Bumming about the rafting season being over? Don’t worry, so are we. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about next year. When planning a rafting trip a year out you may want to consider a few things. Check out these five tips for planning your 2015 summer rafting trip. 
Timing: The rafting season is all snow melt dependent. The more snow we have the more water we get. Keeping that fact in mind, the snow starts melting late April early May, making the water levels the highest at the end of May and early June. The peak of the rafting season is June and July. The water is really flowing then! While we do continue to raft later into the season, through August and September, the best water can be found earlier in the summer.
What type of trip: You don’t want to end up on a trip that is above your comfort level, so make sure you pick a rafting trip appropriate to your skills. It’s always better to start small and work your way up to the more intense trips, than to just jump right in. For instance, if you have any inkling that a full day of class IV-V rapids could be too much, opt for a half day.
Who is going: Is the whole family coming with kids, or are you going with a few adventurous buddies? Depending on who you will be rafting with you want to make sure that the trip you are going on is suitable for all.
Bring the appropriate gear: Quick drying clothes, such as synthetic fibers, work the best. While all of our gear is always provided with us (wetsuits, splash jackets, helmets, pfds, etc.) we do not recommend wearing cotton under your wetsuit. When cotton gets wet it stays wet and will keep you cold. Another important piece of gear is footwear. We can’t have you rafting with anything that might fly off your feet, so sturdy and secure footwear is the best. You will want to make sure you have these things good to go, so when you arrive for your adventure you are geared up and ready to raft!
Know what to expect: Are you and your buddies heading out to run Gore Canyon, or are you and the family rafting Brown’s Canyon? Know the trip you are going and be aware of the level of rafting you will be doing. You don’t want to show up to raft continuous class V rapids and not be mentally, or physically prepared, you want to bring your A-game.
