The world is full of amazing rapids, but only a few are truly legendary. We set out to find drops that leave a lasting impression – rapids you'll never forget. The rapids that will make you fall in love with rafting for a lifetime. Maybe it's the scary vertical descent, the line dodging rocks, the bus-sized waves at the bottom, or a combination of all three. The best whitewater rapids are the ones that tell stories even decades after you first run them.
How did we choose? The truly infamous rapids aren't that hard to find. We've done some research, surveyed a few professional guides and run some of them ourselves on a regular basis. These are some of the largest rapids in the world.
The world's best whitewater rapids, according to experts
1) Terminator – Futaleupo River, Chile
With five Class V rapids, Futaleufú is famous for its big water, but the Terminator is considered the biggest and baddest of them all. In fact, many pros say this is the most commercially difficult fast ride in the world. And when asked about these long, technical rapids, guides say the Terminator has all the features to make your stomach groan. Towering waves, crashing holes, and massive black rocks scattered throughout, all surrounded by brooding cliffs and resounding thunder. Even a “cheat run” on the Left River will have you sweating.
2) Bidwell – Chilko River, British Columbia
Lava Canyon on the Chilko River offers 14 miles of non-stop fun, often touted as the longest commercially operated Class IV rapid in North America and one of the “Seven Whitewater Wonders of the World.” When it all starts, you'll find Bidwell, an exciting Class IV “S-bend” rapid with big breaking waves and a huge hole in the bottom. Seasoned experts say this is an intense way to start Chilko's infamous White Mile. If you don't make the right moves at the top, you'll continue to have rapids below. Translation: We don't want anyone swimming here.
3) Big Drop 2 and 3 – Colorado River through Cataract Canyon, Utah
Cataract Canyon's Big Drops 2 and 3 (technically two rapids) can be surprising choices most seasons. Class III riding is fun, but anyone who has experienced these infamous streaks at high tide knows what they are getting into. Unforgettable nature. Longtime river guide Jeffe Aronson, who claims to be the first to run the Big Drops at 75,000 cfs aboard an 18-foot raft, says, “They're bigger, scarier, harder, and more important than anything else we run.” . At their peak, these rapids are two of the top 10 rapids in North America, producing waves bigger than the largest rapids in the Grand Canyon.
4) Lava Falls – Colorado River through Grand Canyon, Arizona
Speaking of the Grand Canyon, no “best whitewater rapids” list would be complete without mentioning Lava Falls, the largest rapid in the canyon and certainly the most legendary. As the river drops 37 feet over hundreds of yards, paddlers weave through the eddies of rapid water, trying to avoid the Big Black Rock and the boat-capsizing Ledge Hole for any hope of reaching Tequila Beach. Pretend to be in control. For the post lava celebration. Rated a Class 10 (the highest difficulty level in the Grand Canyon), Lava can be the scariest (and best) 20 seconds of the entire Grand Canyon rafting trip for both guides and passengers.
5) Ghost Rider – Zambezi River, Zambia
The legendary Zambezi is home to several of the world's largest rapids, including Stairway to Heaven, Gnashing Jaws of Death, and Oblivion. They are all Class V thrillers with infamous reviews in their own right. But according to Water By Nature's Hamish McMaster, it's the finale to the infamous Ghostrider trip that gets even the most avid river runner a bit of an adrenaline rush. “Nowhere else in the world have I seen an expedition-sized catamaran disappear for two or three seconds before resurfacing inside the three massive waves that make up the top of this Class V rapid,” says Hamish. If you don't like swimming, this is one trip you should avoid.
6) Godzilla – Rio Upano River, Ecuador
When it comes to “rivers of sacred falls” deep in the Andes, Godzilla is the most memorable rapid in Rio Upano, according to Peter Grubb of ROW Adventures. “It's in a deep, dramatic jungle canyon with tall waterfalls tumbling down on both sides of the river, creating wave trains that boast 15-foot waves when the currents are in the 15 to 25,000 CFS range,” he explains. “When running these rapids you have to work from right to left without getting caught in the strong eddy line on the left. Then when you come out of the train of waves you will be almost to the left of the wide opening of the river. !”
7) Pillow Rapid – Gauley River, West Virginia
West Virginia's infamous Gauley River is home to five legendary rapids, but when I spoke with Haynes Manfield of ACE Adventure Resort, he said Pillow Rapid is one of the most unforgettable. Once this Class V rapid drop reaches 30 feet, the boat descends a narrow chute directly into Pillow Rock, where you have to “pillow” right into it to avoid the worst-case scenario. According to Haynes, “The secret is to ride the pillow towards the river to the right, avoiding the recirculating Room Of Doom. But go too far to the right and you could end up stumbling on Volkswagen Rock. The experience may be hard to read, it may be an explosion of rapids you can’t even remember the first time you passed through them, but it will never be forgotten!”
8) House of God – Karnali River, Nepal
In the post-monsoon season in early October, the Karnali River in western Nepal offers some of the world's best large-scale rapids through pristine jungle and dramatic Himalayan canyons. But all that aside, for many the pinnacle of the journey is undoubtedly the house of God. Cutting through the narrowest gorge on the river, this Class V rapid offers big waves on the left before venturing to the right to miss a huge hole that could capsize a raft or even a small vehicle.
9) Bull Sluice – Chattooga River, Georgia
Well-known rapids like Jaw Bone and Seven Foot Falls are solid choices for some of the best whitewater rapids on Georgia's scenic Chattooga River (made famous in the movie). rescue), Ashley Manning, who has guided in the area for five years, believes Bull Sluice is one of the most challenging rapids on the river. This Class IV+ grand finale thriller features a 14-foot drop with tricky lines, including a difficult-to-maneuver ledge aptly named Decapitation Rock and a large hole you must surf to finally escape. “I think bulls are sometimes in a category of their own because they can be so fluffy and soft, but they can also be extremely violent and dangerous.” Ashley says: “You never really know what you’re going to get. You can have perfect lines six days in a row, but on the seventh day it can be a nightmare.”
10) Lochsa Falls on the Lochsa River, Idaho.
The Class IV Lochsa River has many rapids and some of the best rapids in Idaho. But there was more carnage at Lochsa Falls during a few days of high tide than is seen on some rivers in an entire season. The huge V wave gets angry and grabs the boat and throws it like a crazy Godzilla. Part of the rapids' notoriety undoubtedly stems from the ease with which the falls are accessible to spectators. Idaho's Highway 12 runs along most of the river, with a particularly large outlet just above the falls. On high water days, the area sometimes has a tailgate party vibe with people lounging on inflatable couches and taking in the massive water pressure. Do you need proof of debauchery? Check out our roundup of the madness of the 2022 season above.
standing statue:
11) Clavey Falls – Tuolumne River, California
Anytime you see the word “waterfall” in the name of a rapid, you can be sure it’s going to be a thriller. Clavey Falls, at the confluence of the Clavey River and Tuolumne, is no exception. “The quarter-mile of Class I water leading to Clavey Falls is ‘the calm before the storm,’” says Chris Moore, who has managed OARS’ California rafting operations in Tuolumne for nearly 20 years. “As you approach the horizon, the first drop of Clavey Falls, your senses are numbed by the sound of thunder coming from just downstream.” In this Class IV+ rapid, you'll drop 8 feet vertically and then fall back down, trying to avoid a giant hole. On the other side of this wild ride, there's still more than half of California's best rafting downriver trip to go.
12) Tunnel Chute, Middle Fork American River, California
Perhaps not the most intimidating rapid on this list (but easily one of the best on the American River), Tunnel Chute is iconic for its unique structure and one of the few places in the world where commercial tours float through an actual tunnel. Blown into solid rock by miners seeking their fortune during the Gold Rush, this chute is a narrow sluice that drops more than 30 feet into a calm blue pool. The bottom hole could easily send a boat upside down, but it's the threat of having to swim the upper section after Last Chance that makes this one of the most infamous rapids in the West.
Are there any other unforgettable rides that you think should be included in our best whitewater whitewater list? Chime in below.
Photo: Lava Canyon, Chilko River – Photo: Justin Bailie, White Mile, Chilko River, BC – Photo: Justin Bailie; Lava Falls, Grand Canyon – Photo: Dylan Silver; Pillow Rock, Gauley River – Photo: ACE; Karnali River, Nepal – Photo: Whitehorse Canoe Club; Clavey Falls, Tuolumne River, California – Photo: Dylan Silver; Tunnel Chute, Middle Fork of the American River – Photo: Dylan Silver