How to Class White-Water Rapids

Identify class I rapids by a slow-moving river with ripples, eddies and river bends. This class is appropriate for all beginner level boaters, tubers and kayakers. You should be able to swim, paddle, ferry and have fun. Most rivers have several classes along their length, so it is always a good idea to get out and scout anything that looks difficult or challenging. Class I rivers are a good place to practice barrel rolls or Eskimo rolls if you are kayaking. There should be few if any obstacles.

Check if the water is a little faster but still is appropriate for beginners to intermediate swimmers. This is a class II rapids. It can have wave trains, pour overs, weak hydraulic currents such as eddies and holes, and small rock gardens.

Identify class III rapids as water that is not appropriate for beginners but is OK for intermediate to advanced kayakers and rafters. The current is moving faster than most people can swim. Waves are irregular and high. There might be narrow passages to get through.

Check whether there are strainers present and if the water is moving so fast that a spilled boater could be easily swallowed up in the froth. This is a class IV rapids. You have to be advanced to go through a class IV rapids or be with a skilled guide. A strainer usually is a tree fallen in a rapids. Just like a spaghetti strainer, it will let water through but hold larger items and people back. The rapids are more extensive and some passages require expert maneuvering.

Identify class V rapids if even an expert swimming probably can't battle the water. The rapids are very long and violent and there are a lot of obstructions. The likelihood of drowning in a spill is high.

Look for water that cannot be maneuvered even with commercial rafts. Only experts can handle these waters, and even then the risks are extreme.