Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting’s latest news and product reviews.  Paddling Life keeps you informed on what’s new in whitewater rafts, rafting competitions, rafting industry news, and much more.

Athlete Stories

New River Running Must Read: Bridget Crocker’s “The River’s Daughter” (Plus: Special PL Author Q&A!)

There’s a new book to put on your river running reader’s list: Bridget Crocker’s “The River’s Daughter.” If ever a book was able to...
Eugene Buchanan -
Inflatables

SOTAR Celebrates 45th Anniversary

Holy Sale-orama! Celebrating its 45th anniversary, raft manufacturer SOTAR is rolling out all the stops with special sales on its award-winning rafts, catarafts, and...
Eugene Buchanan -
Destinations

“This Is Living Life”: Taking Kids to Ríos Lodge in Costa Rica

Our Family Adventure Deep in the Jungle When we first told our kids we’d be rafting into a jungle lodge in Costa Rica—with no Wi-Fi,...
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Films & Books

Dory Dames: OARS Releases New Film “About Damn Time”

Showcasing the trailblazing dory women of Grand Canyon, outfitter OARS and conservation organization American Rivers have released a new film, "About Damn Time," highlighting the...
Eugene Buchanan -
Whitewater Rafting

Two Colorado Raft Guides Dead on Idaho’s Selway

Two rafters from Colorado died on a high water descent of Idaho's Selway River on May 10, according to authorities. The accident occurred in...
Staff Post -
Conservation

Dr. Tom Myers releases “The Grandest Trek” book

Sure, Kevin Fedarko, author of “The Emerald Mile,” knocked it out of the park with his most recent tome, “A Walk in the Park,”...
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Conservation

American Rivers Names Gauley to America’s 2025 Most Endangered Rivers List

The threat of toxic pollution from coal strip mining in the headwaters of one of the Gauley's primary tributaries — the Cherry River —...
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Whitewater Rafting

CFI’s Native Teen Guide in Training Program Doubles Down for 2025

The Canyonlands Field Institute (CFI) is doubling its transformative Native Teen Guide in Training (NTGIT) program for the first time in its 12-year run.
Aaron Bible -
Destinations

Wild and Scenic River Paddling Sampler!

There are 208 national wild and scenic rivers in 40 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, totaling more than 12,700 miles (0.25 percent...
Eugene Buchanan -
Accessories

Gear-o-rama! Down River Equipment Hosts Raftopia March 31-April 5

Rafters rejoice! Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Colorado’s Down River Equipment is hosting its annual swagorama Raftopia sale and extravaganza March 31-April 5, one of...
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Apparel

Mustang Survival Debuts Its “Next Gen” Hudson, Helix Drysuits (On Heels of Last Season’s Quadra)

Burnaby, BC's Mustang Survival has been doubling down on dry suits. Coming on the heels of last year's release of the new Quadra, its...
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Destinations

The Best Jungle River and Lodge on the Planet? Experiencing Rios Lodge on Costa Rica’s Pacuare River

For those seeking an off-the-grid adventure steeped in natural beauty, exhilarating rapids, and warm hospitality, Rios Lodge on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica...
Jessica De Feyter -
Whitewater Rafting

New Book: Ty Childress’s “Bail! Bail! Bryce Whitmore and the Birth of Whitewater Rafting”

Rafters rejoice! A new book by Ty Childress is out, bringing rafting's early heydays in California to light as spearheaded by rafting pioneer Bryce...
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Conservation

The French Broad’s RiverLink: Helping the River Shine

While North Carolina’s French Broad River got walloped like never before by Hurricane Helene, thankfully there’s a longstanding organization that exists to protect it....
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Destinations

It’s Permit Time! (A Cheat Sheet from Our Friends at Downriver Equipment)

As our friends at Downriver Equipment point out, you have until Jan. 31 at 11:59 pm to get your permit applications in for running...
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Conservation

OARS Releases “A Guide to Fighting for Wild Rivers” Film Celebrating Colorado’s Yampa River 

Outfitter OARS has released A Guide to Fighting for Wild Rivers, a new film that is both a tribute to the Yampa River in northwest...
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Competition

IRF and WRF Announce Unified 2025 Euro Cup Calendar

The World Rafting Federation (WRF) and the International Rafting Federation (IRF) say they are actively working on a merger project, and that 2025 will...
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Conservation

Forest Service Approves Stibnite Gold Mines in Idaho’s South Fork Salmon Drainage

Paddlers and environmentalists got some unwelcome news early in the New Year, when the US Forest Service released its final approval decision on the...
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Destinations

6 Days/6 Rivers: A Costa Rican Kayaking Odyssey with Amazing Vacations

“Eddy out at that iguana,” says our guide Arnaldo Cespedes. We're scouting a Class IV rapid called Robin Hood on Costa Rica’s Rio Naranjo and Arnaldo...
Eugene Buchanan -
Conservation

Filmmakers to Debut Whitewater History Film “Whitewater Released”

In the 1970's golden age of whitewater kayaking, hydropower and corporate interests threaten to sever public access to flowing rivers. Through grassroots organizing and...
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Conservation

70 Years and Running Strong: American Whitewater 2024 Recap!

American Whitewater has been maintaining and enhancing access to rivers for 70 years. And they’ve been busting their tail sagain this year, fighting for...
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Destinations

Flowing Through Time: A Lower Salmon River Adventure

I had been waiting for this day for years: the summer my oldest daughter would finally be old enough to join me on a commercial river trip.
Aaron Bible -
Athlete Stories

Jim Cassady (Author, Adventurer, Self-bailing Raft Inventor) Passes Away; Tributes Pour In

Tributes are pouring in for whitewater rafting pioneer and guidebook author Jim Cassady, who passed away in early November. Cassady was a whitewater pioneer in...
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Destinations

New “River” Globes Available

Okay, river lovers…now here’s a globe you can truly sink your teeth into. What to give the paddler who seemingly has everything? How about...
Eugene Buchanan -
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Latest news

Paddling Industry News

Ocoee River Sees Historic Flooding

Historic Flooding Hits Ocoee River Region, Shattering Water-Level Record It's not just the desert Southwest of the Rockies getting record...
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Accessories

Summer Swagalicious Gear Roundup!

Okay okay, it's still a little early for Christmas. But it's coming, and the goose is getting fat. So,...
Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Isle Paddle Boards: A fun alternative to whitewater kayaking

ISLE Pioneer 3 & Pioneer Pro 2: A New Perspective on Stand-Up Paddling Looking for something to mix things up...

Must read

Conservation

Salt River Hit Record 84,900 CFS During Southwest Floods

Arizona's Salt River hit a record flow from the...
Conservation

Grand Canyon Hits 50K? Not So Fast…(But San Juan Tops 41K!)

While rumors (and hydrograph readings) attested that the Grand...
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Athlete Stories

Hip Problems for Kayakers (FAI), and Surgical Repair

We all know kayaking uses your hips. "Hip snap!"...
Nick Hinds -
Archive

Ching, Anderson Win Battle of the Paddle

For the burgeoning stand-up crowd, the annual Gerry Lopez Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point, Calif., has become the de facto World Championships in the sport, with some of its biggest year-long bragging rights on the line. And in one of the tightest racers ever, this year those accolades went to Redondo Beach local Danny Ching, who won his third Battle of the Paddle.
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Archive

Gavere Claims Teva Mtn Games SUP Sprint Crown

Kayak? I don't need no stinkin' kayak. That's the sentiment that could be shared by longtime kayaker Dan Gavere, who showed his versatility in the stand-up world by winning the SUP downriver sprint race on Gore Creek at this year's Teva Mountain Games, edging out rival Charlie McArthur by 13 seconds...
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