1. Colorado River, Grand Canyon Arizona. The Colorado River is huge with different classes of rapids across the Grand Canyon. This allows people from all experience levels to enjoy river rafting, including kids and families with elderly members. Besides rafting, some trips include hiking and camping with breathtaking Grand Canyon scenes. You can also go fishing depending on the season (license is required for anyone over 14 years old). July/August is the best time for “big whitewater.” Quick tip: a 6-8 day, full-canyon motor trip is the most popular rafting trip on the Colorado River.
2. Salmon River, Idaho. The Salmon River in Idaho is not only gorgeous but also a heaven for adrenaline junkies with its crazy rapids. The Salmon River is divided into 3 sections (Main, Middle Fork, and Lower Salmon) and each section offers something unique. Additionally, it is surrounded by massive wildlife and forests providing additional activities and things to do or see.

For generations, my family has been exploring the rivers and land in and around Uintah County in Northeastern, Utah, and I believe this area offers some of the best river rafting in the country. I am partial to the Yampa River, which is the last free-flowing tributary of the Colorado River system. I like it because it is so versatile. Depending on the snowpack, you can get a nice, family-friendly rafting excursion or a high-adventure, thrilling ride with plenty of stomach-dropping ups and downs. If you’re a thrill-seeker, one of the best parts of rafting the Yampa is Warm Springs Rapids, which is one of the top 10 big drops in North America.

There are beautiful views of sandstone cliffs and western canyons along the Yampa. You’ll also be in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument, which offers one of the biggest repositories of dinosaur bones on Earth as well as Native American sites with 700-year-old petroglyphs.

Russian River, California
For over 130 years, travelers around the U.S. have sought out the Russian River in Sonoma County as a prime rafting destination. The gentle current provides the perfect occasion for those seeking a serene and peaceful rafting experience. Rafters can appreciate the scenic views of the beautiful wineries as they bask in the shade of giant redwood trees, just a short distance from the river’s edge. Natural swimming holes are scattered throughout and serve as the perfect opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the calm and cool waters. A variety of wildlife can be found throughout this tranquil river journey, in the water, and on land.The wildlife includes a variety of beautiful birds, fish, turtles, and sea otters. The neon-tinted dragonflies and tiny, green tree frogs reveal a pristine aesthetic against the bright blue and crystal-clear waters. Rafting stands out here because the river itself is one of the best assets in California wine country. After a day of rafting, its ideal to pop into one of the popular tasting rooms in the region.Delaware River, New Jersey
For true adventure seekers, the Delaware River provides a one-of-a-kind rafting experience. Located in Central New Jersey and easily accessible for those living in Pennsylvania and New York, this river is a prime destination for rafters. Depending on preference, rafters can enjoy a 2 to 4-hour experience, whether it be calmly floating on a gentle current in certain areas or an exciting trip through the white-water rapids in others.

Families can explore the several small islands distributed throughout, which are great for family picnics. Halfway down the river, all are welcome to stop in at the world-famous “River Hot Dog Man” for delicious BBQ. While rafting, bald eagles and Red-tailed Hawks can be seen soaring above with Great Blue Herons down below. Large Sycamore trees line the river, and waterfalls running directly into the river make for a unique and beautiful sight.

1.  This one is obvious–it needs to be the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The rapids are huge. They are nerve wracking and rated on a 1-10 scale, making even seasoned rafters feel small as they bob through these true giants in jumbo 18” rafts and 30” motor rigs. The rapids are not the only wild part of adventuring down the Grand Canyon. The hikes are wild, up aqua blue streams and to ancient cliff dwellings, the camps are outstanding with soft sand, epic bocci, and endless star gazing, and the sheer length of the trip, at 280 miles, makes it a crazy experience that can last up to 4 weeks. There’s little to no contact with the outside world. Where else can you have that kind of forced unplugging?
2. This one is not as obvious, and many may have never heard of this destination. It is the Cache La Poudre River in Fort Collins, CO. This small river becomes a mighty torrent in June when waters are high. What makes this river unique is that it’s Colorado’s only Wild and Scenic River, and it boasts over 60+ miles of runnable whitewater, including everything from class 1 floats to crazy class V+ waterfalls. There are commercial outfitters on the river running daily and at high flows (above 5 feet on the hand-painted rock gauge). You are in for a wild class IV/V ride. Into kayaking? The river has some of the state’s best creeking as well from Joe Wright Creek to The Big South Fork of the Poudre, as well as the Class V+ roadside section The Narrows, which is home to a BoaterCross style Class V shootout race every summer. What makes this destination even better is the historic city of Fort Collins, home of New Belgium Brewing, Colorado State University and Old Town Fort Collins (which Disney’s Main Street USA was modeled after). After a day charging down the Poudre, enjoy a cold beer, live music, and fresh tacos in Old Town Square.
3. Head north to the panhandle of Idaho and experience true mountain solitude on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. This 100 mile stretch of pristine class III and IV water is deep within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and gets whitewater enthusiasts excited thanks to its steep gradient, challenging rapids, beautiful camps, and riverside hot springs. You heard correct, there are a handful of natural hot springs along this float to soak in and warm your bones after relentless drenching from the spring runoff. There’s even a hot waterfall to meander under. Disappearing into the Idaho woods is a true treat, one only lucky rafters really get to enjoy as there are no road crossings for the 100 miles of river you’ll float down.

Over the last few years, white water rafting has become a major attraction for Uganda’s tourism industry.

Initially, Visiting the Nile was about seeing the source of the world’s longest river that fascinated the old Egyptians for centuries. White water rafting has changed the narrative by adding a lot more adventure into visiting this legendary river. This has turned Jinja into the true adventure capital of East Africa because rafting is enjoyed by both foreign visitors and local adventure seekers.

River Nile has all the rafting grades (classes) from 1 to 5. This means that even those who want a calmer rafting experience get to enjoy it while those going for the adrenaline pump of grade 5 rapids enjoy their fun as well.

The presence of calm stretches of the river allows the rafters to catch their breath before going back to the fantastic action of battling it out with the Nile.

To ensure safety, all rafters are briefed before they start off and fully equipped with safety gear such as a life jacket and helmet. As the rafting proceeds, a rescue team follows along in kayaks to help those who fall out of the raft during the big waves.

Since Uganda has a tropical climate, rafting can happen all year round – come rain or sunshine. When it is raining, rafting can still be done since tropical rains don’t last so long. Tougher storms, however, lead to stopping of the activities until the skies turn friendly again.

Most people who have rafted the Nile admit to having a fantastic time – and falling out more than they thought they would, which added to the whole experience.

Oklahoma City offers a very unique opportunity with a man-made urban whitewater rafting experience just along the Oklahoma River – aka North Canadian River in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. OKC’s $45.2 million whitewater rafting center serves as a training site for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes from around the world. These class II-IV rapids are unlike any others in the world, allowing you to go down the Olympic channel and the recreational channel, where six pumps push out 492,000 gallons of water per minute. Definitely a bucket list must-do!

When it comes to a guided vs. non-guided river experience, it is all about what you are willing to put in and what you expect to get out. Personally – I love the planning, preparing, and adventure of a non-guided experience. Whether that is a 20+ day trip down the Grand Canyon, exploring half day runs in rural Ecuador, or just going out for an afternoon paddle – for me it’s worth the work and time spent on training and preparation.

When I speak to Nantahala Outdoor Center guests, most times I hear and see the opposite. Our guests value their time spent with family and friends on the river – not the logistics that get them there. They overwhelmingly rate their guide as one of the best portions of their experience. From a focus on risk management, to local knowledge and fun facts about the natural components of the river, their guides deliver above and beyond what just the river can provide. It’s the personal connection, and professionalism, that consistently rank our guided trips with higher satisfaction ratings than their non-guided counterparts.

There are some distinct advantages to non-guided rafting trips. When you’re on your own, you can choose your own schedule and exactly who you are rafting with. It also costs quite a bit less if you have the skills and equipment to go rafting on your own.

When you go on a guided trip you lose some flexibility, and the cost will typically be much higher. You do get a lot in return. First of all guided trips have detailed emergency and evacuation plans as well as insurance. Guides are typically highly trained in safety, first aid, and swift water rescue. If safety is important to you then a guided trip is probably the way to go.

Beyond safety, when you go on a guided trip they provide all the necessary equipment and transportation. If you don’t already have these things, renting can be expensive and time consuming. Some rivers require permits that can be quite challenging to obtain, and guided trips have already obtained the required permits. Finally, leadership is an important consideration. If you have a hard time organizing your friends then going on a professionally guided trip is a great way to work with experienced leaders that can organize everyone efficiently and set important safety boundaries.

When it comes to rafting adventures, I prefer guided tours. With non-guided rafts, you could miss details that the guide would point out to make it more in-depth. When I do get the opportunity for this adventure, I like to learn as much as I can and having a guide can really point out some amazing things. Not only that but if something does happen to go wrong, you have the safety net of your guide being there to assist you.