What Not To Do When Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting in Colorado, whether it be on the Arkansas River, Clear Creek, or Upper Colorado River, is another exhilarating and adventurous way to explore the outdoors and marvel in the beauty nature affords. To make your whitewater rafting experience as fun and safe as possible there are a few things you shouldn’t be doing while in a raft or around a river. If you’re looking to head out onto the river for an adventure, avoid these things to make a rafting trip harder than it should be.

Drinking or Doing Drugs Around your Rafting Trip

All rafting trips require you use your physical capability, reasoning skills, and judgment to ensure a safe river trip. Drugs and alcohol will certainly decrease all of these skills and make for a more dangerous trip!

Not Wearing Safety Equipment

Going into a river without a life jacket, or personal flotation device (PDF), and helmet is like driving a car without brakes. Whitewater rapids make swimming more difficult and there are all kinds of unseen objects, namely rocks, in the river that could you could hit your head on if you fall into the river. It’s probably not a good idea to leave the safety equipment out of the rafting equation because it can make your rafting experience unnecessarily dangerous.

Forgetting to Hydrate or Bring Sun Protection

Our rivers are at least 7,000 feet in elevation so it is a definite must to drink as much water as possible before your rafting trip to keep yourself up for the ride. Since water reflects the sun and you are rafting in an alpine environment, always lather on sunscreen and bring some sunglasses and a hat! Whitewater rafting is strenuous and you will be rafting most of the way so don’t forget to grab some water and be ready for the sun.

Come join us for rafting and more adventures such as zip lining, horseback riding, rock climbing, camping, and fly fishing. Rent some gear here, book a guided trip here or give us a call at 877-RAFTING.  Happy rafting!