Some of the best whitewater in the world is found roaring through U.S. waterways. Every region of the country holds some great rapids to explore, but when you’re looking for the best whitewater rafting trips in the country, check out these raging rivers.
Colorado River, Arizona
The Colorado River is not only the premier rafting destination in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most sought-after trips in the entire world. With more than 226 miles of epic rapids to battle, you could spends weeks exploring everything it has to offer. The desert landscape, much of it surrounded by the sheer cliffs of the Grand Canyon itself, make it one of the most awe-inspiring rivers on Earth. There are nine different outfits offering trips ranging between half a day to 21 days.
Tuolumne River, California
The Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park used to be one of the most popular rafting destinations in North America, but years of drought have seen it lose a lot of its luster. Recently, though, it’s making something of a comeback thanks to much needed rain and snow in the region. If it keeps up, you’ll find first-rate class IV and V rapids around every corner for some seriously thrilling rides.
Gauley River, West Virginia
West Virginia’s tagline highlights the state’s “wild and wonderful" scenery as its biggest draw, and nowhere does that prove more true than the Gauley River. This sprawling and beautiful body of water is a veritable minefield of splashing rapids and towering boulders that create one of the best adrenaline rushes in the country. Each fall the river floods with waters from Summersville Lake, creating class IV and V rapids all along the length of the Gauley. That, combined with stunning fall foliage, makes for a pretty breathtaking adventure.
Salmon River, Idaho
The Salmon River is nestled in the largest section of contiguous wilderness in the lower 48, making it your best shot for a true backcountry whitewater experience. It’s divided into three sections—Main Salmon, Lower Salmon and the Middle Fork—all with class III rapids and up. The Middle Fork alone is a week-long rafting excursion that starts on an alpine river and ends inside of a desert canyon. It might not hold the most arduous rapids in the country, but it certainly has some of the best scenery.
Chattooga River, South Carolina
A short drive outside of Asheville, North Carolina, the de facto outdoors hub of the Southeast, lies the Wild and Scenic River Chattooga river. The Chattooga houses some of the most powerful rapids in the East, with class III-V readily available in the spring. During the summertime the river relaxes a bit, but you can still find wonderful class IIIs hidden in Section IV of the Chattooga. When you’re done rafting there’s plenty of other activities to keep you busy, from mountain biking to world-class fly fishing.
Nenana River, Alaska
Alaska isn’t lacking when it comes to epic outdoor opportunities, but the greatest rafting adventure to be found is along the rolling Nenana River. This giant glacial river flows directly into Denali National Park and boasts gnarly class IV rapids all year round. Though its whitewater is only 10 miles long, you’ll still get in quite a workout along the way. During the brief breaks in the rapids, you might look around and see golden eagles soaring overhead.