5 Tips for Your BEST White Water Rafting Tour Experience EVER

Be prepared! If you’re looking to book a white water raft tour as part of your summer itinerary, this blog will help you to make the most of your tour experience. Before embarking on a white water rafting adventure, it’s important to properly prepare yourself for the experience. Here are some tips to help your group have the BEST white water tour experience EVER!

#1 Pick the Right Tour for Your Group

You’ll want to ensure the tour you choose matches your group’s experience level and physical ability. Some trips are more challenging than others, so be sure to do your research and pick the best one for you.

Whether you’re new to white water rafting, or if it’s on your annual summer bucket list, White Wolf Rafting has the perfect tour for your group.  Both of our river raft tours are 4 hours long with around 2 hours on the river.

If your group includes people who are new to being out on the river or people who are a bit apprehensive, our Kananaskis River Raft Tour is a great introduction to rafting. Suitable for families with children aged 5+, it’s not uncommon for 3 generations of family to participate in this tour. That’s right, we’ve had grandparents in their 80s take this tour with their families! This isn’t to say that the tour is boring. There are still plenty of opportunities to experience the thrill of grade 2-3 white water rapids.

If you’re looking for a raft tour for a group of experienced rafters, or if your group is comfortable enough in the water to skip straight to our highest-adrenalin tour and our most popular tour, Horseshoe Canyon Raft Tour. Suitable for kids aged 12+, this tour also requires basic swimming skills. Ride a wild series of grade 3-4 rapids through a canyon before enjoying a few rock jumps into the glacier river water.

Click here to learn more about how to pick the best river rafting tour in the Canadian Rockies.

#2 Wear the Right Gear

Wearing the right gear on the river is essential to staying safe and comfortable. When you arrive at the White Wolf Rafting office in downtown Canmore, you’ll have an opportunity to use one of our changing rooms to suit up. We recommend wearing a swimsuit and bringing a towel in case you go for a swim, either on purpose or by accident. We provide everything else you need, including high-quality wetsuit, water boots, a life jacket, a helmet, and an optional rain jacket. You can bring a backpack to store your gear while you’re on your tour. If you bring your sunglasses, remember they can disappear pretty quickly in the river, or, our office sells affordable sunglasses if you prefer to store yours.  If it’s a cooler day you could add a fleece jumper or cover-up for after your tour.

Click here for more information on what to wear rafting.

#3 Stay Safe

Rule number one on tour, listen to your guide! White Wolf Rafting guides are there to keep you and your group safe and ensure you all have a great time. Listen to their instructions and ask questions if you’re unsure about anything. Our River Manager, Will has over a decade of white water experience. Will has so much experience he teaches other guides. Before the tour season begins Will is busy teaching the International Rafting Federation (IRF) Guide Training Program with Timberline Canadian Alpine Academy.

Click here to meet our river raft crew.

#4 Be Prepared for Any Weather

In the Canadian Rockies, you need to be prepared for any kind of weather. While summers tend to be nice and warm, it’s been known to snow at higher elevations every month of the year. In the mountains, weather systems can change quickly. A calm sunny morning can become a windy, rainy afternoon without any warning. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.

Click here to read our frequently asked questions (FAQs)

#5 Hydrate

Any time you’re recreating outdoors, it’s important to stay hydrated! Rafting can be physically demanding, so staying hydrated is crucial. Drink plenty of water leading up to your trip, but not so much that you must go to the washroom as soon as the bus departs! At the end of your tour, you’ll be offered a drink and snack for the bus ride back to our downtown Canmore office.

Click here to discover Canmore’s best patios for après raft tour drinks.

Last, but not least, remember to have FUN on your tour. By following these five tips, you can ensure that you’re ready for an exciting and safe white water rafting adventure. Our tours are smaller than other companies, this allows plenty of time to enjoy your time on the river.

Depending on your tour, our guides seek out fun opportunities for our guests, like river surfing and rock jumping. At White Wolf Rafting we care about your experience.

Have any questions? Contact us!

Ready to book your tour? Book now.