Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Back to Blog

3 Things to Consider When Planning a Rafting Adventure

a group of people riding on a raft in a body of water

Choosing the best rafting adventure to suit your needs can easily become an overwhelming experience. You might feel overloaded with information, options, and even questions. But when it comes to finding the right fit for you, there are really only a few considerations you need to keep in mind. If you focus on these three things, narrowing down which raft trips will be best for you can become an easy task.

Location

Location, location, location. This really is one of the most important things to research when sorting through the seemingly endless river rafting options. If you and your family are adrenaline seekers, look for raft trips that offer endless thrills and excitement. On the other hand, if you and your companions like to take things at a more leisurely pace, perhaps find a trip that will provide just enough fun without the fear of being thrown overboard. Additionally, each rafting trip will offer different scenic experiences, so decide which sights you’d most like to see. In some cases, even the same river can offer a variety of different adventures and sceneries. The Colorado River, for example, is so large that it spreads across 11 different national parks.

A major thing to consider when choosing a location is the condition of the river itself. If there was a lot of rain or snowfall in that area this year, the river conditions might be at a more intense, or even dangerous level. A little less precipitation in an area might mean two things; either the water level is too low for rafting, or the lower water flow could make for less stressful and more playful water conditions. Ultimately, your skill level is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a location for white water rafting trips.

Rafting Guide

Besides finding the ideal river for your adventure, researching the local rafting guides is also vital to ensuring you have the best experience possible. Don’t hesitate to look into the training and years of experience the guides have. No matter the intensity of the trip you take, accidents can happen, so having a qualified and experienced guide is an absolute must.

Additional Activities

If you are hoping to maybe sneak in a few more activities during your river rafting trip, look for experiences that offer a variety of packages. Many locations offer deals where you can experience amazing whitewater rafting, while also offering a scenic and exciting zipline course. ATV tours, kayaking, and even family fishing trips are all experiences you can enjoy during raft trips. Throwing in a few more activities along with your rafting trip can make for an even more exciting and memorable adventure.

In reality, choosing the best raft trips for you and your companions can be a simple and even enjoyable task. The location, rafting guide, and your interest in additional activities are the main considerations to keep in mind as you pick your amazing whitewater rafting trip.