Whitewater Rafting in North America
Whitewater rafting in North America, from the Grand Canyon and the Colorado to the rivers of the Rockies.
North America is arguably the greatest whitewater rafting destination on Earth, threaded with wild rivers that tumble out of its great mountain ranges. From multi-day expeditions through the heart of the Grand Canyon to adrenaline-charged day trips down roaring mountain gorges, the continent offers an unrivalled range of river adventures.
The rivers of the American West are the crown jewels, carving through deep desert canyons and alpine wilderness where the only way through is by boat. Canada adds powerful glacier-fed rivers in the Rockies and the far north, while Costa Rica’s tropical rivers offer year-round warm-water rafting through steaming rainforest.
With a superb outfitting industry, experienced guides and rivers to suit everyone from families to hardened experts, this is a region built for river running. Whether you want a gentle float past towering canyon walls or a heart-pounding plunge through continuous rapids, the whitewater here is world-class.
North America's Best Whitewater#
Grand Canyon, USA The ultimate river journey, a multi-day expedition down the Colorado River through the mile-deep heart of the Grand Canyon. Days of huge, exhilarating rapids are balanced by nights camping on sandy beaches beneath towering walls of ancient rock, an experience like no other on Earth.
Gauley River, USA West Virginia’s Gauley is one of the most revered whitewater runs in the world, unleashing a torrent of huge, technical rapids during autumn dam releases. The legendary ‘Gauley Season’ draws expert rafters from across the globe.
New River Gorge, USA A spectacular Appalachian canyon offering big, bouncy, family-friendly whitewater beneath one of the country’s most iconic bridges. Warm water and big waves make it one of the most popular rafting rivers in the eastern US.
Nahanni National Park, Canada A remote, legendary river in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where a wilderness expedition takes in Virginia Falls, twice the height of Niagara, and plunges through dramatic canyons. It is one of the great multi-day wilderness river journeys on the continent.
Gauley River National Recreation Area, USA Below its famous dam, the river carves through a protected canyon of near-continuous rapids, a genuine test of whitewater skill. Its reputation for sustained, powerful water is unmatched in the East.
Pacuare River, Costa Rica Regularly rated one of the most beautiful rafting rivers in the world, plunging through steep tropical rainforest gorges alive with birds, monkeys and waterfalls. Warm water and world-class rapids make it a bucket-list run.
Icefields Parkway rivers, Canada The glacier-fed rivers around Banff and Jasper, including the Kicking Horse, deliver icy, adrenaline-charged rafting beneath the peaks of the Canadian Rockies. The combination of big whitewater and staggering scenery is hard to top.
Salmon River, USA Idaho’s ‘River of No Return’ cuts through one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 on a classic multi-day trip. Warm water, sandy beaches, hot springs and fun rapids make it a beloved family wilderness float.
Colorado River, USA Beyond the Grand Canyon, the Colorado and its tributaries offer everything from gentle scenic floats to the punchy rapids of Cataract Canyon in Utah. It is the lifeblood of the desert Southwest and a rafter’s playground.
Rogue River, USA A designated Wild and Scenic river in Oregon, offering a superb multi-day wilderness trip through forested canyons rich with black bears, otters and eagles. Its blend of fun rapids and pristine scenery makes it a Pacific Northwest classic.
Arkansas River, USA The most rafted river in America, tumbling out of the Colorado Rockies through the dramatic granite walls of the Royal Gorge and the demanding rapids of Browns Canyon. It offers everything from family floats to serious whitewater.
Chattooga River, USA The wild, forested river made famous by the film Deliverance, straddling Georgia and South Carolina and protected as a Wild and Scenic river. Its free-flowing rapids and remote setting deliver a genuine Southern wilderness experience.
Kicking Horse River, Canada A thrilling glacier-fed run through the aptly named ‘Kicking Horse Canyon’ in British Columbia, packed with big, continuous rapids amid stunning Rockies scenery. It is one of Canada’s most exciting single-day whitewater trips.