Whitewater Classification and How to Choose Your Rafting Adventure

Whitewater rafting in Alaska is a fun adventure that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping! Come navigate rapids, push yourself a little outside your comfort zone, and work together to travel downstream. Learn which of our river trips is best for you and your group, and how to be prepared for your trip with us. Rain or shine, rafting is an experience you’ll never forget!

Why Go Whitewater Rafting in Alaska

Whitewater rafting is fun for a group of friends or an adventurous family with older kids (we have river trips suitable for ages 12+! You’ll work as a team, become closer, check off a bucket list river experience, and see Alaska from a unique perspective – on the river.

Here in Alaska, rivers connect the ecosystem and provide subsistence for both wildlife and people. These rivers also allow for travel in fun and exciting ways.

Whitewater Classification

Whitewater classification is a way of rating a river based on its difficulty. These ratings can help you determine which trip is right for you. As the rating increases, the trip becomes more challenging, the rapids longer, and the danger of swimming more severe. You can learn more about whitewater classification here.

Class V

You’ll need to pass a swim test and be in good physical condition for these powerful rapids. When it comes to commercially rafted rivers here in the US, Class V is as exciting and intense as it gets. The rapids can be long, have drops, large unavoidable waves and holes, or steep chutes with complex route finding. You’ll find this challenge on our 3 Canyon Six Mile Creek Trip.

Class IV

When accompanied by an expert guide this trip is suitable for any experience level as long as you are comfortable swimming. Class IV includes large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages requiring quick maneuvers. You’ll find these types of rapids on both our Six Mile and Lions Head trips.

Class III

Suitable for any experience level, Class III means you’ll get splashed and will want to know how to swim. Expect fun moderately sized waves with strong currents that any expert guide can help you navigate. You’ll find these types of rapids on our Lions Head trip.

How to Prepare For Your Rafting Trip

Being prepared for your rafting trip ensures that you’ll have an even better time on the river.
We recommend that you dress in multiple layers of warm, thin clothing. While your dry suit will keep you as dry as possible, you’ll need to insulate under that!

Pro tip: don’t let your layers be too tight on you or you’ll just lose heat.

We recommend you bring:

Wool or synthetic base layers
Fleece jackets
Multiple layers
Thick, wool socks
Extra clothes and socks to change into afterwards
A gopro to attach to your helmet

We recommend you leave these in the car:

Your phone – your dry suit cannot be unzipped during your adventure
Other cameras
Jewelry
Cotton clothing
Puffy coats that are difficult to fit in dry suits

We will outfit you in a pfd (personal flotation device), dry suit, river shoes, and river helmet.

excited group of clients rafting on Six Mile Creek

NOVA boats being set up for a whitewater rafting adventure

guide teaching about whitewater safety before a tour

NOVA bus pulling boats to the rafting put in

clients get splashed by a wave on Lions Head

scenic mountain and forest views rafting on the Matanuska River

Popular Whitewater Rafting Trips with NOVA

NOVA has been Alaska’s premier rafting company for the last 50 years. We can’t wait to show you the rivers that we love! We pioneered rafting on the Matanuska River back in 1975 and are the only company to offer rafting trips on this awesome river. We were also the original rafting company on Six Mile Creek. We take a lot of pride in our trips and hire the best guides around to ensure you have a safe and fun adventure with us. Now let’s go boating!

Raft Lions Head on the Matanuska River

Fun for the whole family, rafting the Matanuska River will be an exciting highlight to your bucket list Alaska trip. Work as a team as you paddle this mighty river. Hit roller coaster style rapids and take in the scenery of Glacier View. This trip is great for anyone 12+ and requires no prior river experience.

Check in at our office to sign waivers before being outfitted in river gear by our guides.
Grab your helmet and load up into the bus for a short, scenic drive. Once you reach the put in you’ll be safety briefed before starting your adventure down Caribou Creek. As you float down this gentle creek, take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery before the exciting rapids on the Matanuska River begin!

raft hitting a wave with clients getting splashed

guide steering the boat while clients paddle through a splashy rapid

a wave overtakes the boat to show the thrill of whitewater rafting

riding a whitewater wave and getting splashed by the river

people hit rapids in boats and cheer as they get splashed

Raft Six Mile Creek

Six Mile Creek is the ultimate rafting adventure. Hit adrenaline pumping rapids, navigate through steep drops and narrow routes, and enjoy the turquoise blue water and impressive canyon walls as you head downstream. Six Mile should be on every adrenaline junkies bucket list. We recommend that you are ready to get wet, are a good swimmer, and in good physical shape for this adventure.

Meet your guides who will get you outfitted in river gear before going over a pre-trip safety briefing. Before starting your rafting adventure you’ll complete a mandatory swim test; this swim test is designed to give you a chance to practice self-rescue & learn how to get back in the boat should you come out on one of the rapids. Please note that guides are able to deny participation to anyone.

Once you’ve completed the swim test the true adventure begins! Navigate through two or three canyons and take in the beauty of this powerful river.

2 vs 3 Canyons

Our Six Mile Creek trip allows you to choose between rafting 2 or 3 canyons. The 2 canyon tour is Class IV and has a 12 year age minimum, while the 3 canyon tour is Class V and has a 16 year age minimum. 3 canyon includes back to back rapids with increased difficulty and risk, and is the only Class V river run in the state!
Water levels drastically change this river. Our trips only run at certain water levels, so if the water is too high or too low for your date we will have to reschedule your trip. Full refunds will be issued if cancellations occur and/or we’ll reschedule you to an upcoming date.
You can always opt to book our 2 Canyon trip and upgrade to the 3 Canyon trip while on the river if you want to extend your adventure day of!

a boat comes up to a drop on the turquoise blue water of Six Mile Creek

the scale of the mountains and forests on Six Mile Creek

a group rafts down Six Mile Creek among lush cliffs and rocks

boats heading downstream for whitewater fun in Hope Alaska

a NOVA boat riding through the canyon on Six Mile Creek

Multi Day Rafting Trips

Make your trip to Alaska truly unforgettable with an overnight or multi day trip on one of the rivers we know well. We’ll provide the food, camping gear, rafting gear, and stoke. Just bring your friends and family along! You can opt to raft the Matanuska or Talkeetna river for a unique adventure. The Matanuska trip is typically one night, while the Talkeetna trip is three nights. You can learn more about these trips here or contact us for more info!

excited river guides about to go whitewater rafting

clients and a guide excited to be exploring the glacier

Make It A Combo and Save

When you book two of the trips NOVA has to offer you’ll get 10% off both trips. Combine a Matanuska River trip with a Matanuska Glacier Tour. Ice climb one day and then raft the next. You can even road trip from Six Mile to the Matanuska River to raft both rivers with us!

Learn more about our glacier tours.