Upstate New York Whitewater Adventures

You come back to the office after your weekend whitewater trip. Your coworker asks you where you went. Your reply of the Hudson River in New York stuns them. Most people picture the Hudson as the big river flowing by New York City. No white water there, right? If you look upstate toward the headwaters you will find Class III to Class IV whitewater adventure. A little more scouting will find you a number of rivers in Upstate New York worthy of whitewater adventure.

Hudson River

Believe it or not, the Hudson River Gorge is rated as one of the top ten whitewater rafting runs in America according to Outside Magazine. The adventurous types might want to plan a spring trip when the Hudson is high and fast. Because springtime conditions can be harrowing, most Hudson river outfitters have a minimum age of at least 16 for springtime trips. In the summer and fall, when the waters are calmer, the Hudson is a perfect trip for families or scouts and youth groups. There are a number of outfitters to help you with your adventure. Some of these include:

· Whitewater Challengers This Pennsylvania based outfitter also runs adventures on several upstate New York rivers including the Hudson and the Salmon Rivers.

· ARO Adventures Adirondack River Outfitters has been guiding whitewater raft trips since 1980. This full service outfitter can accommodate the person looking for hair raising adventure or the family looking for a nice trip to enjoy the Hudson's natural beauty.

Genesee River

The Genesee normally a lazy river but during high water stage, normally in early spring, this river can flow at Class III. The Genesee has been called the Grand Canyon of the East because of the Letchworth gorge part of the river. This area boasts of a 550' deep river gorge. This area, anchored Letchworth State Park has much to do besides rafting. There is hot air ballooning, hiking canoeing and many local attractions in the area. This part of upstate New York is perfect for a family vacation as the Genesee River is a perfect river for a family or youth group trip. For information on raft trips on the Genesee: