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Class I

Easy. Fast moving water with small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious & easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.

Class I Rivers: Skagit, Snohomish, Skykomish, Wenatchee.

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Class II  Novice. Easy rapids with obvious wide, clear channels, no scouting. Occasional maneuvering required, but rocks & waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers seldom injured & group assistance seldom needed. Rapids at upper end of rating are Class 2+.

Class II Rivers: Skagit, Snohomish, Skykomish, Wenatchee.

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     Class III  Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves; may be difficult to avoid, can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current & good boat control in tight passages or around ledges required; large waves or strainers are present but easily avoided. Strong eddies & powerful current effects. Inexperienced should scout. Injuries to swimmers rare; self-rescue possible but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids at lower/upper end are Class 3- or Class 3+.

Class III Rivers: Nooksack, Skagit, Suiattle, Wenatchee, Tieton.

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Class IV  Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. May be large, unavoidable waves & holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn needed for maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids require must moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting necessary first time. Risk of injury to swimmers moderate to high, & water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. Rapids at upper/lower end are Class 4- or Class 4+.

Class IV Rivers: Sauk, Methow, Green, White Salmon, Skykomish.

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Class V 

Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves & holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. Proper equipment, extensive experience, & practiced rescue skills are essential. Rapids at the upper end are classed as 5.1, 5.2, etc.

Class V Rivers: Cascade, Skykomish, Wenatchee.

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Class VI  Extreme and Exploratory. These runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a Class VI rapids has been run many times, it's rating may be changed to an appropriate Class 5.x rating.

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