What to Bring on Your River Rafting Trip

Once you sign up for your first white water rafting trip on the American River with Adventure Connection, it’s time to start thinking about what you need to bring along. For your first time whitewater rafting, you want to make sure that you have the right gear packed, so you will be comfortable.

Fortunately, it’s easy to pack for a river rafting trip in California. That’s because besides yourself and your paddle, there’s not a lot that you can take with you on the river. You will need to have clothing that can get wet, including shorts, a swimsuit, river sandals or tennis shoes, a hat or visor for the sun, and a nylon windbreaker in case you get chilled by the cold water. You also want a spare set of dry clothing to be waiting for you at the camp.

Remember that the water can be quite cold, no matter how warm it is outside. Especially if you’re rafting in April, May, or October, when the weather can be cool or rainy, you will want to bring some cold-weather wool clothing, such as socks, gloves, a shirt, sweater, and cap. If the weather is really chilly, you can rent a wetsuit from Adventure Connection.

You also need some camping gear if you are planning on spending the night in the campground. You’ll want to have a sleeping bag, pad, and ground cloth, and a tent if you think you’ll be cold at night. You also need to bring your own toiletries, a towel and washcloth, dry clothing, and a maybe a camp chair for the evening. If you like, you can also bring a musical instrument, fishing gear and license, and alcohol (in moderation). You will want to leave your valuables at home, though, including your camera. Don’t worry; there will be photographers along the river that will have photos available for sale at camp after your trip is over.

Besides that, all you need to have a good time on your Adventure Connection white water rafting trip is to bring your sense of adventure and be ready to have fun!