The Giant Job of Packing Food for a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Yes, river guides are an incredibly important part of a Grand Canyon rafting trip. You have to get down the river after all (and safely). But there may be one person who is even more important than them: the official food packer.  Until she retired in 2020, OARS Grand Canyon Assistant Manager Denice Napoletano had played a role in Grand Canyon trips in one form or another since 1984 when on a whim she started working for Grand Canyon Dories. “I had a chance to do a trip in the fall of ’84, so that pretty much hooked me for life ..read more

Where to Find the Best Whitewater in the West The 2024 rafting season has commenced, and current snowpack totals in the western U.S. are a welcome balance for rafting outfitters following the historic high-water season of 2023.  SNOTEL data collected by the National Resources Conservation Service as of April 8 shows 2023-2024 winter snowpack totals (snow water equivalent) across many basins are at, or slightly above, the norm, with the exception of the Northwest and northern Rockies. “Generally, snowpacks across the areas where we operate are averaging out,” says Seth Davis, OARS Director ..read more

There’s Just One Small Caveat… A champion has been crowned. River lovers from across the country came together to decide the 2nd Best River Trip in the West, behind the one-and-only Grand Canyon—which was not included in the competition as it’s widely regarded as the best river trip in the United States. In the single elimination March Madness-style showdown, Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River reigned supreme. With nearly 3,000 votes it dominated the competition winning more than 70% of the vote in each of the four rounds.   Hosted by OARS, the 2nd Best in the West River Trip Sh ..read more

5 of the Top Family-Friendly River Trips We could wax on about why family rafting trips are the perfect vacation. Or try to ease your fears if you’re nervous about taking your kids rafting for the first time. But we’re guessing you’re here because you’re a parent (or grandparent) who is ready to take your family on a multi-day river trip but not sure how to choose from all the options out there. Narrowed down by age, these five family-friendly rafting trips in the Western U.S. are some of the best of the best. They’re all big on scenery, offer great camping and off-the-water activities, and ha ..read more

Author Florence Williams Talks Awe, River Trips & the Transformative Power of Nature Florence Williams is the best-selling author of The Nature Fix: Why Being in Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey. She also wrote and hosted the 6-part Audible Original podcast series, The 3-Day Effect, about the magical benefits of being outside for at least three days. As part of her investigation into how nature impacts humans, Florence and a group of researchers joined an OARS-outfitted Green River rafting trip with a group of veterans ..read more

A trip to Peru can often feel like you’ve entered many distinct worlds within one country. You can surf the Pacific during the day and dine at some of the best restaurants of your life in the evening. Hop on a short flight and the next day you can be swimming with pink river dolphins in the Amazon River and later climbing snow-capped Andean peaks to view ancient Incan architecture and explore Machu Picchu. Peru offers a beautiful mix of many cultures including Inca, Spanish colonialism and indigenous Amazonian – and the result is a country that is overall colorful, friendly and very connected ..read more

The Top Colorado Rafting Trips from the Front Range With 158 named rivers, over 100,000 river miles, and ecosystems ranging from high alpine to pine forest to sandy desert, Colorado has a lot to offer rafters. Whether you’re looking for a mellow, family-friendly float or an adrenaline-filled whitewater adventure, you don’t have to go far to access the fun—some of Colorado’s best rafting trips are within just a few hours of Denver. Whatever kind of rafting floats your boat, the Centennial State offers access to a stretch of river to match it.  Multi-Day Rafting Trips in Colorado 1) Yampa ..read more

Ditch the Restaurant for Rapids & Have the Best First Date Ever Awkward silences. Nervous laughter. The nagging notion that you must continuously impress while looking your best. Let’s be honest…first dates suck. From choosing the perfect restaurant to the tiresome pre-date grooming rituals, preparing for a first date can be nerve-wracking. And then, after all that, you still have to get through the actual date. Here are five reasons why a one-day whitewater rafting trip is the ultimate choice for an unforgettable first date. A couple takes a dip in the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River | P ..read more

High Water Cataract Canyon Trips Will Test Even the Best Guides In his defense, it was only Steve Haase’s “630-somethingth” trip down Cataract Canyon, but I’d seen prettier runs. He came through clean—no mean feat with just around 50,000 cubic feet of Colorado River careening by every second—but conventional it was not. I’d never seen anything like it in my career. Hang around Moab guides for all of one night and you’ll hear plenty of stories, advice, and opinions on the Colorado River Basin’s white whale: high water Cataract Canyon. If you’ve caught the ever-rarer big runoff from the Rockies ..read more

Cataract Canyon has her own unique song; you just have to know how to listen Cataract Canyon is a mystical place with transformative and restorative powers. I discovered this during my epic high-water experience down this legendary stretch of the Colorado River in the spring and knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. So, in the fall, I joined a group of music and astronomy lovers for a Stars & Guitars Colorado River adventure through my favorite place on the planet. Rafters enjoying a scenic stretch of the Colorado River | Photo by Kate Rhoswen From the moment we pushed off at ..read more