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Grand Canyon Rapids

By RaftArizona • June 20, 2023

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.

Mile 0.0 – Lees Ferry (Put-in for all full canyon and upper canyon/hike out trips)
Mile 8.0 – Badger Creek Rapid
Mile 11.4 – Soap Creek Rapid
Mile 14.5 – Sheer Wall Rapid
Mile 17.1 – House Rock Rapid
Mile 20.7 – North Canyon Rapid
Mile 21.4 – 21 Mile Rapid
Mile 23.2 – 23 Mile Rapid
Mile 23.5 – 23.5 Mile Rapid
Mile 24.4 – Georgie Rapid
Mile 24.5 – 24.5 Mile Rapid
Mile 25.1 – 25 Mile
Mile 25.7 – Cave Springs Rapid
Mile 26.8 – 27 Mile (Tiger Wash) Rapid
Mile 29.4 – 29 Mile Rapid
Mile 36.3 – 36 Mile Rapid
Mile 44.0 – President Harding Rapid
Mile 52.4 – Nankoweap Rapid
Mile 56.3 – Kwagunt Rapid
Mile 60.1 – 60 Mile Rapid
Mile 65.9 – Lava Canyon (Chuar) Rapid
Mile 69.0 – Tanner Rapid
Mile 72.9 – Unkar Rapid
Mile 75.8 – Nevills Rapid
Mile 77.1 – Hance Rapid
Mile 79.1 – Sockdolager Rapid
Mile 82.1 – Grapevine Rapid
Mile 84.1 – 83 Mile Rapid
Mile 85.3 – Zoroaster Rapid
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
Mile 90.8 – Horn Creek Rapid
Mile 93.1 – Salt Creek Rapid
Mile 93.9 – Granite Rapid
Mile 95.5 – Hermit Rapid
Mile 97.1 – Boucher Rapid
Mile 98.2 – Crystal Rapid
Mile 99.7 – Tuna Creek Rapid
Mile 100.0 – Lower Tuna (Willie’s Necktie) Rapid
Mile 101.8 – Sapphire Rapid
Mile 102.6 – Turquoise Rapid
Mile 104.5 – 104 Mile (Emerald) Rapid
Mile 105.2 – Ruby Rapid
Mile 106.5 – Serpentine Rapid
Mile 108.4 – Bass Rapid
Mile 109.3 – Shinumo Rapid
Mile 110.0 – 110 Mile Rapid
Mile 111.4 – Hakatai Rapid
Mile 112.8 – Waltenberg Rapid
Mile 120.6 – Blacktail Rapid
Mile 123.3 – Forster Rapid
Mile 125.5 – Fossil Rapid
Mile 129.2 – 128 Mile Rapid
Mile 129.7 – Specter Rapid
Mile 131.1 – Bedrock Rapid
Mile 132.3 – Dubendorff Rapid
Mile 134.3 – Tapeats Rapid
Mile 135.4 – 135 Mile (Helicopter Eddy) Rapid
Mile 138.4 – Doris Rapid
Mile 139.7 – Fishtail Rapid
Mile 144.0 – Kanab Rapid
Mile 148.4 – Matkatamiba Rapid
Mile 150.2 – Upset Rapid
Mile 154.0 – Sinyala Rapid
Mile 157.3 – Havasu Rapid
Mile 165.0 – 164 Mile Rapid
Mile 167.0 – National Rapid
Mile 168.5 – Fern Glen Rapid
Mile 171.9 – Gateway Rapid
Mile 179.7 – Lava Falls Rapid
Mile 180.1 – Lower Lava Rapid
Mile 186.0 – 185 Mile Rapid
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
Mile 205.6 – 205 Mile (Kolb) Rapid
Mile 209.2 – 209 Mile Rapid
Mile 212.5 – 212 Mile Rapid
Mile 217.8 – 217 Mile Rapid
Mile 220.7 – Granite Spring Rapid
Mile 223.7 – 224 Mile Rapid
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
Mile 229.3 – Travertine Rapid
Mile 231.2 – 231 Mile Rapid
Mile 232.5 – 232 Mile Rapid
Mile 233.9 – 234 Mile Rapid
Mile 235.3 – Bridge Canyon Rapid
Mile 236.0 – Gneiss Canyon Rapid
Mile 237.2 – 237 Mile Rapid
Mile 240.0 – Separation Rapid
Mile 246.3 – Lava Cliff Rapid
Mile 280.5 – Pearce Ferry (Take-out for 8 day motor and 3 day trips)

No question too small!

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