Best Wyoming Whitewater Rafting Vacations
A whitewater rafting vacation puts the vacationer in “up close and personal” touch with every thing we love about wildlife, water, adventure, ecosystems and recreation. When people think about a whitewater rafting vacation they typically think of the Grand Canyon or (in the Eastern U.S.) the Kennebec River in Maine (For more information on a whitewater rafting vacation in Maine look up http://www.windfallrafting.com/adventures/kennebec-river-rafting.php.) , but there are other areas that are perfect vacation spots for water lovers. Some of the best whitewater rafting vacation spots in the world are along the upper Snake River from the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park through the Snake River Canyon just south of Jackson Hole.
The Snake River begins high in the Absaroka Mountains directly on the border between the two famous national parks, Yellowstone and the Teton Wilderness. (Yellowstone Park prohibits floating but it is not rational to try it in those first precipitous cascades anyway.) A whitewater rafting vacation experience should leave you exhilarated and refreshed not injured, lost or drowned.
Just to the south of Jackson Hole the Snake River enters a canyon that is the ultimate whitewater rafting vacation hotspot. As the river enters the canyon the mountains squeeze it into a turbulent eight-mile stretch of Class III to Class IV whitewater. Several companies in the Jackson area offer various amenities for a whitewater rafting vacation that include providing trips through the Snake River Canyon in combination with catered lunches or overnight trips. The upper half of the canyon contains easy to moderate rapids, including the Station Creek Drop, the S-Turns, and the Cutbanks. These rapids are not technically hard but they have great wave trains that thrill rafters and kayakers alike.
There is a calmer stretch of river in the middle and then the really monster rapids of Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter. The Big Kahuna catches the raft and sends it dropping into a deep trough and immediately shoots it up over a high crest and into a second wave. Just as the rafter is trying to catch their breath the Lunch counter rapid shoots a visceral thrill through the rafter as waves tower ten feet and propel the rafts, rollercoaster style, through the narrowest section of the canyon.
Toward the end of the canyon are the Rope Rapid with the Hollywood Curl, and Champagne rapids. Rope rapid is characterized as a wave train and though you will get a hefty splash from the Hollywood Curl you won’t mind much because you are already wet from the previous section of rapids. Champagne rapids gets its name from the ga-zillions of air bubbles that come to the surface in the smooth water following the rapid. The frothy waves are caused by the churning action of the water going over an underwater waterfall.
The river is more boisterous and challenging in the spring so the whitewater sections have bigger rapids and even the sections that are calm later in the summer have exciting, swirling currents. When snow melts in the spring the water can be exceedingly cold, but by July the high water is beginning to drop and the temperature is coming up. The water gets a crystal clear appearance and the rapids moderate a bit. Most experts agree the Snake River Canyon is relatively safe as whitewater experiences go but whitewater rafters should never get complacent. If you are an inexperienced rafter contact one of the whitewater rafting vacation tour experts listed below. If you are an experienced rafter and want to go it alone (not reccomended) then be sure you study the river from a land based vantage point before descending it.
Your whitewater rafting vacation should start with planning ahead as things can get pretty hectic in peak seasons. Contact an outfitter early and plan on anything from an 8 mile, 3 �½ hour whitewater rafting trip to an overnight trip with catered meals at the campsites. A few tips about packing for your whitewater rafting vacation:
1. By definition this will be a wet, wild, and exciting time be sure you wear loose fitting easy to move in clothing. Plan on casual, T-shirts and denim or khaki shorts paired with wading sandals. The water can be bone chillingly cold so ask your outfitter or guide about wet suits, many outfitters supply them as part of the vacation package.
2. Be sure your photographic gear is waterproof. This is no place for expensive electronic cameras as they will get wet. Instead I recommend taking along several disposable waterproof cameras. Hand them to your fellow passengers and ask them to take pictures of you and anything else that may take their eye. Collect the cameras at the end of the trip.
3. Be sure to take extra waterproof sunscreen and use it liberally. Put it on under your chin as well as the usual exposed areas because the water reflects the sun back under your chin and can cause an uncomfortable burn.
A whitewater rafting vacation is not the only way to enjoy the Jackson Lake, Snake River Recreation areas. There are Sea Kayaking tours, guided fishing tours, wooden boat river tours, lessons, sales and rentals. For more information contact:
1. Snake River Kayak and Canoe, 1-800-529-2501, www.snakeriverkayak.com
2. A.J. DeRosa’s Wooden Boat River Tours, 1-307-732-2628, www.woodboattours.com
3. Triangle X Ranch offers daily float trips that feature wildlife viewing opportunities (early morning trips) or a supper float tour which features a cookout on the banks of the river. Call 1-307-733-3183 or write to Triangle X Ranch, 2 Triangle X Ranch Road, Moose, Wy 83012. The ranch web site is www.trianglex.com and the E-mail address is trianglexranch@wyoming.com .
4. Barker-Ewing River Trips/Scenic and Whitewater, offers half day whitewater or scenic/whitewater combination excursions with cookouts or overnight camping in snug little tent cabins at the Pine Creek Canyon area. Call Barker-Ewing at 1-800-448-4202 , write to them at Barker-Ewing, P.O Box 450, Jackson, Wy 83001, Or find more information at www.barker-ewing.com
5. Sands Wild Water River Trips, contact at www.sandswhitewater.com or call 1-800-358-8184
6. Mad River Boat Trips, contact at www.mad-river.com or rafting@mad-river.com Call 1-800-458-7238 or write Mad River Boat Trips, Box 10940, 1255 South Highway 89, Jackson Hole, Wy 83002 ;Mad River trips include amenities for people with disabilities, call for information.
7. Leisure Sports offers rafts and rowing frames, canoes, sea kayaks, fly fishing gear, and camping equipment. Contact them at Leisure Sports, 1075 S. Hyw 89, Jackson, Wy , see more information at www.leisuresportsadventure.com , or call 1-307-733-3040.
8. Lewis and Clark River Expeditions offers exciting whitewater rafting vacation packages, scenic float trips, riverside steak dinners, and both large and small raft trips. Write to them at Lewis and Clark River Expeditions P.O. Box 720, Jackson, Wy 83001, Call 1-307-733-4022, or e-mail lewisandclark@wyoming.com. You can find their web page at www.lewisandclarkexpeds.com.
Once you have been to the Jackson Hole, Snake River Canyon area for a whitewater rafting vacation you will return again and again to sample other recreational venues and to repeat your whitewater adventures.
