Can I tube it?
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And the river was there --Fascinating -- deadly-- Like a snake.
-Joseph Conrad
Whitewater rapids are rated on a scale of I - VI. One is basically a swimming pool with a current, while VI is considered to be deadly. The scale is subjective. What once might have been considered a larger, more dangerous rapid, may now just be a cruisy II- III. This is mostly due to advancements in gear and technique over time.
Rapids can earn their difficulty in a variety of different ways. A rapid could have a class III move, however, run the rapid incorrectly and this could result in class IV consequences. That rapid will receive a class IV rating. You could have a rapid with a very hard move but if the results are not as severe it may receive a lower rating.
| Classification | Description | Skill level |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Very small rough areas, and requires no maneuvering | None |
| Class II | Some rough water, maybe some rocks, small drops, might require maneuvering | Basic Paddling |
| Class III | Medium waves, maybe a 3–5 ft drop, but not much considerable danger may require significant maneuvering | experienced paddling |
| Class IV | Whitewater, large waves, long rapids, rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed | advanced whitewater experience |
| Class V | Whitewater, large waves, continuous rapids, large rocks, and hazards, maybe a large drop, precise maneuvering, often characterized by "must make" moves, i.e. failure to execute a specific maneuver at a specific point may result in serious injury or death, Class 5 sometimes expanded to Class 5+ that describes the most extreme, runnable rapids; Class 5+ is sometimes assigned to a rapid for commercial purposes since insurance companies often will not cover losses sustained in Class 6 rapid. | expert |
| Class VI | While some debate exists over the term "class 6", in practice it refers to rapids that are not passable and any attempt to do so would result in serious injury, near drowning, or death. If a rapid is run that was once thought to be impassible, it is typically reclassified as class 5. | - |
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