How to Go White Water Canoeing

White water canoeing is a fun activity that is like a new adventure each time you go. Canoeing gives you beautiful views, fresh air, plenty of sunshine and a healthy dose of exercise. Best of all, it does all of this while giving you the same feeling you had as a child playing on the local playground. In short, going white water canoeing is invigorating and here is how you can do it yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Sunscreen
• Cooler full of food and drinks
• All other supplies will be provided by an outfitter

1. Determine what river you would like to use for your white water canoeing trip. I personally like to canoe on the Buffalo River in Northern Arkansas, but there are definitely other locations that are closer to where you live.
2. Find out what the canoeing season is for the river you selected. If you go too early in the year, you may find that the rapids are more advanced than you expected. Or, if you go too late in the year, you may find slow water that requires a lot more paddling. A local river outfitter will be able to tell you the optimum season for white water canoeing on the river.
3. Call a river outfitter to reserve equipment for the date you select. You will generally need one canoe for every two adults, although it is normally acceptable for a child to sit in the center of the canoe. Life jackets and paddles are normally included in the canoe rental at no extra charge.
4. Consider hiring a river guide. If no one in your party has ever gone white water canoeing, you may benefit from the experience of a guide who knows the river you will be traveling on. The down side is that a river guide will usually want you to move down the river at their pace, rather than allowing you to drift along as you please.
5. Decide what extra equipment to bring. If you will be going on a multiple day trip and camping on the river, then you may require a tent, sleeping bags, fishing gear and more. Try to balance what you need. You do not want to be caught without essential equipment, but you also do not want to have to rent an extra canoe just to tow your belongings behind you.
6. Pack a cooler with enough food and drinks for everyone on the trip. This will be no gas stations or fast food restaurants on the river, so your only source of food will be what you bring with you and what you can forage in the wild. Be sure to secure the lid of your cooler with bungee straps, just in case your canoe tips over.
7. Bring plenty of water-resistant sunscreen and be sure to use it. Few things are as bad as having a deep sunburn on top of sore muscles.
8. Bring a good attitude and prepare to have fun. Be sure to pull your canoe over from time to time, just for the sake of enjoying your surroundings or going for a quick swim.

Tips & Warnings

• Since one person in the canoe provides power while the other steers, it is a good idea to switch positions periodically so that everyone has an equal experience.