“This gorgeous stretch of designated Wild and Scenic river runs through 18 miles of uninterrupted wilderness, and serves up action-packed Class IV whitewater excitement from start to finish, numerous options for side-canyon exploration, phenomenal fishing and consistent summertime flows due to releases from upstream reservoirs.” 6) Colorado: Yampa RiverĬolorado’s Rocky Mountains produce countless whitewater rafting trips that would take years to tick off your list. Tyler maintains, the Tuolumne River offers the California’s best rafting trip. Afterall, he grew up rafting the state’s many waterways with his dad, OARS founder George Wendt. OARS President Tyler Wendt knows a thing or two about California rivers. Arkansas designated the Mulberry as a State Scenic River, which led it to be included in the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers system protecting this rafting recreation resource for generations to come. The river offers a tour of quintessential Ozark scenery: narrow canyons, dense woods and tree-lined bluffs. Gentle rapids mean you can navigate your own raft without a guide for a great bonding experience and personalized day on the river. Get the kids out for a family-friendly float on the Mulberry River in Arkansas’ Ozark region.

Add in the side hike opportunities and no other form of recreation offers a more intimate and comprehensive experience in Grand Canyon than rafting the Colorado River.

The experience of descending through layers upon layers of ancient rock as big, fun whitewater rapids transport you to your next dream campsite just can’t be missed for any river enthusiast. If a 2-week Grand Canyon rafting trip hasn’t made it to the top of your list, go ahead and move it to number one. 3) Arizona: Colorado River through the Grand Canyon Be prepared to enter “Scenic Overdose Syndrome” on this trip. From glacial moraines and floating icebergs to grizzly sightings and float plane shuttles, a rafting trip on the “Tat” is unparalleled. Perhaps the most rugged, remote and raw rafting adventure in any state, a multi-day trip on Alaska’s Tatshenshini provides a classic Alaskan wilderness experience. The most famous rapid is likely Cutbait, known for its constant carnage. River engineers created finely-tuned rapids within the river that range from Class III-IV+ depending on water flow which is controllable and can reach 13,000 cfs at its peak. The Chattahoochee Whitewater Park was created when city planners decided to makeover the Chattahoochee and transform the industrial urban waterway into a recreation outpost. The longest urban whitewater rafting trip in the world can be found on a 2.5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River that runs between Phenix City, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia.

Camp near redline rafting