03/28/2026
We have a couple of rules on our rafting trips (Ottawa River, Mutehekau Shipu, Rio Pacuare):
- on trips with high school / youth groups, our limit is always class 3.
- on other trips, if there’s a class 4 that we can raft, we always give everyone the heads up, describe it well, including what would happen if you swim, and give everybody the opportunity to decide for themselves whether to paddle it or walk around.
If you’re looking into a guided whitewater trip, find out what class the rapids are.
You can always pick a trip that’s just right for the level of risk and challenge that you want.
A few things to keep in mind:
- A rapid’s difficulty changes throughout the season as water levels and conditions change
- The system is subjective. Some people might call the rapid in this video a class 1 while others might call it a 3. So make sure to go off reputable sources and get various opinions.
- In Quebec, canoeists use a different system (R1 to R6, S, C, etc) a Class 2 would usually be an R3
- Find out if you can opt out of the bigger rapids by walking around them
Here’s a rundown of the classification system:
INTERNATIONAL SCALE of River Difficulty (via American Whitewater)
“CLASS 1 – Beginner
Very easy with small, regular waves and riffles. Suitable for a wide variety of craft.
CLASS 2 – Novice
Easy rapids and waves requiring some maneuvering. Suitable for a wide variety of river-specific craft.
CLASS 3 – Intermediate
Moderate difficulty with large waves and features requiring skilled maneuvering. Suitable only for whitewater-specific craft and equipment.
CLASS 4 – Advanced
Difficult with powerful rapids and hazardous features requiring precise maneuvering. Suitable for skilled groups with whitewater-specific craft and equipment.
CLASS 5 – Expert
Very difficult with long rapids and strong turbulence and features that require expert maneuvering around frequent obstacles. Near the limits of navigation. Suitable for highly skilled groups with whitewater-specific craft and equipment.”
Source: American Whitewater – International Scale of River Difficulty
🎥 This video was from last July — Upper Gatineau River with the g
