Top 10 Whitewater Rafting Destinations in the US
The United States is chalk full of raftable rivers and waterways. With so many rivers and rafting options, which destinations provide the best combination of whitewater fun and backcountry scenery?
The United States has the largest concentration of commercial river runners than any other country in the world. River rafting continues to become a popular adventure among all generations, from Baby Boomers down the generation Y. A majority of the people who are on river rafting trips have rafted before, which means that once experienced, a return to the river is sure to come. With so many destinations to choose from, which rivers offer the best rafting trips in the country?
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The list below outlines places across the US we recognized as our top 10 whitewater rafting destinations for 2010. These trips are most suitable for everyone, with no prior experience necessary. The trips also offer a great combination of scenic beauty and white water rafting excitement:
1. Grand Canyon, AZ
2. Salmon River, ID
3. Arkansas River, CO
4. Colorado River, UT
4. American River, CA
5. Rogue River, OR
6. Glacier National Park, MT
7. New River, WV
8. Chattooga River, GA/SC
9. Snake River, ID/WY
10. Deerfield River, MA
Most of these destinations and rivers offer a wide variety of trip options, ranging from short half-day river trips to longer multi-day excursions. Packages and trips durations vary depending on the location and outfitter of choice.
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The best way to plan a good rafting vacation is to do your research early. There are many websites that offer comprehensive information on river rafting and good rafting vacations. Go online and look for a whitewater rafting directory or website that covers multiple areas, gives some great general information, and recommends quality whitewater rafting outfitters in your area.
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A good place to start research for a rafting vacation would be the Rafting America website which offers a comprehensive geographical map with rafting locations in most states, as well as answers to common river rafting questions, river class ratings and contact information.
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Recreational Guide: the American River
American River Geography
The American River is located in the Northern California. The River runs from the Sierra Nevada mountain range through the state capitol Sacramento, flowing into the Sacramento river and eventually into the San Francisco Bay. Hopefully you will find this American River Recreational Guide helpful.
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Rafting: A Popular River Activity
The American River is divided into the North, Middle, and South Forks. The great canyon of the North Fork of the American River, is more than 2,000 feet deep in some spots, and for miles of its length over 3,000 feet deep. At Royal Gorge the canyon is over 4,000 feet deep, and has resisted roads and development down through the 20th century and now into the 21st century. It is one of the great refugia for wildlife left in the Northern Sierra, and is renowned for its wildness and beautiful scenery. It is this canyon and no other which, historically, was known as The American River Canyon.
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The North fork of the America River flows under the Foresthill Bridge just prior to the confluence with the Middle Fork about 3 miles (5 km) from Auburn, California.
From there, the combined American River meanders down past the proposed site of the Auburn Dam, and onward to Folsom Lake. These rivers are popular for their verdant canyons, fishing and white water rafting. Below Folsom Lake, the American River passes through an urbanized area but is buffered by a riparian park, the American River Parkway, that runs 23 miles (37 km) from Folsom Lake to the river’s confluence with the Sacramento River. The American River Parkway incorporates the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, a meandering, uninterrupted 32-mile cycle path which hugs the river bank from Old Sacramento to Folsom Lake.
White Water Rafting
The Coloma-Lotus Valley is the major destination of the South Fork, shaped by the river today as in 1848. Three riverfront parks provide opportunities for family picnics and wading, and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park brings California’s history to life. This stretch of the South Fork, the most popular whitewater in California, provides many great opportunities for river recreation. The 20-mile run from Chili Bar to Salmon Falls, features over 20 named rapids and countless waves in between. Most paddlers run the American River with a commercial rafting company. Outfitters provide the equipment, experienced guides, plus life jackets and other gear, so that you can enjoy the outdoor adventure without the hassle or expense of investing in your own equipment. Rafting is very popular on the river.
American River History
Rio de los Americanos, or American River, was named the ‘Wild River’ by trapper-explored Jedediah Smith, when he and his companions were encamped on its South Fork in 1827. Later, the fort of Johann Augustus Sutter arose near the confluence of the American with the Sacramento River. Sutter was a Swiss man who came to California in 1839, and received a land grant from the Mexican government of the province. Nobody is really sure as to why the America River was calledRio des los Americanos, but it may be due to this fact.
Sutter’s fort became the terminus of the Donner Trail, which crossed the Sierra at Donner Pass and flirted in and around the basin of the North Fork American as it worked its way downcountry to Emigrant Gap, whence the trail descended to Bear Valley, and then climbed to the ridge dividing the Bear River from Steephollow, following this for miles. The trail continued southwest, paralleling the Bear until it finally crossed again, on the margins of the Great Central Valley at Johnson’s Ranch. From there it broke more southerly to the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers at Sutter’s Fort.
The South Fork of the American River changed world history in 1848 when California’s first gold was discovered in its stream bed at Sutter’s Mill. This discovery triggered the California Gold Rush of 1849, sometimes referred to as the largest human migration for a single purpose since the Crusades. Thousands of people migrated from everywhere with high hopes to find gold in the American River. Unfortunately, once the easily found gold was removed, the miners made a mess of things with their hydraulic pumps, causing folks downstream to complain. Eventually, the mining operations were shut down, and today you can still find huge trenches created by the miners 150 years ago.
The American River and its tributaries (like most of California’s rivers) are extensively dammed and diverted for hydroelectricity production. Since the California Gold Rush was centered along the American river, it was one of the earlier California rivers to be populated and used for milling. By the end of the nineteenth century some of these former mill sites were converted to some of the earliest hydroelectric plants, with Folsom State Prison using the river to generate electricity in 1893. The Natoma Company completed its Folsom Powerhouse and began delivering power 22 miles (35 km) away to the city of Sacramento by 1895. Today, the five power plants on the Middle Fork are owned by the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) owns eight plants on the South Fork. The SMUD plants are run on a peaking basis, although reservoir flood control capacity and minimum flow requirements impose some constraints on their operation. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) owns the Chili Bar power plant on the South Fork downstream from SMUD’s plants. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has two hydroelectric plants downstream at Folsom Dam and Nimbus Dam. The Bureau of Reclamation operates Nimbus as a base load plant and Folsom as an intermediate plant.
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American River Rafting and Recreation
Because of the high adventure level and fast flow of the American River, white water rafting and kayaking has become one of the more popular recreational activities on the river, and one of the more heavily rafted rivers. Most people choose to go with commercial river guides who know how to navigate the rivers and provide the most enjoyable experience. Whitewater rafting trips down the American River are typically separated into the different sections of the river. American River rafting trips are generally offered as single day or multi-day trips and are available from most whitewater rafting outfitters.
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The banks of the American River also are home to multiple parks, camping and tourists spots. Coloma is a popular destination on the river. Many parks and picnic areas surround the popular town where you can tour Sutter’s Mill and original sites of historical significance.
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South Fork American River Rafting Family Fun
Exploring a new getaway that is both enjoyable and affordable is not an easy task, whether for individual or a group of 200. Looking for an exciting adventure is not at all easy amidst the economic hardships we are currently experiencing.
Californians are luckier than any other Americans because there are more options and more rivers for them when it comes to get-away adventures and nature exploration experiences. Because more options are available, thirty-six and a half million people live in California.
American River Rafting
South Fork American River rafting is within a day’s drive from any of the borders of California, and it is there that you will find a wonderful 21-mile stretch of class III white water rafting. Enormous amounts of gold were found there and it became the home of many families from the east.
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You can enjoy an exciting two or three days of great adventure, gourmet dining, and a wonderful evening campfire, and it doesn’t matter if you are a group of 200 or just one. Everyone has a great time American River Rafting. Trips may be inclusive 3-day 2-night sleepovers, where you can enjoy rafting in two different rivers and delicious meals, or a one-day trip where you can raft for just a few hours.
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Comfortable shuttles will be provided, as well as all necessary equipment for your safety (personal floatation devices, helmets, paddles, rafts and guides) and an incredible deli style gourmet lunch while on the river.
If you stay overnight, you can enjoy a world-class dinner in your camp that will be prepared by your guide. You can also expect evening fireside chats and tent-style camping under the clear skies of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. In the morning, you can enjoy a delightful breakfast prepared for you by your staff; this breakfast will include plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Once you’ve finished breakfast, you’re off again for another exciting day of whitewater rafting after careful instruction from your trip leader.
Each rafter will have a great time floating past historical artifacts, seeing the local flora and fauna, and maybe even spotting rare wildlife such as the river otter. You can truly enjoy the white water rafting experience without being an athlete because an expert will be guiding you and teaching you to paddle in unison and navigate.Rafting in the American River South Fork, you can experience conquering the most famous rapids in the world, like the Meat Grinder, the Trouble Maker, and Satan’s Cesspool and Hospital Bar.
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When going through the “big” rapids, you will not be required to maneuver, so you can just hang on and have fun. The three-day adventure includes a visit to the Middle Fork of the American River where you can experience paddling the class IV rapids.
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You will be shuttled back to base camp after your rafting trip where you can check out the photo shops. These shops will have your action pictures, shots of you on the river conquering the rapids.
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After experiencing the most affordable, accessible, and exciting getaway in California, surely you would want to come back again.
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Take a Day Rafting Tour at Least Once
If you’ve never been white water rafting, you don’t know that there’s nothing else like it. Imagine floating down the river with only you, maybe a guide and a raft, as you cascade over rapids, rocks, and a rapidly flowing current. You get to experience nature first hand and that’s on top of the adrenaline rush you experience. If you’ve never been, you should schedule a day rafting tour at least once in your life.
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Rafting: Should It Be On Your List?
Most people have a list of things they’d like to do or accomplish before they die. That list should include a day white water rafting tour. There are day water rafting trips all over the world. You can schedule one here in the states, or maybe a Maui rafting tour, or even one abroad such as in South America or in Europe somewhere. In fact, you should try to go on a day rafting tour to as many places as you can find so that you can truly experience what the tours have to offer.
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What You Get On A Rafting Tour
When you schedule a day rafting trip, you’ll typically be supplied with everything you need for that tour and a day on the river. That includes the raft, life preservers, a first aid kit, maybe some food and water, as well as other safety equipment you’ll be needing on the day rafting tour. If you’re not a professional, and especially if you’ve never gone before, you definitely want to go with a guide as a day rafting tour, or any rafting, can be extremely dangerous.
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Rafting Guide
When you show up for the day rafting tour, the guide will walk you through what you’ll be doing that day. You will be shown how to use the equipment, as well as how to use some of the other safety equipment in case anyone gets in trouble. When you’re dealing with such a tumultuous journey, things are bound to go wrong. You could tip over, you could get caught between some rocks or your raft could pop on a sharp rock or something. The chances of these things happening with an experienced guide are small but you should still be prepared in case anything does go wrong.
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Once you are settled and you are instructed on what to do, you’ll be able to set off on your day rafting tour and what a ride it will be. Just make sure you hold on tight because once you’re in the water and the rapids are flowing underneath you, you will see how much your adrenaline starts flowing and it’s likely you’ll want to go on another day rafting tour very soon.
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Great Summer Fun with White Water River Rafting
If you are looking for a thrilling adventure to add to your summer plans, consider having fun with white water rafting. Common locations for this to take place include the rivers of Colorado and Idaho.
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Rafting Destinations
There are more than 50 different rivers you can choose to explore while white water rafting.
White Water Rafting Trips
Some of the river rafting trips you will find are only for a day while others last for several days. You will have the opportunity to work with other people to get your raft through the water. Each person on the raft will have a paddle that they use to help direct the raft. You have to do your part or your raft could end up upside down with everyone floating down the river!
The adventures that cover several days allow you to camp along the river and then to enjoy it during the day. This is a type of family vacation that everyone will be excited to take part in. It is a way to bond with each other without common distractions that tend to force family members into separate directions.
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As you move along the fast paced water you can enjoy the excitement of the outdoors. The raft will move quickly as well as turn and plunge in some areas of the river. You will also be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery including mountains and various types of wildlife while rafting.
River Rafting Tours
Many of the best white water rafting trips fill up quickly so it is important to plan your trip in advance.The internet is a great place to explore the different options available for white water rafting. You will be able to choose your location, see the route you will be traveling down, and compare prices. This way you can set up the best possible white rafting adventure for your needs and your budget.
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Imagine being completely in charge of your experience with nature as you are white water rafting. You will have a qualified instructor on the raft with you and possibly some people you don’t know depending on the size of your group. Even if you are strangers at the beginning of the trip though you will be great friends by the time it is over!
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While White Water Rafting
It is definitely an adventure you will never forget but it is very important to remember that it can be dangerous. Only set up your trip with a reputable business that is known for offering quality equipment and that has well trained staff. Even with a lifejacket on it is isn’t a good idea for those that don’t know how to swim to engage in this type of activity. You will have to sign a disclaimer that releases the company from liability should injuries or death occur.
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If you are new to the sport of white water rafting then you should secure a trip that isn’t very long and that covers a mild stretch of water. This way if you don’t enjoy the experience it won’t last too long. As you become more experienced in the process of whitewater rafting you can schedule longer trips and attempt more daring stretches of water.
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