corsica

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