River Rafting

The right river raft will last and serve you on many great adventures.

Learn to properly read the white-water rapid rating system to gauge the difficulty level of the river before embarking upon a rafting trip.

Properly preparing yourself for a rafting trip ensures that you have everything you need, when you need it, for the best rafting experience possible.

Camping out as part of a whitewater-rafting trip can be an unforgettable experience. Follow these steps to make sure you're properly prepared.

To "ferry" means to cross a river. Use the following techniques to maneuver your raft in either direction across the river.

Not even the most skilled rafting crew can control a river, but safe passage through rapids can be achieved by cooperating with the river and with careful planning.

After some practice, the basic rowing techniques can become second nature, and a single rower can navigate a raft down a river.

While paddling a river raft doesn't work quite as well as rowing a raft with oars, it's a fun way to get everyone working as a team to guide the raft down a river and through whitewater rapids.

River rafts sometimes get stuck on a rock or a gravel bar. Normally they're easily freed, but sometimes they require rescue techniques. Logic is the key to freeing a stuck raft. Here are several...

With proper care, a river raft should last for many years. Follow these procedures to lengthen the life of a raft and reduce the number of repairs needed.

Repairing an inflatable raft requires some knowledge and a good repair kit.

River rafts get stuck on rocks and gravel bars in the middle of frothing white water. That's just the fact. And regardless of your guide's reassurances, it's always the fault of paying passengers....

If you're riding huge swells in the North Atlantic and your life raft calls it a day, you don't need this book, you need a Hollywood miracle. But if you discover a small leak in your inflatable...

I went river rafting on the Upper Kern once--a fantastic and thrilling voyage. Only one of us fell out of the raft during the whole trip (not me). Here are some tips if it's YOU that falls out.

Looking for a cool way to spend time on a hot central Texas day? Rafting the beautiful San Marcos River is about as cool as it gets. The spring-fed river water stays a constant 72 degrees all...

Lake Wenatchee in Washington State offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Hiking and biking trails surround the lake and visitors can even hunt or play golf. If you're looking for...

Tubing usually involves a speed boat and hanging on for your life as you're thrown in and out of the wake. In Texas, it's a little different. Tubing (or "toobing") is a popular recreational...

Tubing in Alaska is a bit different than tubing in the continental United States. Because of the cold weather and water, it is not possible to float down a river in a tube. Instead you can tube...

Relax and socialize with friends and family as you float lazily down the river. Or be a bit more daring and choose to brave the rapids. Whatever speed you're looking for, you'll find it and more...

River rafting is an active vacation choice for thrill-seekers as well as the whole family. Colorado has some great rivers for rafting and offers some of the best river rafting in the United...

Whitewater rafting is an amazing sport. You hop in a raft and hold on as the river whisks you away for an adrenaline-packed ride. Except you have to do more than just hang on--you need to know...

Tubing down the river in New Braunfels, Texas, is an experience that is fun for the entire family. In fact, there is not just one river to tube in New Braunfels, but two. You can float through the...

The Rio Grande doesn't mean "big river" for nothing. Miles upon miles of some of the most exciting waters in the country, surrounded by breathtaking scenery makes the Rio Grande an ideal choice...

Feel the rush of whitewater rafting on the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It's an experience that lasts a lifetime.

The state of Kentucky has some beautiful lakes and rivers for tubing, kayaking or canoeing. From calm gentle waters to exciting white water, Kentucky rivers offer something for everyone. Taking...

Snake River is located in the base of Hell's Canyon which is 80 miles long. Snake River can be at your finger tips by booking a guided tour to raft down the river. This river is for the...

River rafting can be a very exciting and enjoyable activity if you take the precautions to learn a bit about the sport before you go. What do you do if you fall out of the raft in the rapids? You...

River rafting is an exciting sport that offers chills, spills, and adventure, all in one delightful adventure. It is a sport with some risk associated it, so it pays to take some precautions...

Whitewater rafting is a great extracurricular activity. However, it comes with inherent dangers that must be understood. Rivers can be dangerous, with strong currents and complicated obstacles. ...

Whitewater classification systems are designed to let river runners know the difficulty of rivers and whitewater features. There are a few different whitewater classification systems worldwide. ...

Drift lazily down a river or take a wild boat ride in a giant inflatable tube. Purchase accessories for your tubing adventure that will keep you inflated and afloat. Tubing accessories are...

Towed tubing is a safe, thrilling pastime for kids and adults alike. Part of a successful tubing adventure is deciding on the right boat to tow the tube. A number of factors, and a good chunk of...

Inner tubing down rivers has become a popular pastime. Similar to canoeing, but with less talent required, almost anyone can learn to be a tuber and have a great experience on the river-—it just...

Rafters experience a wide variety of climates during expeditions, so it's imperative that you dress the part. Even if you're a beginner, knowing how to dress for river rafting will help you look...

River rafting can be a dangerous sport, especially if you aren't properly geared for the trip. Picking safety gear is one of the most crucial planning stages, so it is important to make sure you...

Properly inflating and deflating your river raft is a crucial step in your enjoyment of a river rafting trip. Though it may seem like a no-brainer, there is a proper technique to inflation and...

Most good spots for river rafting require a bit of a trek, so properly transporting your raft is an important part of making sure your trip is enjoyable. Luckily, loading and hauling the raft is...

Though all the fun of river rafting happens while you're on the water and not focused on the care of your equipment, what you do off the water with your river raft is key to the fun and success of...

If you find yourself in a situation where your raft has capsized, but you're relatively close to shore, your best bet is to get your raft to shore and right it from there. Though it is an...

Though ideally your raft will stay upright for your entire river rafting experience, there is a very good chance that it may capsize at some point, especially if your rafting companions (or you!)...

Paddle signals are the best and most reliable way to communicate with the members of a rafting team, because voice commands will often be swallowed up by the sounds of the rapids. Though you may...

When it comes to river rafting, it isn't about whether you'll need to help pull someone back into the raft, but when you'll need to pull someone back into the raft. Taking a dunk in the river is...

A group of people in a raft working together to negotiate the raft's safe passage through a rapid in the river is what whitewater rafting is all about. It's exhilarating to ride the current,...

The rivers and canyons of Utah provide some of the best rafting experiences in North America, with whitewater rafting, paddle boat rafting and multi-person boating all available on the state's...

Swiftwater rescue is an operation that should be carried out primarily by trained and certified river-rafting guides. However, there are always occasions when the average rafter will need to know...

If you are planning on rafting on an unfamiliar river, it's always best to do a preliminary read of the river before committing your raft to the water. Reading can be done either from the shore...

River rapid classification is the best way to really understand what you may be in for when you sign up for a river rafting excursion. There are six classes on the International Scale of River...

River tubing can be a very fun summer watersport, but there are many precautions and steps that should be followed to ensure a great and safe time.

Falling overboard can be scary, but it is rarely dangerous if you are properly prepared. Here is how to ensure that your white water canoeing trip is a safe, enjoyable one.

Learn about raft design for whitewater rafting in this free outdoor adventure video from our kayaking expert.