Top Family-Friendly Whitewater Rivers for Thrilling Rafting Adventures

Find the right outfitter and best river for your trip

Whitewater river rafting offers a thrilling experience that stands as a quintessential family adventure vacation. The key to a successful journey lies in selecting a dependable outfitter and a river that strikes the perfect balance of excitement.

If your family includes young children and you prefer a gentler excursion, consider starting with a Class I float or a late-season Class II. Typically, a Class II or III adventure delivers mild whitewater with a few thrills, while Class IV and V compose more intense rapids. It’s important to note that Class V trips usually require some prior rafting experience, and Class VI trips are strictly for experts.

Utah’s Green River

Address: Green River, UT, USA

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Class: II to V

When: April to October

The Green River flows through some of Utah’s most stunning high-desert canyon country, encompassing Dinosaur National Monument and Canyonlands National Park, before merging with the Colorado River south of Moab.

Recommended trip: OARS 5-day journey through Desolation Canyon features an array of Class II and III whitewater, making it ideal for families seeking a bit more thrill than a leisurely float. The area is rich in Butch Cassidy folklore. Minimum age is 6.

Arizona’s Colorado River

Address: Colorado River

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Class: I to V

When: May to September

On many adventure enthusiasts’ bucket lists is the excursion down Arizona’s Colorado River amid the colossal sandstone cliffs of the Grand Canyon.

Recommended trip: Western River Expeditions offers a four-day trip through the Grand Canyon, transporting you across 100 miles of Class I to III river, providing opportunities to observe eagles and Big Horn sheep. Minimum age is 9.

West Virginia’s Gauley River

Address: Gauley River, West Virginia, USA

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Class: III to V

When: September and October

West Virginia’s Gauley River becomes one of the East Coast’s most renowned whitewater destinations each fall when the dam is released. While the Upper Gauley is famous for its daring Class V runs, families with less experienced rafters may prefer the 13-mile Lower Gauley, which still offers vibrant Class III and IV rapids.

Recommended trip: Full-day excursions with New & Gauley River Adventures explore the entire Lower section. Minimum age is 12.

Idaho’s Salmon River

Address: Salmon River, Idaho, USA

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Class: III to IV

When: June to August

Cutting through the largest roadless wilderness in the lower 48 states, Idaho’s Salmon River showcases a remarkable diversity of scenery and wildlife.

Recommended trip: Beginning on a fast-flowing alpine river and concluding in a stunning desert canyon, Canyons River Camping’s six-day Middle Fork of the Salmon voyage balances the thrill of Class III and IV rapids with accessibility for beginners. Minimum age is 12 in June, but children can be as young as 6 later in the summer.

Colorado’s Arkansas River

Address: Arkansas River Canyon, Colorado 81212, USA

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Class: II to V

When: May to September

The Colorado Rockies serve as a beautiful backdrop for a plethora of whitewater thrills around the Arkansas River’s source. Family-friendly Class II and III rapids, such as the Zoom Flume and the Big Drop, are particularly popular.

Recommended trip: Ideal for newcomers, Arkansas River Tours offers two-day overnight trips that combine Bighorn Sheep Canyon, Brown’s Canyon, or the Royal Gorge with riverside camping in Cotopaxi. Minimum age is 8.

Maine’s Kennebec River

Address: Kennebec River, Maine, USA

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Class: II to IV

When: May to October

Maine’s Kennebec River is renowned as the most popular paddling destination in New England, thanks to continuous Class II to IV whitewater rafting during summer and fall.

Recommended trip: Northern Outdoors facilitates full-day excursions on the 12-mile stretch from Moosehead Lake to the easygoing Lower Kennebec, navigating through a rock-walled gorge. Minimum age is 10 on the Upper Gorge (Class III and IV) and 8 on the Lower Kennebec (Class II and III).

Pennsylvania’s Youghiogheny River

Address: Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania, USA

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Class: III and IV

When: April to October

If you seek a quick and exhilarating rafting day trip in the Mid-Atlantic that can thrill teens, the Lower Youghiogheny (pronounced YOK-i-gain-y) provides eight exciting miles of whitewater in southwestern Pennsylvania, just two hours south of Pittsburgh.

Recommended trip: Wilderness Voyageurs, situated in Ohiopyle State Park, organizes journeys down Class III and IV rapids lasting between three to five hours. Minimum age is 12.

– Edited by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher