Five States that Offer Great White Water Rafting for a Spring Break Vacation

One of the biggest types of trips available to Spring Breakers is white water rafting trips. It is not the standard when it comes to people looking for a Spring Break getaway. However, it offers vacationers the opportunity to indulge in adventurous and unexpected twists and turns through some of the most scenic waters in the country. There are several states that offer the best in Whitewater rafting which include Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Know Your River Classes

For those not familiar with the classes of rivers for white water rafting, this is the place to start. Class I rivers are considered to be easy and for the novice. Many of them have small waves with no serious or large obstacles and travel is perfect for those of various ages from young to old. For this class of river guides are not needed nor are they required. Class II rivers are considered to be medium they contain rapids that have low levels of difficulty. These rivers are perfect for those of various age groups and don't require an experienced rafter. For rivers such as this, a guide is suggested but is not required. Class III rivers are considered to be moderate. The waves contained in these rivers tend to be high and are frequent. The terrain is normally irregular, with lots of rocks and rapids with clear passages that may be more on the narrow side. These passages do require some experience in order to safely maneuver them. The next set of rivers are the ones that most people see in movies and on TV. These are the rivers that are considered to be suitable for more advanced rafters.

Class IV rivers are considered to be difficult. The rapids of the rivers were normally long, the waves are powerful, and there are many dangerous rocks associated with this river type. This class of river requires an experienced guide. However, for rafters, previous experience is a plus, but is not required. Class V rivers are considered to be extremely difficult. The rapids are normally long and violent and they are consistent with one coming closely behind another. These rivers normally will have extremely rough currents and the river beds are normally very with dangerous rocks and steep grades. These types of rivers require experienced guide and it is suggested that rafters have experience in Class IV rivers before moving on to this level.

Some Locations for Vacations

In the state of Colorado there are many rivers that rafters will love. The Arkansas River, Colorado River, Gunnison River, and the North Platte River, are just a few of them. Many of these rivers offer some of the best rafting available in the country.

In the state of Texas the rivers which are between 0 and 25 miles are Barton Creek, Texas, which is class I-II 12 miles long; Barton Creek, Texas, class III 5 miles long; Barton Creek, Texas, class III 4 miles long; Bull Creek, Texas, class II-III 3.5 miles long; San Gabriel River, Texas, class II+, 10 miles long; and these are just a few of them offered in the state.

The biggest of the whitewater river trips in Arizona involve the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon offers travel along with Colorado River that over millions of years carved the deep canyons into the earth.

In Pennsylvania, there are two rivers that are great for white water rafting. The Youghiogheny River (Class III-IV) and Cheat River (Class IV-V) have some of the best terrain for those looking for a challenge. Both of these are not for the novice or those who aren't looking for an adventure.

Finally, there is Washington State. The Skagit River (Class I-III), Wenatchee River (Class III+), Tieton River (Class III-IV), and White Salmon River (Class IV-V) offer rafters a variety of options for their Spring Break trip.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you are not experienced in white water rafting, it is best to consult with a company that specializes in white water rafting trips. There are many that are available by doing a simple search on the Internet.