Contained within this page is a list of self-support runs in the western United States and Canada. These runs are categorized by classification then by state or province. Following that is basic information and suggested books and or links where you can obtain more detailed information.

The classifications are based on either personal experience, guide books, what friends have shared with me, or that of which has been found on the Internet. All is based on average/medium flows. Obviously, high flows will bump up the difficulties and danger. Also, when there's a number in parenthesis next to the section that exceeds the class it's in, this indicates some rapids of that difficulty. For example: The Jarbidge is a Class 3 run with some Class 4 and 5.

Also, it should be noted that over the last two decades, the spectrum of what is considered Class 5 has become rather broad and ambiguous. Because of this, the difference in difficulty between some of these Class 5 runs is substantial. That said --particularly in California with its many Class 5 trips-- the following can be used as a general rule in the "class 5" category: The further down the list you get, the more difficult the whitewater becomes. Regardless of classifications or location though, one must keep in mind the ever changing river environment and the ambiguity within the rating system caused by human subjectivity. There will always be disagreements, gaps, and inconsistencies within the rating system. For these reasons, it is the reader's responsibility to research these runs further. This list is intended to be a starting point only…a springboard to finding the needed information for choosing an appropriate trip for you.

As a final note, if you feel a rating here is blatantly wrong, please contact me. Additionally, with the plethora of websites and blogs, there is far more info available than that given here, including newly discovered runs. To help keep this page evolving, please feel free to contact me with suggestions and links, for runs on this list or not. Thanks for your help!

Class 2

Arizona
Wet Beaver Creek class 1
22 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

Gila
Salt River tributary with hotsprings.
40 miles; 2-3 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Blue River
24 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

Montana
Smith, Camp Baker to Eden Bridge
Permit required
59 miles; 3-4 days
American Whitewater

Flathead, North Fork, Canadian Border to Blankenship Bridge (3)
Wild and Scenic
58 miles; 2-3 days
American Whitewater

California
East Fork Carson River
Hotsprings
20 miles; 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley

Canada - British Columbia & Alberta
Athabasca, 16 Bridge to Brule Lake
26 miles; 2 days
Canadian Rockies Whitewater, The Central Rockies by Stuart Smith p116

Colorado
Dolores, Slickrock Canyon (3)
50 miles; 2-4 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen; American Whitewater; Colorado Rivers & Creeks by Gordon Banks & Dave Eckardt

White River CO/UT
Two sections. 37 miles & 34 miles; 2 days each
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Gunnison, Escalante Canyon to Whitewater
26 miles; 2 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Colorado, Loma to Westwater
25 miles; 2 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Idaho, Nevada, Oregon
Deep Creek
Beautiful Owyhee tributary reportedly being taken over with willows.
40 miles; 2 days or 94 miles to Three Forks or 129 miles to Rome or 195 miles to Leslie Gulch.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; American Whitewater

Upper Owyhee River (4)
36 miles; 2-3 days or 71 miles to Rome or 137 miles to Leslie Gulch
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

South Fork Owyhee River to Crutchers Crossing
36 miles; 2 days or 57 miles to Three Forks or 92 to Rome or 158 to Leslie Gulch
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

East Fork Owyhee River, Garat Crossing to Three Forks (3 & 5)
65 miles; 3-4 days or 100 miles to Rome or 166 miles to Leslie Gulch
Soggy Sneakers, A guide to Oregon Rivers

New Mexico
Rio Chama, Wilderness Section (3)
Designated Wild and Scenic.
31 miles; 2 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen; American Whitewater

Oregon
John Day, Clarno to Cottonwood (3)
68 miles; 3-5 days
A Guide to the Whitewater Rivers of Washington; Soggy Sneakers, A guide to Oregon Rivers; American Whitewater

Grande Ronde, Minam to Troy
46 miles; 2-3 days
Oregon River Tours; Soggy Sneakers, A guide to Oregon Rivers; American Whitewater

Grande Ronde, Boggan’s Oasis to Snake River (4)
27 miles; 2 days
Soggy Sneakers, A guide to Oregon Rivers; American Whitewater

Utah
Green River, Desolation Canyon (3)??
History. Permit required.
85 miles; 4-5 days

Escalante (3)
One of the premiere scenic desert adventure trips. Permit required.
73 miles; 3-7 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen; American Whitewater

San Juan, Bluff to Mexican Hat
Permit required.
27 miles; 2 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

San Juan, Mexican Hat to Clay Hills
Permit required.
57 miles; 3-4 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Class 3

Arizona
Salt, US 60 to Hwy 288 (4)
Salt River Canyon Wilderness Area. Permit required.
58 miles; 3-7 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen; American Whitewater

Verde, Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir
25 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

California
Antelope Creek (4)
An easier Deer Creek.
23 miles; 2 days
California Creeks

Redwood Creek (4)
Redwood National Park, home to some of the world’s tallest trees (~370’).
25 miles (or 28 to the Pacific); 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley

Main Eel
Semi-wilderness.
47 miles; 3-4 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley

Colorado
Dolores, Dolores Canyon (4)
47 miles; 2-4 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Yampa, Yampa Canyon Utah/CO
Dinosaur National Monument.
71 miles; 3-5 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Green, Gates of Lodore Utah/CO
Dinosaur National Monument.
44 miles; 2-5 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen

Chama
Wild & Scenic. Permit required.
22 miles; 2 days
Colorado Rivers & Creeks by Gordon Banks & Dave Eckardt

Idaho
Jarbidge (4&5)
Hotsprings.
30 miles; 2 days. It is recommended to combine with Bruneau for 72 miles & 3-4 days
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; California Creeks; American Whitewater

Battle Creek
Owyhee tributary. Getting choked with willows.
33 miles to Owyhee, 102 miles to Three Forks

Oregon
Owyhee River, Three Forks to Rome (5)
35 miles; 2 days or enter via class 3-4 North Fork Owyhee for additional 12 miles.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

Rogue, Grave Creek to Foster Bar (4)
35 miles, 2 - 4 days
American Whitewater

North Fork John Day, Dale to Monument
44 miles; 2 days
Soggy Sneakers, A guide to Oregon Rivers; American Whitewater

Utah
Colorado, Westwater (4)
Permit required
17 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

Wyoming
North Fork Shoshone ??
40 miles

Class 3-4

Arizona
Grand Canyon of the Colorado
Perhaps the worlds most recognized trip. Long wait period for permit.
226 miles; 10-18 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen; American Whitewater

Oak Creek  
27 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

Salt, Fort Apache to US 60 (5)
Illegal run. For record only.
41 miles
American Whitewater

Sycamore Creek, Headwaters to Verde River confluence
Prescott National Forest
27 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater

Paria (5) ?
Grand Canyon tributary. Runs during flood.
46 miles; 2 days
American Whitewater archives, 1995 Sept-Oct, p80

California
McCloud, Lower (4)
24 miles; 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley; American Whitewater

Canada - British Columbia & Alberta
Babine
80 miles; 3-5 days
http://www3.telus.net/cschwab/paddlepage/babine.htm

Snake Indian, Willow Creek to Bridge
24 miles; 9 mile hike-in; 2-3 days
Canadian Rockies Whitewater, The Central Rockies by Stuart Smith p137

Idaho
Bruneau
Classic with hotsprings at the put-in and take-out.
42 miles; 2 days
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; American Whitewater

Sheep Creek (4 & 5)
Arguably one of the most spectacular desert canyons to self-support through. Unfortunately, the streambed willows have seen phenomenal growth in recent years, making some sections extremely burdensome and dangerous. I mention here for record more than a recommendation.
58 miles (28 sheep, 30 Bruneau); 3-4 days.

Middle Fork Salmon
One of the worlds most celebrated in the largest designated wilderness area in lower 48, Frank Church River of no Return Wilderness. Riddled with history and hotsprings. Permit required.
100 miles; 4-7 days.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; The Middle Fork and the Sheepeater War; American Whitewater

Big Creek (4)
Middle Fork Salmon tributary riddled with history. Permit required on Middle Fork. Plane shuttle in required.
56 miles (35 Big, 21 Middle Fork); 3 days.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; 1997, American Whitewater archives, March-April, p31; The Middle Fork and the Sheepeater War; Wilderness Brothers - Prospecting, Horse Packing & Homesteading on the Western Frontier; see Loon below

East Fork Moose Creek
Selway tributary in Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Permit required on Selway.
43 miles; (17.5 EF Moose, 3.5 Moose, 22 Selway); 6 mile hike-in; 3 days.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

Snake River, Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Wilderness. Deepest canyon in North America. Permit required.
30 miles; 2 days.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral; American Whitewater

Little North Fork Clearwater (5)
30 miles; 2 days
Riverlog

Main Salmon
River of No Return. Huge sandy beaches. Permit required.
79 miles; 3-7 days
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

Lower Salmon, Hammer Creek to Eagle Creek or Heller Bar
Huge sandy beaches. Easy to obtain permit required.
40 miles; 2 days or 83 miles and 3-5 days
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

Class 4

Washington
Lost River (5)
Okanogan National Forest
12 miles; 6 mile hike-in; 2 days
A Guide to the Whitewater Rivers of Washington by Jeff & Tonya Bennett; American Whitewater

Class 4-5

California
South Fork Kern, Monache Meadows to Kennedy Meadows (5)
South Sierra Wilderness
17 miles; 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley

Wooley Creek (5)
13 miles; 12 mile hike in; 2-3 days
California Creeks; Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley; American Whitewater

Sespe Creek (5)
33 miles; 3-4 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley; American Whitewater

Generation Gap, Giant Gap & Chamberlain Falls, North Fork American (5)
Three runs combined for easier shuttle logistics.
30 miles; 3 mile hike in; 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley; American Whitewater

Mill Creek (5)
Rich archeological history in Ishi Wilderness. Pay homage to Ishi!
30 miles; 2 days
California Creeks; The Best Whitewater in California by Lars Holbek & Chuck Stanley; Ishi the Last Yahi: A Documentary History by Theodora Kroeber & Robert F. Heizer

Canada
Stein (5)
35 miles; 3 days; plane shuttle in
LiquidLore

Clendenning (5)
22 miles; plane fly in; 2 days
Professorpaddle, LiquidLore

Grand Canyon of the Clore
plane fly in; 2 days
LiquidLore

Idaho
Bargamin Creek ?
Main Salmon tributary. Permit required to float on Main Salmon.

Rhoda Creek (5)
Selway tributary in Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Permit required to float out on Selway.
Plane shuttle to remote lake then 11 mile hike-in; 41 miles (8 Rhoda, 7.5 NF Moose, 3.5 Moose, 22 Selway); 4-5 days
American Whitewater archives, 1996, July-Aug., p28

Camas Creek
Middle Fork Salmon tributary. Permit required to float out on Middle Fork.
53 miles (13 Camas, 40 Middle Fork); 3-4 days.
Idaho the Whitewater State by Grant Amaral

Class 5

Grand Canyon, Yellowstone River
Yellowstone National Park. Illegal run. For record only. Do not paddle.
25 miles; 5 mile hike-in; 2 days
Montana Surf by Nick Turner, Matt Wilson & Russ Fry

Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone
Third deepest canyon in the Lower 48.
20 miles; 2-3 days
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Evan Stafford and Kyle McCutchen;
Montana Surf by Nick Turner, Matt Wilson & Russ Fry; American Whitewater archives, 1977, Jan.-Feb., p28; American Whitewater archives, 1996, Jan.-Feb, p35; American Whitewater archives,1997, Nov.-Dec., p42; American Whitewater