I’m looking to take a trip ANYWHERE in USA to get the best rafting I can experience! Limited experience in class 3-4 but a strong swimmer and looking for my fear! Ty in advance for suggestions
yep
This. To include the upper ocoee for sure
Water is pumping in the foothills of the Sierras right now. Snow is melting. Over a dozen great runs for rafts, even more for kayaks!
Yeah dude, this is the best option. Kern, North Yuba, and North Fork American would all be excellent options.
Strong second to this.
Skykomish
I would prefer to avoid the northwest… but not completely opposed to it. any other suggestions?
Well you did say ANYWHERE . The Sky is a solid Class 3 at it’s easiest. Class 4 is the norm when it’s running in the Sping.
Lochsa, but maybe that’s still in the NW territory you’re potentially trying to avoid….
Anything east of the Rockies?
The PNW has such amazing rivers. And quite the variety too. If you’re looking to do a day trip (or a few throughout the week), definitely don’t count it out. I’d suggest the upper clack, the deschutes in Maupin, or white salmon. All well within range of each other
I’m looking at going in 1-2 weeks
Grand Canyon
Royal Gorge Colorado is coming up right now 1400 CFS and rising come out
Gonna be a great year on the Ark!
Upper Yough…go with Precision Rafting. Friendsville, MD then you can hit lower yough after. Ohiopyle is a wonderful town to visit
+1 for Ohiopyle!
The Chattooga river sections 3 and 4. An overnight trip.
This,
Also there are Cheoah releases the 25 and 26th. Endless River has trips going I would assume.
Also Upper/Middle Ocoee combo would fit the bill.
Theoretically you could do one of these on Sat and another on Sunday if you wanted, they are all pretty close to each other
Lochsa
I’m considering going this weekend to watch the carnage.
I live an hour away, it's always fun.
I don’t think I have it in me to camp at Gateway.
Any other suggestions?
There are cabins at the confluence of the selway that aren’t too too far from gateway.
Is there one day that is better than another? Like is it a completion with final rounds Sunday?
The Mf Lochsa
Check out dreamflows.com for flows, maps and short synopsis's.
Nolichucky
You might be able to get a White Salmon Farmlands trip still. That's some gnarly class 4+ (and one 5) stuff up there.
https://www.whitewaterguidebook.com/washington/white-salmon-river/
I have trouble seeing anyone mention rafting and not bringing up New River Gorge in WV. I’m there at least once a month though, so I might be biased.
Tuolumne, NF Stanislaus, Kern, MF American, Merced
Lochsa for day trips if you catch it at it’s peak.
Grand Canyon or owyhee for multidays.
I am a Middle Ocoee guide, so of course I will suggest a full river trip. But I also love the Chatooga sections 3/4!
Grande Ronde in NE Oregon, or the Owyhee in SE OR!
Flathead river launching at kerr dam take out at Buffalo bridge.
Lochsa idaho
Chattooga Section IV, Cheoah, and Ocoee would be an epic trip!