20 amazing white water rafting trips in the USA: We’re here to tell you about 20 exciting white water rafting trips you can enjoy in the United States. You can choose the kind of adventure you want, whether it’s thrilling rapids or a relaxed float down a river. White water rafting is a year-round activity in America, thanks to melting snow, dam releases, and rivers that flow all the time. So, let’s get ready for an amazing journey.
White Water Rafting: What’s It All About?
White water rafting isn’t just about splashing in rapids and having picnics by the river (though that does sound fun). It offers a unique way to explore some of the wildest places in the United States. You can see wildlife and stunning landscapes far from the roads. That’s why some of the best white water rafting spots are found in small towns and mountain wilderness areas, giving you a taste of the country at its most natural.
1. Gardiner, Montana:Wild West Rafting
- Visit Gardiner to go white water rafting on the Yellowstone River. You’ll float through the beautiful Gallatin Range in the Rocky Mountains.
- Look out for ospreys and Montana’s native wildlife.
- You can try your paddling skills on a rafting trip or go for a more immersive experience by paddling a longer section of the Yellowstone River and spending the night by the water.
2. Taos, New Mexico: Far Flung Adventures
- Head to Taos for a thrilling white water rafting trip on the Rio Grande.
- Conquer challenging sections like the Narrows, Big Rock, and Souse Hole.
- Rumor has it that leaving Taos might not be easy, as the whole town is said to have a mysterious energy that keeps visitors coming back.
3. Canon City, Colorado: Lost Paddle Rafting
- The mighty Arkansas River offers over 100 miles of exciting rapids.
- With so much white water, there are many options for your river trip. You can choose from a relaxed trip down Bighorn Sheep Canyon or take on the more challenging Royal Gorge, which has towering canyon walls and thrilling Class V rapids.
4. Hartford, Tennessee: Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting
- Hartford is a fantastic home base for white water adventures in the Smoky Mountains.
- Opt for the lower section of the Pigeon River for a beginner-friendly trip with Class I and Class II rapids.
- Or challenge yourself on the upper Pigeon River, where you’ll face Class III and Class IV rapids with big waves and some serious drops.
5. Buena Vista, Colorado: Noah’s Ark Colorado Rafting & Aerial Adventure Park
- Buena Vista, surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks, is a top destination for white water adventures in Colorado.
- You can raft through Brown’s Canyon National Monument, navigate the serious white water of Royal Gorge, or use Buena Vista as your base for paddling “The Numbers,” a legendary stretch of the Arkansas River known for its steep, rocky, and powerful rapids.
6. McCaysville, Georgia: Rolling Thunder River Company
- The Toccoa River flows through the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is perfect for a relaxed white water rafting trip.
- Families with younger kids can try white water rafting for the first time. You can also float down the Toccoa River using a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or inner tube (and you can even bring a floating cooler for drinks).
7. Bryson City, North Carolina: Nantahala Rafting with Adventurous Fast Rivers
- The Nantahala River offers a mix of white water rapids and calm sections.
- Bryson City is a beautiful place to start your adventure and explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Thanks to scheduled dam releases, the Nantahala River has Class II and Class III rapids, making it an excellent choice for cool water adventures surrounded by lush North Carolina forests.
8. Lotus & Coloma, California: Beyond Limits Adventures
- Explore the south fork of the American River on a white water rafting trip starting from Lotus or Coloma in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- This area is known for California’s gold history. Look for shining specks in the water as you learn to navigate churning rapids and waves. You can even bring along your gold pan for an adventurous overnight rafting trip under the California stars.
9. Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania: White Water Adventurers
- Ohiopyle State Park features an energetic seven-and-a-half-mile stretch of Class II, Class III, and Class IV rapids on the Youghiogheny River, also known as the Yough by the locals.
- White water rafting on the lower Yough River is great for first-time adventurers, while experienced white water kayakers can have a blast surfing standing waves and navigating challenging holes.
10. Charlemont, Berkshires, Massachusetts: Crab Apple Whitewater
- Conditions on the Deerfield River range from gentle ripples, ideal for inner tubing, to Class IV rapids that get a boost from dam releases between April and October.
- The Deerfield River follows the scenic Mohawk Trail, adding to the adventure as you make your way to the white water rafting spots.
11. Jackson, Wyoming: Jackson Hole Whitewater
- Paddle with fantastic views of the Grand Teton Mountains on a white water rafting trip along the Snake River.
- Jackson Hole white water rafting has options for everyone, from relaxing floats perfect for wildlife spotting to high-energy trips with challenging rapids. You can even mix rafting with a taste of Wyoming’s legendary fly fishing.
12. Idaho Springs, Colorado: Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting
- White water rafting in Idaho Springs means paddling Clear Creek, which has both easy sections with fun rolling rapids and sustained stretches with Class III and Class IV rapids that keep you focused (and wet).
- The white water rafting season starts in May when the river warms up and continues through the sunny Colorado summer.
13. Merlin, Oregon: Orange Torpedo Rafting Trips
- Tiny Merlin, Oregon, is a perfect base camp for a white water rafting trip on the Rogue River, one of the most famous rafting destinations in the West.
- Don’t let the name intimidate you; Hellgate Canyon is excellent for first-time rafters, and the Nugget Falls section is ideal for improving your skills, with Class IV falls and surfable waves.
14. The Forks, Maine: U.S. Rafting
- Deep in western Maine, The Forks is a white water rafting destination with a backwoods feel.
- This is where the Dead River and the Kennebec River meet, offering excellent white water rafting on both waterways. The Dead River boasts the East’s longest stretch of continuous whitewater, while the Kennebec takes a powerful dive through the remote Kennebec River Gorge, where dam releases create Class IV rapids.
15. Athelstane, Wisconsin: Wildman Adventure Resort-Peshtigo River
- Take on the white water rapids of the Menominee River, which has soaring cliffs along its banks.
- Rafting trips from Athelstane navigate Piers Gorge, right on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin. In the spring, when the water is high, you can tackle Class IV and Class V rapids for a thrilling adventure.
16. Weatherly, Pennsylvania: Whitewater Challengers
- The Lehigh River, once used to power mills and foundries, is now a great spot for white water rafting in the Pocono Mountains.
- Plan a weekend rafting adventure that coincides with dam releases, and you’ll experience the thrill of energetic rapids. On other days, enjoy family-friendly rafting with Class I and Class II white water.
17. Flagstaff, Arizona: Grand Canyon Custom Tours
- Rafting through the Grand Canyon is one of the world’s best white water rafting adventures.
- You’ll have unmatched views of the canyon from water level. Flagstaff is the perfect base camp for your rafting journey. Choose between navigating the Colorado River in a wooden dory, just like John Wesley Powell, or opt for the comfort of a white water raft as you splash your way down one of America’s most iconic rivers.
18. Lansing, West Virginia: New & Gauley River Adventures
- Paddle through the stunning New River Gorge in the heart of West Virginia.
- You’ll be white water rafting on one of the world’s oldest rivers. More experienced rafters can tackle the nearby Gauley River, known for its challenging technical rapids that are at their best from early September to mid-October.
19. Stanley, Idaho: White Cloud Rafting Adventures
- The Salmon River flows through an untouched wilderness and is often called the “River of No Return.”
- Even beginners can enjoy Class II and Class III rapids on rafts and white water kayaks, passing through some of northern Idaho’s most rugged and untouched scenery.
20. Ocoee, Tennessee: Quest Expeditions
- Take on challenging Class III and Class IV rapids on the Ocoee River, one of the best white water rafting destinations in Tennessee.
- The warm river water adds to the fun as you paddle through roller coaster waves and churning drops. The rafting season runs from March through October.MORE: 10 Best Travel Pill Dispensers Reviews
