The Sierra Nevada and the Cascades run up the spines of the far western states, supplying an embarrassment of riches when it comes to world-class whitewater. This was probably the toughest region for which to pick the best, and we've left off some renowned rivers such as the South Fork American, the Wenatchee, the Deschutes, the Clackamas, the . . . well, you get the picture. However, we do think this is a good representative sample of what's available.

The Tuolumne is the archetypal High Sierra river. Its damming to create the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park was a clarion call for environmentalists in the early 20th century, leading to the founding of the Sierra Club. The Tuolumne's immersed canyon was said to be another Yosemite Valley.

But all is not lost. Thirty-six miles of the Tuolumne still flow between Hetch Hetchy and the New Don Pedro Reservoir. The 18-mile run between Meral's Pool to Ward's Ferry is a popular overnighter, offering profound wilderness isolation and teeth-rattling Class IV whitewater. Go in the early season, and the whitewater is staunch and fun. Go in late summer, and the river slows down and warms up. According to Eric Grathwol of OARS, "It's a great temperature for swimming and kicking back."

More on the Tuolumne River

Rogue River, Oregon
Difficulty: Class III+
Season: All year
Trip Length: Half-day to five or more days

In 1968, the Rogue was selected in the first round of Wild and Scenic Rivers. The river begins near Crater Lake National Park and cuts a dashing swath through the Coastal Range until it reaches the Pacific at Gold Coast. River travelers experience a region of dense forests and wooded canyons rich with wildlife. The lovable Rogue is both seductive and hard to get. Grave Creek to Foster Bar is the classic run on this river: If you want to give it a go, you can either enter a lottery (one in ten chance of winning) or hitch up with an outfitter. The upstream stretch through Hellgate Canyon is a milder Class I to II run, and shorter.

More on the Rogue River

Klamath, California
Difficulty: IV to V
Season: All year
Trip Length: One to three days

The Klamath runs free for 187 miles from below Iron Gate Dam in lush northern California near the Oregon border. It's not very far from the Rogue River, but it offers a much wilder ride. More than one thousand rapids rampage along those almost 200 miles. Most boaters bite off a piece of that. Ishi Pishi Falls is a portage-or-die barrier. Most trips either end above the falls or begin below them.

Eric Grathwol, a guide who works for OARS, a travel outfitter that runs trips down the river, says, "The upper stretch is very challenging Class IV, recommended for very aggressive first timers or people with prior rafting experience. We're talking heart-stopping rapids. The Lower is mostly Class II and III. It has nice scenery and lots of wildlife. One of our guides lead 12 trips one summer, and saw black bear on all of them except one."

More on the Klamath River

Skyomish, Washington
Difficulty: Class III to V, 8 miles
Season: October to July
Trip Lengths: Half-day

Skyomish is the nearest whitewater to Seattle—but don't let the proximity to urban lush-life fool you. The Sky rocks. This river has three forks: the North, the South, and Main. The main Sky is the heavy, with the long Class V passage known as Boulder Drop that's perhaps the toughest commercially run whitewater in Washington. The craggy peaks of Mount Index and Mount Persis tower over the river valley. If you're in the market for a run that's a little milder and more secluded, the North Fork has some prime Class III to IV along a narrow riverbed that is accessible only by an unpaved county road.

The desert canyons of the Owhyee River offer a change of pace from the forest rivers of the humid western slopes. This is true wilderness: no roads, no powerlines, no machine noise. John Kors, a guide with ROW, an outfitter that runs trips on the Owyhee, especially appreciates the isolation. According to John, "You get a real strong sense of the old west. The first time I made this trip I kept expecting to see John Wayne come riding over the hill."

The Owyee is usually divided into three distinct sections. The "upper" begins in southwest Idaho and is only raftable during the spring snowmelt. Wildlife along this stretch of the river is stunning. Bighorn sheep are frequently visible high on the canyon walls. The middle offers the wildest whitewater, including the Class V Widowmaker, which many choose to portage. By the time you reach the lower Owhyee, you'll be ready for soaking in the several hot springs you'll find along the way.

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