Planning a spring or fall rafting adventure? Staying warm on the river is essential for both comfort and safety—but figuring out whether to wear a wetsuit or a drysuit can be confusing. In this guide, we’ll compare the pros and cons of each, so you can confidently choose the right gear for your next cold water rafting trip. What Is a Wetsuit? Made from neoprene, a wetsuit traps a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. Your body heat warms this layer, helping… Read More
Author: Courtney Sweeney
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If you’re planning a rafting trip, you’ve likely come across terms like “Class III rapids” or “Class V whitewater.” But what do those classifications really mean? The whitewater rating system is a standardized way to describe the difficulty of rapids, helping paddlers understand what to expect. I’ve never been rafting before, can I do rapids with higher ratings? Yes! That’s the beauty of booking a trip with a professional guiding company. Guides take care of the navigation, so you can focus on enjoying the experience. You… Read More
At Northwest Rafting Company, we believe that a great adventure is fueled by great food. Our guides aren’t just exceptional river guides—they’re also talented chefs! We take pride in serving fresh, healthy, and filling meals on all of our trips. One of our most popular meals is our Superfood Lunch Salad, which guests rave about. What we love most about this salad is that it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making it accessible to many people with dietary restrictions. If you want to give it a try… Read More
Commonly known as a “life jacket,” a PFD is a Personal Flotation Device. Everyone is required to wear one at all times while floating on the river. What type of PFD do you provide? We provide a rafting specific PFD with proper flotation for untrained whitewater swimmers. The amount of floatation in a PFD affects two major things, how high you float in the water, and how fast you come to the surface if you go underwater. The more flotation, the faster you pop-up! Here are… Read More
Being “unplugged” on a river trip doesn’t mean you have to forgo technology fully. I love to unwind before bed by reading a few pages on my Kindle, and to capture memories with my phone camera. Below is my advice for bringing technology on a NWRC river trip. Charging Electronics NWRC does not provide charging capabilities for electronic devices. If you think that you’ll want to charge up your devices during the trip, we recommend bringing an external power bank and charging cords. There are many… Read More
If you’re a first-timer looking for information on the “bathroom situation” or a seasoned professional looking to pass some knowledge along to a hesitant friend or relative we’ve got you covered. What the Heck is a Groover? A “Groover” is the rafting term for a portable toilet used on river trips. Back before the comfortable modern Groovers were made, river users used military surplus ammo cans that would leave two grooves on each cheek of your behind when you sat down. We’ve come a long way… Read More
Managing your menstrual cycle on a river trip can seem daunting, but it can be a breeze with the right pre-trip preparation. Here are some tips and tricks to help you feel prepared for your river adventure! Flow Kit I like to make a “Flow Kit” to keep in my day bag on the days I think I might need it. Here is what it contains: Tampons – A variety of sizes that I know I might need. Hand Sanitizer – In case a hand wash… Read More
All of our river trips include tents, sleeping bags, and pads. While you are welcome to bring your own gear if you like, we take pride in providing exceptional camping gear with no extra fee. While our gear may vary very slightly depending on available models when it comes time to replace, we try to keep it as similar as possible. This is what we currently bring on trips: Tent Length: 7 feet 6 in Width: 8 feet 6 in Height at the center: 5 feet… Read More