The pinnacle of whitewater rafting in terms of technical challenge and high thrills? Class V rapid trips, which take you on the biggest, gnarliest “wildwater” accessible to the vast majority of river-runners. Does the Centennial State have this caliber of whitewater? You better believe it, and it delivers some of the finest adventure trips Colorado has to offer!
At Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we run the full gamut of whitewater: from easy-peasy (and still very much worthwhile) Class I float excursions to peak-flow excitement on heavy-duty rapids. In this article, we’ll introduce Class V whitewater, profile some rivers and river sections at this grade in the Centennial State, and spell out how you can experience this upper echelon of rafting with our Cañon City, CO company.
Understanding Class V Rapids
Many whitewater authorities defer to the International Scale of River Difficulty to rate the relative challenge posed by particular rivers or river reaches. This scale comprises six classes: Class I to Class VI, ranking successively harder water. You can learn more about each difficulty class—and where rapids we regularly run here at Echo Canyon fall on the scale—in our previous blog “An Overview of Classes of Rapids for Whitewater Rafting”.
What are Class V rapids and what makes them different from other classes of rapids? Class V rapids are the “Expert” level, one up from Class IV/“Advanced” and one down from Class VI: the “Extreme & Exploratory Rapids” that, for all intents and purposes, are considered unrunnable for the vast majority of rafters.
Class V whitewater can involve huge, ferocious rapids and major waves, hydraulics, and holes, or extended, non-stop stretches of technical water requiring must-make moves, maximum concentration, and a high level of physical fitness to negotiate. If you end up in the drink in a Class V section, you’re in for a demanding, possibly hazardous swim, and rescue can be complicated.
As we like to put it, Class V whitewater is the kind where “you gotta want to get after it.” This extreme rafting is not a good choice for the timid or indecisive, and certainly not for weak swimmers and inexperienced rafters in general. But the thrill of it—the chance to experience a beautifully fierce river in all its glory and majesty—is like nothing else, and something veteran rafters come to cherish in a similar way that climbers and mountaineers lust after the biggest walls and peaks. No question that Class V rapid trips rank high up there in the pantheon of outdoor adventure activities!
Essential Gear & Safety Tips for Rafting Class V Whitewater
Class V whitewater is the toughest brand of rafting most of us will ever experience, and it certainly demands high-quality gear, including safety helmets, Coast Guard-approved PFDs, and (often enough) wetsuits to handle the colder snowmelt-fueled water and the elevated risk of falling out of the raft.
That said, at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we always perform the highest level of safety measures, regardless of the class of river we’re running. Sure, we stress to guests the heightened intensity of Class V trips and the need to abide by all their guide’s instructions during our pre-trip safety briefing. But we’re as respectful and cautious with the current and with our clients on a kiddo-friendly Class I float as when we’re tackling the biggest and gnarliest wildwater.
Speaking of our guides, those who lead our most advanced rafting outings have plenty of experience with Class V rapids—and, indeed, are often the ones responsible for training incoming river guides. Rest assured you’ll have the highest-quality gear and the most responsible rafting guides on a Class V trip with Echo Canyon.
Top Class V Rivers & Runs in Colorado
Colorado has a fair number of awesome Class V rapid trips for rafters up for the task. As with whitewater rafting in general, these are often seasonally established: In many cases (including our own “home waters” at Echo Canyon), it’s the peak pulse of mountain snowmelt in early summer that drives what otherwise are Class IV rapids into Class V status.
Here are a few of the best Class V runs in the state.
Arkansas River: The Royal Gorge & Pine Creek Rapid
Arkansas River rafting is our primary focus here at Echo Canyon, and during peak annual flow in June or so, some of the routes we run typically feature some Class V awesomeness. In the Royal Gorge—the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas,” one of the most impressive defiles in the American West—such normally Class IV rapids as Sunshine Falls, The Narrows, and Sledgehammer roar into Class V beasts during high-water periods. This is one of the premier rafting adventures in Colorado, going down in an absolutely magnificent place, where sheer walls rear up more than 1,000 feet and the canyon rims can get strikingly narrow.
Farther upriver, the Ark plunges down its steepest reach below Granite, Colorado, and here you’ll find the Class V Pine Creek Rapid: one heck of a whitewater tumble, often divvied up between the Entrance, S-Bend, and Triple Bend sections.
Colorado River: Gore Canyon
The mighty Colorado River goes through one of the flat-out classic Class V runs in the state within the roughly 10-mile-long Gore Canyon, a beautiful and challenging route with long stretches of big rapids. Among them are the Class V Gore Rapid, host to the fearsome hole called “Ginger,” and the mighty Tunnel Falls, another Class V thrill ride in the heart of the canyon.
Upper Animas River
The Upper Animas River is legendary for a reason: Its 24-mile Animas Canyon course features what’s often called the longest commercially rafted run of continuous Class IV+ whitewater in the U.S. High flows swell this raging reach with multiple Class V obstacles, including 10 Mile, No Name Falls (probably the toughest), and Broken Bridge.
Experience Ultimate Adventure Rafting
Trust only the best Colorado rafting outfitters, such as Echo Canyon, for a Class V experience. If you’re interested in a Class V rafting trip with us, through the unforgettable Royal Gorge, bear in mind you’ll need to meet certain physical and experience-level criteria. For the most part, these aren’t the best ideas for family rafting—that is, unless all members of your family are in tiptop physical shape, on the athletic side of things, and very strong swimmers. (And although there are plenty of exceptions, most likely it’ll be folks under about 50 years old who are best suited to the trip.)
Class V is for experienced rafters fully aware of the demands and consequences of this level of whitewater. If you’re new to rafting, you’re going to want to ease your way in via Class III and then Class IV runs before thinking about trying this significantly more difficult river running. At Echo Canyon, we’ve got a full array of easy family floats and beginner-friendly mid-range rafting trips (such as the ever-popular Bighorn Sheep Canyon) to delight you, and then more challenging Class IV undertakings, such as the Royal Gorge outside of maximum flow, which’ll help you further explore the idea of someday running the biggest wildwater.
Learn more in our blog post, “When to Try Whitewater Rafting Class V Rapids.”
Book Your Thrilling Whitewater Trip With Echo Canyon
We’re always happy to chat directly with you about anything to do with our rafting services, including whether an early-summer Class V ride through the Royal Gorge is right for you.
Are you ready to join Echo Canyon for an unforgettable adventure? Book your epic river rafting experience with us today! Contact our experienced guides for details on our thrilling Class V rapids trips.
