Have you ever considered going on a whitewater rafting trip, but weren’t sure of what you were getting yourself into? Not to worry – you are not alone. This popular but elusive vacation option comes with its fair share of misconceptions around what to expect, how safe it is, and whether or not it is worth the money. Once you understand these elements, you will soon learn that this is one of the most doable, affordable, and valuable vacations around. Here are some tips that will answer all of those questions.

Let’s start with the basics. What is whitewater rafting? It is the maneuvering of a vessel down a river. Rafting implies the vessel is a coast guard approved raft (which we will get to in a bit). This raft can be maneuvered in a variety of ways – by one person with large oars rigged to the raft, with a group of people holding individual paddles and led by a guide calling paddle instructions (most common) or in a combination referred to as an oar-paddle combination with the oarsman in the rear compartment of the raft acting as both the major power and the guide calling instructions.

Rivers are exactly that – flowing water from some elevation working its way towards some body of water. Most rivers are given a class-rating for rafting. This helps individuals to determine the intensity of the ride. Most rivers are graded on a scale of I to VI. A I is near-flat water with little current, and class VI is un-runnable in a raft. This classification can pertain to any body of water from Niagara Falls to a trickle of a stream paralleling a highway, and is specific to the sport of rafting (for example, kayaks can maneuver in some places where rafts cannot). For the average rafter, class II to IV is doable, and class III is the proverbial “sweet spot.” This is why the South Fork of the American River in Northern California is such a popular river. Its class III rating offers fun adventures for most everyone. The average user can be a family, a youth group, a seven-year-old child, or an active elderly person.

A typical raft trip includes a professional guide. Whether this individual is male or female, the guide is a professional who makes a living guiding whitewater trips. Some of these guides even follow summer around the globe! As a result, many of the guides are international, so don’t be surprised to hear an Australian or Canadian accent on board! But no matter what the nationality, these guides know the river you are rafting and are used to individuals of all ability levels. They know how to read the river and navigate it, so rest assured that you are in good hands! Don’t forget to tip your guide at the end of the trip – this practice is quite common on the river.

Your trip also includes a whitewater raft (naturally). These boats are specifically designed for the purpose of whitewater rafting and are incredibly tough. There are two materials commonly used in crafting a raft: Hypalon (a rubber-based material) and Urethane/PVC (a plastic-based product). These boats can smash rocks, pound waves and take people climbing in and out of them for years before they need to be retired. Do make sure you rinse your feet before climbing into the raft, as sand is this boat’s worst enemy. It wears holes in the seams and causes leaks. The average whitewater raft costs nearly $5,000!

Before entering the raft, you will receive a paddle (unless you are in an oar-rigged raft), so that you can help power the raft down the river. The paddles are nearly six feet in length, and are comprised of an aluminum shaft, a plastic coating, and a durable plastic blade.

You will also receive a class V Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD). The vests are meant for individuals of all shapes and sizes, and are the highest-quality PFD on the market today.

More and more outfitters are providing their guests with helmets. While they vary in design, these helmets have a few things in common: they are made for getting wet, are lightweight, and are a smart thing to wear. In many other countries wearing a helmet is not an option; everyone dons a helmet. Outfitters exposed to foreign guides are adopting by choice these safer rafting practices and providing their guests with helmets. When choosing a rafting provider, be sure to go with someone who requires helmets.

Some outfitters offer a gourmet-style deli lunch as part of the package that is actually served on the banks of the river! While the options may vary slightly, a typical lunch includes two or three breads, sprouts, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, onions, two cheeses, two meats, mayonnaise, mustard, peanut butter and jelly, chips, fruit cookies and water. This is not necessarily an option on all rivers but is common practice on the American River.

For rafters who are lucky enough to go on overnight trips, the rafting package includes two full days of rafting, two lunches, a breakfast, a dinner, and overnight accommodations at a campsite. The staff even prepare the meals for you!

At only $100 per person, per day (on average), whitewater rafting is a very cost-effective vacation that includes a professional guide, professional equipment, great meals, a tour of a river canyon, the adventure of floating down whitewater rapids, and of course, life-long memories.

Consider the cost to visit Disneyland. When you go to Disneyland, you are not provided a personal guide, are not fed, you experience something artificial rather than something natural and majestic, and most often, the price is exponentially higher than that of whitewater rafting. Value is in perception and knowledge. It is our hope that this brief article on basic whitewater rafting knowledge will help you to overcome some fears you may had with regard to the unknown and will encourage you to try this incredible and affordable adventure on your next vacation!

Action Whitewater Adventures (AWA) provides high-quality whitewater rafting vacations that everyone in the family can enjoy. Located on the banks of the American River, the sister company, Nature’s-Classroom, delivers outdoor education programs for school groups of all ages.