Rapid Classification Explained
We want you to love every minute of your rafting adventure, and to do that, we feel you need to know what you’re getting into! Our rivers are all classified as Mild, Intermediate or Wild. On Mild rivers you can normally expect to run into Class I, II and III rapids; on Intermediate rivers, Class II, III and possibly IV; and on Wild rivers, Class II, III, IV and V! However, when it comes right down to it, we are at the mercy of the river! Depending on the time of year the water flows can change dramatically and throughout the season rapids can vary. At low water, rapids can decrease a half to a full class and at high water rapids can increase a half to a full class.
Here at Mild to Wild:
We want you to love every minute of your rafting adventure, and to do that, we feel you need to know what you’re getting into! Our rivers are all classified as Mild, Intermediate or Wild. On Mild rivers you can normally expect to run into Class I, II and III rapids; on Intermediate rivers, Class II, III and possibly IV; and on Wild rivers, Class II, III, IV and V! However, when it comes right down to it, we are at the mercy of the river! Depending on the time of year the water flows can change dramatically and throughout the season rapids can vary. At low water, rapids can decrease a half to a full class and at high water rapids can increase a half to a full class.
Class I “moving water” will let you comfortably float down the river.
Class II “splashes” will get your legs wet just over the side of the boat.
Class III “wet and fun” rapids will get you soaked, head to foot!
Class IV “big drops” will jump-start your heart as you paddle through the intense whitewater.
Class V “violent rapids” will really get your adrenaline pumping and often have to be portaged.
Class VI “impassable whitewater” means no one has rafted that section and lived to tell.
