This is a region of pristine wilderness, spirited runs, and endless diversity. And like the Far West, nearly impossible to pick out the few best whitewater runs. So we made a stab, knowing we would catch hell for leaving off such exalted worthies as the Snake, the Gunnison, and the Roaring Fork. So when you finish with these, there's more—and some would argue better—to come.

The Middle Fork is the pinnacle of Rocky Mountain river trips. It really has it all: isolated wilderness, wildlife, and terrific whitewater. Some of the wildest whitewater starts right away in the upper reaches. In fact, some trips start 25 miles downriver from the main put-in if the river is too savage; or if a party that prefers to start off nice and easy. Never fear, you'll have more whitewater in the Impassable Canyon: so deemed by horseback riders, not boaters. The strict permit system keeps the river pristine.

More on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Arkansas, Colorado
Difficulty: Class II to VI
Trip Length: Half-day to one day
Season: May through September

The Arkansas has more than 100 miles of prime floating among the 14,000 peaks of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. And it's good that whitewater section of the Arkansas is so long, since it's run by more than 300,000 people every year. The river's popularity derives in part from its proximity to Denver, but mostly because this is a great river, with something to offer everyone. Browns Canyon is the most popular run. Much of the river is dogged by Highway 50, but in Browns Canyon the highway disappears, allowing your party to be alone with the river.

Pleasant Valley is another popular run. Valley is kind of a misnomer: canyon is more like it. Try to spot bighorn sheep on the canyon walls, when you're not gazing in wonderment at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the south. The pace here is long runs of calm water interspersed with Class III rapids. Other whitewater sections of the river tend to be racier. Royal Gorge is an almost unpassable section of the river. Crash, and evacuation is by river only.

Flathead, Montana
Difficulty: Class I to IV
Season: May through October
Trip Length: One to four days

This is a long river with many different characteristics. To begin with, the Flathead starts out as three parallel forks with their own mountain valleys. The North Fork is a superlative river for intermediate boaters: 58 miles of even-keel Class II water in an alpine environment bordering Glacier National Park. The Middle Fork is the most pristine. Raft trips generally use mule pack trains or light aircraft to reach the put-in high in the mountains. The Middle Fork touches civilization in its lower stretches. The South Fork is mellow, except when it hits Meadow Creek Gorge and becomes unrunnable for everyone but the toughest expert.

The Animas is a long river, flowing from high in the San Juan mountains to its confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico. In its upper reaches, the Animas rampages at walloping Class V for miles through the Animas Gorge. This is a river that tests both technique and endurance. Another gorge further on stops action: its unrunnability requires the boater to either walk away or take the train that runs along the river. The Animas eventually calms down to a bouncy Class I above Durango.

More on the Animas River

Well, it doesn't matter if you tell anyone or not. The Forest Service's strict quota system keeps this river unsullied. The Selway is a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Salmon: but don't let the nearness fool you. It's a very different experience. It flows through a remote and narrow canyon in the lush Bitterroot Wilderness before uniting with the mighty Lochsa. The Selway is renowned for its crystal-clear water teeming with fish.

Move on to Midwest Trips Return to Top