Speaking of Grand Canyon, no “best whitewater rapids” list would be complete without mentioning Lava Falls, the biggest rapid in the canyon and definitely the most fabled. Longtime OARS guide Jeffe Aronson, who claims to be the first to run the Big Drops on an 18-foot raft at 75,000 cfs says, “They’re bigger, scarier, harder and more consequential than anything else we run, period.” At their peak, these rapids are two of the top ten biggest rapids in North America offering up waves bigger than the biggest rapids in Grand Canyon.Ĥ) Lava Falls – Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Arizona 3) Big Drops 2 and 3 – Colorado River through Cataract Canyon, UtahĬataract Canyon‘s Big Drops 2 and 3 (ok, technically two rapids) might be a surprising pick considering most of the season they’re a fun Class III ride, but those who’ve experienced these infamous back to back drops at high water know their unforgettable nature. Translation: You don’t want any swimmers here. If you don’t make the correct move at the top, you have continuous whitewater below. Seasoned pros say it’s an intense way to start off the Chilko’s infamous White Mile. And at the start of it all you’ll find Bidwell, an exciting Class IV “S-bend” rapid with big breaking waves and a huge hole at the bottom.
Lava Canyon on the Chilko River offers up 14 miles of non-stop excitement through what is often boasted as the longest stretch of commercially-run Class IV whitewater in North America. Even the “cheat run” on river left is bigger than anything you’ve ever run.Ģ) Bidwell – Chilko River, British Columbia And when asked about this long and technically challenging rapid, our guides say Terminator has every feature that will make your belly groan: Towering waves, pummeling holes, massive black boulders strewn everywhere…all embraced by brooding cliffs and echoing thunder. In fact, many pros say it’s the most challenging commercially run rapid in the world.
With five Class V rapids, the Futaleufú is known for its big water, but it’s Terminator that’s considered the biggest and baddest of them all. So we polled some pros, and these ten whitewater favorites made the cut… 1) Terminator – Futaleufú River, Chile They’re the rapids where legends are made. The best whitewater rapids are the incredible rides we never forget. How do you choose the world’s most notorious rapids, when arguably, there’s an infamous rapid on every great whitewater run on the planet? Well, to us, it comes down to the rapids that leave lasting impressions and hook people on rafting for life. Essential Eligibility Criteria for Sea Kayaking Tripsġ0 of the World’s Most Notorious Whitewater Rapids.Essential Eligibility Criteria for Hiking Trips.Essential Eligibility Criteria for River Trips.