Boats and Boating: Boating destinations - "The Perfect Vacation - Top 5 Things To Know For Planning A Whitewater Rafting Trip" |
|
Home |
Whitewater rafting is defined as a recreational activity enjoyed by several passengers in an inflatable rubber boat used for navigating down a river or other fast-moving body of water. If you love adventure and want to do something special for your next vacation, then perhaps a whitewater rafting trip would be the ideal option. Steered by a professional guide, you will make your way through raging water, while enjoying the thrill and adventure of the rapids. The key to a successful whitewater rafting trip is good planning, which is why we decided to provide you with the top five things you need to know.
The most important aspect of planning any whitewater rafting trip is to ensure you will be guided down the river by a professional guide, one who knows not just the water and how to steer the boat but also one who is certified as a “Whitewater Rescue” or “Swift-Water Technician”. Additionally, your guide should be certified in CPR, Advanced First Aid, and other common river rescue techniques.
Unfortunately, only about 5% of whitewater rafting guides meet these criteria. While this type of activity is generally, safe and you are required to wear life vests and helmets, sometimes things happen. In this case, you want to ensure you have the best possible guide with you if something were to go wrong. Therefore, as you begin your search, ask questions specific to safety, expertise, and certification, and make sure every passenger will undergo a safety orientation prior to heading down the river.
If you or someone in your group has a special need, make sure you choose an outfit that can accommodate. Remember, whitewater rafting does not exclude people who are not able-bodied. In fact, it is common to see people who normally live in wheelchairs along with people who have other types of disabilities enjoying this kind of activity.
For children, again you want to choose the right whitewater rafting outfitter. However, most gladly welcome children on this type of adventure, knowing it is an excellent family experience. However, you will need to research age and size requirements in that these vary depending on the type of boat, the outfit company itself, the water level, difficulty of the trip, and so on.
Some people look for a whitewater rafting trip that will start early in the morning and have them back to their car or campsite by late afternoon. However, other diehard outdoor enthusiasts prefer rafting trips that are multiple day excursions. In this case, you would take your sleeping gear with you down the river and camp out along the banks at night. This experience is truly amazing and one that you will never forget. Therefore, check out all your options to see if a multi-day trip is more to your liking.
Whitewater rafting trips are not all created equal. Therefore, rather than just settle on the first outfit you talk to, take your time to find out about the length of the trip, the amenities included, level of skill for your guide, price per person, equipment rental fees, and gratuity. Obviously, price is just one consideration when booking a whitewater rafting trip and while it should not be the number one factor, it is certainly something to consider in the overall planning.
Additionally, ask about group, student, or corporate discounts. Many times, even the best outfitters will offer a nice discount if you have over a certain number of people in your party, if you are a student, or if you are taking the trip as part of a corporate outing such as a team-building event. In fact, there are even discounts offered in many cases for wedding parties so always ask.
Finally, you want to take a whitewater rafting trip when it will be most enjoyable. Obviously, the time of year you choose will depend greatly on the region or country where you plan to raft. However, you can do your own homework pertaining to precipitation, along with dam and reservoir water releases, snowfall, rainfall, and heat or talk to the outfitter to find out what time of year they recommend.
Generally, whitewater rafting in the United States and Canada is best from April to October. However, some rafting outfitters will supply passengers with wetsuits whereby they can take to the river with the first snow runoff in the spring and if water levels permit, later into the year, as late as November.
River rafting is a major attraction in California. The most popular California river rafting destination is the mighty American River. The American River begins in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and runs to the Sacramento River. The American River splits into three forks before it converges. The North Fork, the Middle Fork, and the South Fork each offer rafters unique adventures.
The North Fork of the American River offers the most challenging rapids on the river. It is fed by the runoff from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the early spring when the snow melts. This runoff, mixed with the narrow canyons
Read this article in full
Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a lifetime. Viewing the canyon from along the rim is a stunning experience on its own, but it pales in comparison to the adventure of riding the river through it. Several river recreation outfitters offer guided rafting tours through the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon was formed over several million years. An ancestral version of what is now the Colorado River slowly eroded the earth, creating this breathtaking formation. The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The canyon is over 250 miles long and is over
Read this article in full
Canoeing is a wonderful family vacation idea. It can be a real family-type adventure that is challenging yet not too difficult. Besides being a distinctly fun activity, it is also a form of travel. With a canoe you have the means to safely access wilderness areas that otherwise might not be possible for a family. In more touristy places you have the means to slip off across the river or lake for more private family fun.
If you have your own canoe, great. It is easily carried on your car to where you will be using it. Or you can rent
Read this article in full
Thousands of miles of awe-inspiring coastline have enticed a small, but growing, number of adventurers to discover the wonders of sea kayaking Southwest Alaska. At the forefront of destinations in this remote region is Kodiak. The island is the second largest island in the United States, yet, owing to it’s numerous fjords, no point of land on Kodiak Island is more than 15 miles from the sea. Don’t be deceived by Kodiak’s listing as the fourth-largest community in Alaska; it is still small enough to get by with it’s one traffic light turned off.
Locals have long known of Kodiak’s natural
Read this article in full
The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of Idaho. The legendary explorers Lewis and Clark traveled part of the Salmon River but thought it was too rough to navigate. For a short time The river was also known as Lewis's River. Another name for this wild, untamable body of water is the River Of No Return.
The Salmon River has two major parts, the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon River. Both offer great rafting experiences, with rapids in the Class III to Class IV range. When the Main Salmon floods, the rapids become Class V.
Salmon River rafting trips
Read this article in full
We support this site using affiliate marketing as a way to earn revenue. All the ads, and many of the links mentioning other products, services, or websites are special links that earn us a commission when you use or pay for their product/service.
Please do not use our site if this alarms you.
