Remember the first time you rode a bike or conquered a snowboard? The thrills you felt were both real and rewarding. It wasn’t about what you were wearing or how fashionable your equipment was. The rush was all about moving outside of one’s comfort zone.
The same concept applies to meeting and embracing the adrenaline rush that comes with whitewater rafting for the very first time.
“It’s all about the moment, not the accoutrements,” says Quinn Hall, a veteran river guide for Western River Expeditions since the early 2000s and an environmental consultant and avid photographer on the side. “Traveling as lightly as you can helps you focus on the here and now.”
With over 60 years of experience orchestrating rafting trips for novices up to experts, Western River Expeditions is the “go-to” rafting outfitter when it comes to putting guests in the hands of experienced and professional river guides.
Following, in Hall’s words are, “The Top 10 Tips for the First-Time Whitewater Rafter”
that have been excerpted from his recent blog post: https://www.westernriver.com/blogs/stories/10-tips-first-time-whitewater-rafter.
1. Don’t overpack. Everyone overpacks. I’ve done hundreds of whitewater rafting trips, and I’ve overpacked for almost every one. As guilty as I am, first-time rafters are in a different league. Offload that fourth pair of jeans or extra pair of sneakers … the list goes on. Leave the excess at home.
2. Unplug. There’s no room on the water or in camp for extraneous electronics. Cell phones won’t work, and nature sounds better than your iTunes collection. River trips reboot your brain with fresh air and nature. Wind, water, wildlife, and conversation await you. Consider limiting or even banning electronics for kids while on the trip. Bring a book, but don’t feel guilty if you don’t finish it.
3. Bring a camera and use it. Bring spare batteries and memory (or film) and fill them up. If you insist on bringing a GoPro, be aware that guides can’t stop the raft in the middle of a rapid to wait while you change batteries, alter the mount location, and shoot some action footage. Focus on the scenery and the people in camp. Remember the rapids while holding on and staying inside the raft.
4. Bring a journal. The remote wilderness of a rafting trip is a superb place to reconnect with reflections and feelings that go unnoticed in everyday life. Every evening, I take a few minutes to write down where we’re camping, what we did during the day, and some thoughts I’ve had during the trip. After 20 years, these writings are priceless to me.
5. Ditch the fancy duds. Know what guides wear? Thrift store dress shirts with long sleeves and a collar to fight off summer sun; they’re cotton, so they stay wet and cool a good, long time. They also cost about $4. When worn out, we toss them and get more.
6. Skip the tent. You sleep better in the open. The night sky in the Grand Canyon or Cataract Canyon is bigger, brighter, and better than what you’ve probably ever experienced before. Don’t block it out by setting up a tent for no reason. If it’s cold or raining, well, okay, set up the tent. But just this once!
7. Be prepared to lose anything you bring. I won’t take anything I cherish on a river trip. If I can’t lose it over the side of the raft without crying, I don’t want it on my raft trip. Losing a camera is expensive, but heirloom jewelry or sentimental items are irreplaceable. Leave them at home.
8. Listen to your guide, seriously. We tell you to drink water all day and to wear sunscreen. Do both. The first sign of dehydration is a slight headache and irritability. The happiest people on the river are those who don’t get sunburned in the first 20 minutes. If we tell you not to jump off something, don’t. We all know someone who got hurt doing exactly what you’re thinking about.
9. You still overpacked. Those last few things you can’t decide on? The third headlamp? The items in your bag you probably won’t need, but maybe you will? You don’t. Take them out.
10. Relax. Really, seriously, honestly… relax. It’s why you hired a great company with an experienced guide for your vacation. We have plenty of food. We’re going to hike a little, run some fun rapids, and take in some unforgettable scenery. Pull down your hat, lean back, and take a nap in the sand if you like. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to eat, or maybe, if you want, when the sun hits the cliff just right for a photo.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2025 catalog, questions, availability, and reservations, call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Since 1961, Western River Expeditions has led professionally guided rafting trips through Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona. As the Grand Canyon’s largest licensed outfitter and Moab’s leading adventure provider (through its division, Moab Adventure Center), Western River Expeditions continues to earn national recognition — including being named the #1 Whitewater Rafting Company in the U.S. by Newsweek (April 2025) and earning 21 consecutive Best of State awards in Utah.