If you’ve never experienced the excitement and adventure of a White Water Rafting New England style then make a date now for 2009. There are a number of experienced tour companies in the region and the season begins in spring and runs through late October.

My family and I experienced rafting on the Deerfield River last summer and I wrote about our white water rafting in Massachusetts trip here

So Cliff – our publisher – asked if I would be so kind as to cover the rest of the best on the New England rafting scene. Well, he didn’t so much as ask… but that’s another story. Every company and place mentioned can be found in the resource section with links to their web sites or more information.

In today’s post I’ve pulled together our Complete New England White Water Rafting Guide for 2009 as we look at the rivers and New England outdoor adventure companies that make their living providing you the thrills of rafting New England.

WHITE WATER RAFTING CONNECTICUT:

The serious playground for rapid dwellers is Bulls Bridge Gorge on the scenic Housatonic River.

The good news is, it’s a class IV-V adrenalin rush, the toughest in Southern New England. The bad news you can only do it during the spring runoff period – April and May – the rest of the year the gorge is as dry as Death Valley after a drought.

Both North American Whitewater and the local Clarke Outdoors offer tours navigating you through the scenic but challenging Bulls Bridge Gorge. Outside spring the rafting really is further north, but if river tubing seems like an adventure then head to the Farmington River at New Hartford and hook up with Farmington Rover Tubing.

WHITE WATER RAFTING MAINE:

There are three rivers that the Maine rafting companies use: Kennebec, Penobscot and Dead Rivers. All these are dam controlled with published water release dates so your raft is guaranteed a wild ride through the Maine wilderness.  Choose a river based on your experience of white water rafting. The Kennebec River is a great choice for beginners, but has many challenges for experienced rafters on the first-half section of its 13-mile wilderness experience.

The Penobscot River provides the ultimate thrill-seeking in New England with Class V white water and the spectacular scenic backdrop of Mount Katahdin and Baxter State Park. Competing with Maine’s wildlife of moose, deer, bald eagles and beavers are white fuming rapids such as Exterminator, Canada Falls, and the Cribworks. Not all rafting companies offer Penobscot River trips, so be sure to check.

The Dead River is Class III-V on its16-mile run with special high water release dates in spring and fall that tend to fill quickly, and Class III rapids during normal summer dam release dates. The Dead River also offers family rafting for small children during the summer on Dead River Recreational Releases.

There is no shortage of experienced New England outdoor adventure companies operating out of Maine offering organized expeditions on the three popular rivers. And because of the remoteness of these rivers many offer packages that include resort lodging and meals. The rafting company you choose can sometimes be determined by available dates, amenities offered and the river you want to run!

New England Outdoor Center, North American Whitewater Rafting, Northern Outdoors, Three Rivers White Water Rafting, and Moxie Outdoor Center offer trips on all three Maine Rivers. CrabApple Whitewater, Windfall Outdoor Center and Magic Falls Rafting Company offer tours on the Kennebec and Dead Rivers.

WHITE WATER RAFTING MASSACHUSETTS:

The bulk of white water rafting in Massachusetts takes place out in the scenic Berkshires of Western Massachusetts along the Deerfield River.

Here you can run the Fife Brook Dam section which has daily controlled releases – and is an excellent initiation for newbies to white water rafting – or the more challenging Monroe Bridge section further north and with Class III and IV rapids.

A few of the companies do early spring runs on Millers River and Zoar Outdoor offers spring trips on the Concord River just outside Boston. The water during April is wild and… frigid, so dress accordingly.

Four major rafting companies operate out of Massachusetts in the Charlemont area and these are: North American Whitewater Rafting and Moxie Outdoor Adventures who’ll navigate you down the Deerfield River sections only, and Zoar Outdoor and Crab Apple Whitewater who both offer the exhilarating spring runs on Millers River.

WHITE WATER RAFTING NEW HAMPSHIRE:

White water rafting in New Hampshire takes a back seat to hiking in the White Mountains of the Granite State, so choices for organized trips are few and far between. North Woods Rafting is based in Milan in the Great North Woods, a remote area beyond the Presidential Range.

The company operates its tours along the Androscoggin River in Class II and III rapids. After careful instruction you get an opportunity to steer the inflatable boats they use yourself.

The major run starts down from the Pontook Dam which only releases water on weekends in the summer. Weekday trips start from Errol and involve gentler runs.

WHITE WATER RAFTING VERMONT:

Commercial outfitters operate white water rafting in Vermont on the dam controlled West River in the spring and fall seasons. Southern Vermont’s lush Green Mountains offer the perfect backdrop for Class III – IV intermediate rapids.

Zoar Outdoors operates out of Stratton Mountain and CrabApple Whitewater Mount Snow. While the opportunity may be limited the excitement is definitely not.

RESOURCES:

North American Whitewater Rafting Tours

Clarke Outdoors

Farmington River Tubing

New England Outdoor Center

Northern Outdoors

Three Rivers White Water Rafting

CrabApple Whitewater

Moxie Outdoor Adventures

Windfall Outdoor Center

Magic Falls Rafting Company

Zoar Outdoor

North Woods Rafting

Connecticut Vacation Guide

Maine Vacation Guide

Massachusetts Vacation Guide

New Hampshire Vacation Guide

Vermont Vacation Guide

Where to Stay in New England

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being surrounded by huge boulders and tempest white water and wondering how the heck you’re going to get through this angry rapid. But somehow you do, and the rush and exhilaration when you do is priceless. Be prepared for excitement and getting wet on your New England White Water rafting tour.

But most of all… be prepared to go book it now through one of the experienced New England rafting operators in the resource section above, as the best dates sell out early. That reminds me – better go and book mine soon!

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Yankee Traveler
Staff Writer
New England Online Magazine

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