Top Whitewater Rafting Rivers: Beginner

EASY DOES IT: A quiet stretch of river suits all levels (Photodisc/Getty)

First-timers, disabled rafters, youngsters, or the less physically fit needn't sit out the fun just because a river is classified beyond their age level, weight, or presumed abilities. (And even if a river is ranked a tough Class IV-V, this doesn’t mean it is always beyond the pale—lower summer flows can change a river’s characteristic entirely.) However, consider the rivers listed here ideal for a first foray into the wild and wonderful world of whitewater rafting, where access doesn’t involve a one-day mule train, outfitter options are plentiful, trips options include manageable half-day runs, and the water has enough thrills and spills to keep everyone smiling.

Whitewater Classifications Explained:
Class I: Flat, moving water, including some small rapids with low waves.
Class II: Anything that can swamp a canoe.
Class III: Rapids start to become technical and have penalties for mistakes. A swim will be rough.
Class IV: Rapids become bigger, more technical, and the penalty for error bumps up a notch.
Class V: Rapids are intense, and the penalty for error can be classified as a potentially dangerous swim.
Class VI: Not runnable due to the severity of one or many objective hazards.

Beginner Whitewater Rafting Rivers