River Rafting Etiquette

While navigating a whitewater section during high-water season, tensions can run high especially when the waterway is busy and children are involved. You don’t want to end up with a brawl at the take out and you definitely don’t want to end up in the drink in a class IV section! Avoiding situations like this can be very easy if proper precautions are taken to respect your fellow river runners and creekers. Here are a few tricks and tips I refer to as rafting etiquette 101.

The most important piece of knowledge while both out on the water and on the ramp is to allow your fellow boaters plenty of personal space. While out on the water, make sure you give way to quicker moving boats as you do not want to have a collision mid rapid that can send someone into the water or potentially damage the other boaters’ gear. You also want to make sure you mind others’ space while on the boat ramp and the launch or take out. Boat ramps are not made to hold more then a couple of boats and with the chaos of commercial trips unloading and multiday trips packing up the ramp fills quickly. Make sure your boat doesn’t look like it vomited onto the ramp and is now taking the space of two boats. You also don’t want to be the guy who drops off his boat and then makes lunch for the group without clearing his boat.

Most river trips end with ear to ear smiles, a cold beverage out of a bootie and quick bite to eat before heading home for the day. This is the way we all want to end the day and this is how they should end. If the river is busy, eddy out and let the commercial trips through. If the ramp is busy enjoy a beer after everything is loaded. Most importantly remember to treat everyone else on the water with respect and everything will go just fine.