If you are looking for thrilling whitewater and scenic beauty the Grand Canyon doesn’t disappoint. It provides a nice balance between both adventure and serenity. There are peaceful floats in between rapids to catch your breath after the excitement of crashing through cold, big waves.
How are the Grand Canyon rapids rated?
Most people are familiar with the international I-VI river classification scale, as nearly every river in the world is rated on this scale. Grand Canyon is one of the only exceptions, using a scale from 1 to 10. Regardless of which scale you use, rapid ratings refer to the level of technical ability needed to get through with 1 being the easiest. A class 10 rapid in Grand Canyon is equivalent to a class 5 rapid on the international scale.
A rapid’s rating can change depending on river conditions, but for the most part, the Glen Canyon Dam regulates the flow of the river between 8,000 and 20,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). This makes water levels more predictable. Guides often give rapids a different rating in terms of their “fun factor”. Several favorite rapids don’t rate highly on the technical scale but provide big fun! The Colorado River boasts over 80 big water rapids, your job is to hang on and have a blast! Our guides are there to show you the way.
Grand Canyon rapids by river mile
*Insider Tip: Belknap’s Grand Canyon River Guide is a great way to track your progress down the river and take notes about your adventure. It contains topographical maps of the canyon and has information on rapid ratings, campsites, and details about the canyon’s geological and human history.
The ratings for each rapid are listed in parentheses below and taken directly from the Belknap’s guide.
Mile 0.0 – Lees Ferry (Put-in for all full canyon and upper canyon/hike out trips)
Mile 8.0 – Badger Creek Rapid (5-6)
Mile 11.4 – Soap Creek Rapid (5-6)
Mile 14.5 – Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
Mile 17.1 – House Rock Rapid (7-8)
Mile 20.7 – North Canyon Rapid (4-5)
Mile 21.4 – 21 Mile Rapid (4-5)
Mile 23.2 – 23 Mile Rapid (4-5)
Mile 23.5 – 23.5 Mile Rapid (4-5)
Mile 24.4 – Georgie Rapid (6-7)
Mile 24.5 – 24.5 Mile Rapid (5-6)
Mile 25.1 – 25 Mile (Hansbrough-Richards) Rapid (5-6)
Mile 25.7 – Cave Springs Rapid (5)
Mile 26.8 – 27 Mile (Tiger Wash) Rapid (5-6)
Mile 29.4 – 29 Mile Rapid (2)
Mile 36.3 – 36 Mile Rapid (4)
Mile 44.0 – President Harding Rapid (4)
Mile 52.4 – Nankoweap Rapid (3)
Mile 56.3 – Kwagunt Rapid (5-6)
Mile 60.1 – 60 Mile Rapid (4)
Mile 65.9 – Lava Canyon (Chuar) Rapid (3-4)
Mile 69.0 – Tanner Rapid (4)
Mile 72.9 – Unkar Rapid (6-7)
Mile 75.8 – Nevills Rapid (6-7)
Mile 77.1 – Hance Rapid (8-9)
Mile 79.1 – Sockdolager Rapid (7-9)
Mile 82.1 – Grapevine Rapid (6-8)
Mile 84.1 – 83 Mile Rapid (3-6)
Mile 85.3 – Zoroaster Rapid (5-7)
Mile 88.1 – Kaibab Bridge and Phantom Ranch boat beach
Mile 89.4 – Pipe Creek Beach (Take-out for upper canyon/hike out passengers, put-in for lower canyon/ hike in passengers)
Mile 89.5 – Pipe Springs Rapid (4)
Mile 90.8 – Horn Creek Rapid (8-9)
Mile 93.1 – Salt Creek Rapid (3)
Mile 93.9 – Granite Rapid (8-9)
Mile 95.5 – Hermit Rapid (8-9)
Mile 97.1 – Boucher Rapid (4-5)
Mile 98.2 – Crystal Rapid (10)
Mile 99.7 – Tuna Creek Rapid (5-7)
Mile 100.0 – Lower Tuna (Willie’s Necktie) Rapid (4)
Mile 101.8 – Sapphire Rapid (6)
Mile 102.6 – Turquoise Rapid (3-5)
Mile 104.5 – 104 Mile (Emerald) Rapid (5)
Mile 105.2 – Ruby Rapid (5-6)
Mile 106.5 – Serpentine Rapid (6-7)
Mile 108.4 – Bass Rapid (4-5)
Mile 109.3 – Shinumo Rapid (3-4)
Mile 110.0 – 110 Mile Rapid (2-3)
Mile 111.4 – Hakatai Rapid (3-4)
Mile 112.8 – Waltenberg Rapid (6-7)
Mile 120.6 – Blacktail Rapid (3)
Mile 123.3 – Forster Rapid (3-6)
Mile 125.5 – Fossil Rapid (5-6)
Mile 129.2 – 128 Mile Rapid (4)
Mile 129.7 – Specter Rapid (6)
Mile 131.1 – Bedrock Rapid (8)
Mile 132.3 – Dubendorff Rapid (7-8)
Mile 134.3 – Tapeats Rapid (5-6)
Mile 135.4 – 135 Mile (Helicopter Eddy) Rapid (4)
Mile 138.4 – Doris Rapid (5-6)
Mile 139.7 – Fishtail Rapid (5)
Mile 144.0 – Kanab Rapid (2-5)
Mile 148.4 – Matkatamiba Rapid (2)
Mile 150.2 – Upset Rapid (6-8)
Mile 154.0 – Sinyella Rapid (2-3)
Mile 157.3 – Havasu Rapid (2-4)
Mile 165.0 – 164 Mile Rapid (2)
Mile 167.0 – National Rapid (2)
Mile 168.5 – Fern Glen Rapid (2)
Mile 171.9 – Gateway Rapid (3)
Mile 179.7 – Lava Falls Rapid (10)
Mile 180.1 – Lower Lava Rapid (4-5)
Mile 186.0 – 185 Mile Rapid (2)
Mile 187.4 – Whitmore Helipad (Take-out for 6 day and 7 day motor passengers, put-in for 3 day passengers)
Mile 188.3 – Whitmore Rapid (3-4)
Mile 205.6 – 205 Mile (Kolb) Rapid (6-7)
Mile 209.2 – 209 Mile Rapid (5-6)
Mile 212.5 – 212 Mile Rapid (2-3)
Mile 217.8 – 217 Mile Rapid (6-7)
Mile 220.7 – Granite Spring Rapid (2)
Mile 223.7 – 224 Mile Rapid (3)
Mile 225.0 – Diamond Creek (Take-out for full canyon oar and hiker’s special trips, and lower canyon/ hike in trips)
Mile 225.9 – Diamond Creek Rapid (3-4)
Mile 229.3 – Travertine Rapid (2)
Mile 231.2 – 231 Mile Rapid (4-7)
Mile 232.5 – 232 Mile Rapid (4-7)
Mile 233.9 – 234 Mile Rapid (4-6)
Mile 235.3 – Bridge Canyon Rapid (3-5)
Mile 236.0 – Gneiss Canyon Rapid (5)
Mile 237.2 – 237 Mile Rapid (2)
Mile 240.0 – Separation Rapid (1-2)
Mile 246.3 – Lava Cliff Rapid (2)
Mile 280.5 – Pearce Ferry (Take-out for 8 day motor and 3 day trips)