Rolling on the river: Sunset staffers went after whitewater—and came back with lots of advice. Plus: best rivers for beginners

Sunset, May, 2005 by Alison Aves

* Maneuver like an admiral. Have the wind with you so you can begin and end your attack from farther away. Position your raft so that the strongest splashers are in on the action and not watching from the opposite side.

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* Never surrender. When foes are drifting away and celebrating victory, they are often the most vulnerable.

10 great rivers to get you started

Here are 10 of the West's best rafting rivers, along with veteran outfitters that lead trips on them. We're suggesting runs that let you feel the power of the water without leaving you shaken. They range from rivers rated class I (a fast, easy float) to class IV (wild and woolly but relatively safe for aggressive beginners on a guided trip). Water flow can vary widely by the year and throughout the season, however, so be sure to check with the outfitter.

CALIFORNIA

1 South Fork of the American River

YOUR BASE: Coloma

WHY IT'S GREAT: The most popular whitewater river in California, with plenty of thrills.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 1/2-2 days; class III

SEASON: April-October

OUTFITTERS: A, E

2 Tuolumne River

YOUR BASE: Groveland

WHY IT'S GREAT: An 18-mile run through an awesome, whitewater-filled canyon on a river that's big in spring, milder in summer.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 1-3 days; class IV

SEASON: April-September

OUTFITTERS: C, E

COLORADO

3 Green River/Gates of Lodore

YOUR BASE: Vernal, UT

WHY IT'S GREAT: Slickrock canyons and fossils in Dinosaur National Monument.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 4 days; class III

SEASON: May-September

OUTFITTERS: D, E

IDAHO

4 Main Salmon River

YOUR BASE: Salmon or Boise

WHY IT'S GREAT: Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area is full of wildlife, huge sand beaches, and hot springs.

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TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 5-6 days; class III

SEASON: June-September

OUTFITTERS: C, D, E

5 Snake River

YOUR BASE: Lewiston or Boise

WHY IT'S GREAT: Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 3-5 days; class III-IV

SEASON: May-September

OUTFITTERS: D, E

OREGON

6 Deschutes River

YOUR BASE: Maupin

WHY IT'S GREAT: Canyons and waterfalls on the sunny side of the Cascade Range.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 1/2-1 day; class III

SEASON: April-October

OUTFITTER: F

7 Rogue River

YOUR BASE: Grants Pass

WHY IT'S GREAT: Thick forests; bears, eagles, and otters; side canyons to explore.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 3-5 days; class III

SEASON: May-September

OUTFITTERS: C, E, F

UTAH

8 Colorado River/Cataract Canyon

YOUR BASE: Green River or Moab

WHY IT'S GREAT: Technicolor canyons and thrilling rapids; first-timers should go during low-water months

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 5 days; class III-IV (V in high water)

SEASON: July-September (low months)

OUTFITTERS: D, E

WASHINGTON

9 Sauk River

YOUR BASE: Darrington

WHY IT'S GREAT: The wild North Cascades loom over a river of deep-green glacial meltwater.

TRIP LENGTH/RAPIDS RATING: 1 day; class III

SEASON: April-July

OUTFITTER: B

10 Upper Skagit River

YOUR BASE: Marblemount

WHY IT'S GREAT: Emerald water, sockeye salmon, rapids balanced with flat water.