20 amazing trips to raft white water in the United States
 |
| 20 amazing trips to raft white water in the United States |
 |
| Gardiner, Montana |
Gardiner, Montana
In Gardiner, go white water rafting on the Yellowstone River to float through the gorgeous Gallatin Range of the Rocky Mountains. You'll have a chance to see ospreys and other native wildlife from Montana. Try out your paddling skills on a rafting trip, or go for the full wilderness experience, paddling a longer section of the Yellowstone River and spending the night at the edge of the water.
Taos, New Mexico
Head to Taos for a white water rafting trip on the Rio Grande, then paddle the Narrows, Big Rock, and Souse Hole. Even if you endure the spinning whirlpools and eddies, leaving Taos might not be so easy—the entire town is said to be an “energy vortex” that’s rumored to exert a powerful pull on visitors.
Canon City, Colorado
There are more than 100 miles of rapids on the mighty Arkansas River, a river rafting hotspot that flows right past the mountain town of Canon City. When booking a river trip, there is a lot of white water to choose from, including the laid-back Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the more challenging Royal Gorge, with its towering canyon walls and some terrifying Class V rapids.
Tennessee's Hartford
Hartford is an excellent base for white water rafting adventures in Tennessee because it has access to the best rafting in the Smoky Mountains. Choose the lower section of the Pigeon River for a beginner-friendly float through Class I and Class II rapids, or opt for the upper Pidgeon River to tackle Class III and Class IV rapids that include big waves and some serious drops.
Colorado's Buena Vista
Buena Vista is a popular Colorado destination for white water rafting adventures because it is surrounded by mountains at 14,000 feet. You can paddle Brown's Canyon National Monument, tackle the serious whitewater that surges through Royal Gorge, or use Buena Vista as a base camp to paddle "The Numbers," a renowned, steep, rocky, and powerful section of the Arkansas River.
Georgia's McCaysville
Flowing through the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Toccoa River is great for white water rafting trips at a laid-back pace. White water rafting can be tried for the first time by families with young children, and you can float the Toccoa River in a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle board, or inner tube (with or without a floating beer cooler).
City of Bryson, North Carolina
White water rapids alternate with stretches of flat water on the Nantahala River outside of Bryson City, a picturesque home base for exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Class II and Class II rapids on the Nantahala River are powered by a daily, scheduled dam release, which sends cool water down a watercourse that is surrounded by lush North Carolina forest.
Coloma and Lotus, California
On a white water rafting trip from Lotus or Coloma in the Sierra Nevada foothills, paddle the south fork of the American River. Bring your gold pan along for an adventurous overnight rafting trip and an evening under the stars in California, or watch for shining flecks in the water as you learn to navigate churning rapids and waves in California gold country.
Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Ohiopyle State Park contains a high-energy stretch of Class II, Class III, and Class IV rapids packed into seven and a half miles of the Youghiogheny River—locals just call it the Yough. White water rafting on the lower Yough River is a great first-time white water rafting adventure, but experienced white water kayakers will love surfing standing waves and holes.
Charlemont, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires
The white water rating conditions on the Deerfield River range from easy-to-ride ripples to Class IV rapids made possible by dam releases from April to October. Additionally, getting to the white water rafting locations is only half the fun because the Deerfield River follows the picturesque Mohawk Trail into the Berkshire Mountains.
Wyoming's Jackson
Paddle with gorgeous views of the Grand Teton Mountains on a white water rafting trip on the Snake River. You can combine rafting with a taste of Wyoming's renowned fly fishing on some of the Jackson Hole white water rafting trips, which range from leisurely floats ideal for spotting wildlife to high-energy excursions that tackle more difficult rapids.
Idaho Springs, Colorado
White water rafting in Idaho Springs involves paddling scenic Clear Creek, which has easy sections of fun, rolling rapids as well as sustained stretches of Class III and Class IV rapids that will keep you focused (and wet). Clear Creek is a popular white water rafting route. White water rafting in Idaho's springtime begins in May and continues all the way through the sunny Colorado summer.
Oregon, Merlin
The adventure base camp for a white water rafting trip on the Rogue River, one of the most storied rafting destinations in the West, is Tiny Merlin, Oregon. The name sounds intimidating, but Hellgate Canyon’s a great place for first-time paddlers, while Class IV falls and surfable waves make the Nugget Falls section ideal for stepping up your skills.
The Forks, Maine
The Forks, located in western Maine, is a destination for white water rafting with a rustic vibe. The Dead River and the Kennebec River meet here, and both of these rivers offer excellent white water rafting. 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 churn the water into Class IV rapids.
Wisconsin's Athelstane
Shoot the white water on the Menominee River, whose river banks are hemmed in with soaring cliffs. White water rafting trips from Athelstane navigate Piers Gorge, on the dividing line between Michigan and Wisconsin. When the water peaks in the spring, Class IV and Class V rapids offer a challenging white water adventure for more experienced paddlers.
Pennsylvania's weather
The Lehigh River once powered mills and foundries, but now it’s a great spot for white water rafting trips in the Pocono Mountains. Book a weekend rafting adventure that’s timed to the dam release, and your white water experience will be powered by energetic rapids. On other days, family-friendly rafting can be done on Class I and Class II whitewater.
Arizona's Flagstaff
One of the best white water rafting experiences in the world is rafting the Grand Canyon. From the water's edge, you can see the canyon in a way that is unrivaled, and Flagstaff is the ideal base camp for rafting. You can splash your way down the most famous river in the American west in a wooden dory like John Wesley Powell or in the comfort of a white water raft.
Lansing, West Virginia
On a river rafting trip through the heart of West Virginia, paddle the stunning New River Gorge while white water rafting one of the world's oldest rivers. The nearby Gauley River offers challenging, technical rapids that reach their peak between the beginning of September and the middle of October for more experienced rafters.
Idaho's Stanley
The Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return," runs through the center of an unspoiled wilderness. However, even novice paddlers can enjoy Stanley's best white water rafting. Rafting trips bounce over Class II and Class III rapids in rafts and white water kayaks, passing some of northern Idaho’s most rugged wilderness scenery.
Tennessee, in Ocoee
Take on challenging Class III and Class IV rapids on the Ocoee River, one of the best white water rafting destinations in Tennessee, and you’ll splash through the heart of the southern Appalachian mountains. Warm river water has a long season that lasts from March to October, making it even more fun to paddle through churning drops and roller coaster waves.
white water rafting USA, best rafting trips in America, top rafting destinations, white water adventures, rafting in Colorado, rafting in West Virginia, rafting trips in California, rafting tours, river rafting experiences, adrenaline rafting, family rafting trips, guided whitewater tours, rafting holidays USA, rafting near me, best rivers for rafting, rafting vacations, US river adventures, wild river rafting, white water rafting tours, beginner rafting trips, rafting for couples, rafting group trips, epic rafting routes, outdoor adventure USA, rafting travel, rafting bucket list, summer rafting trips, rafting sports, water sports USA, rafting tourism, American river rafting, Class III rafting, Class IV rafting, extreme water adventures, national park rafting, rafting camps, multiday rafting expeditions, scenic river rafting, rafting with kids, adventure travel USA, wilderness rafting, rafting hotspots USA, river sports in the US, rafting fun, guided rafting USA, river tour USA, rafting in Utah, rafting in Oregon, Grand Canyon rafting, Snake River rafting, rafting Smoky Mountains, rafting North Carolina, rafting Tennessee, best rafting outfitters, rafting season USA, rafting safety tips, eco rafting tours, rafting gear USA, whitewater rapids USA, rafting tips for beginners, rafting for thrill seekers, best rafting rivers, US rafting guide, rafting holidays 2025, travel and raft, rafting road trips, rafting adventure seekers, rafting along scenic routes, mountain river rafting, cold water rafting, American rafting regions, most famous rafting rivers, rafting map USA, popular rafting adventures, white water sports, rafting expeditions, river adventure tours, rafting best states, rafting photos, rafting memories, off-grid rafting tours, best places to raft in US, rafting during summer, expert rafting trips, extreme outdoor adventures, wilderness river tours, rafting retreats, rapid river rides, unforgettable rafting trips, rafting for nature lovers, paddle sports USA, adventure weekend rafting, American rafting culture.
