RAFTING
FOR MORE NEXT SEASON !
Another spectacular place to spend time on the water is at the Acadia National Park in Maine . The Maine Island Trail is over 300 miles long , and it follows the coast of the park . The trail was created in 1993 and was the first water trail in the United States . All of the trail sites are accessible to watercraft and this is the perfect place for sea kayaking . Travel along the coast and camp out among the rocks and grassy inlets .
RAFTING
The inflatable river raft was first invented by United States Soldiers in the early 1800s . Before this time , most rafts were constructed out of flat wood . The first rubber raft was created by Lieutenant John Fremont and inventor Horace Day , and floated down the Platte River in 1842 . In the mid-1950s , John D . Rockefeller opened a resort in the Grand Teton National Park , in Wyoming , which allowed visitors to go on one of the first guided rafting expeditions . Rafting became extremely popular by the 1970s and has been a favored watersport since then .
Simple rafting can be done safely and for leisure enjoyment , but whitewater rafting is much more dangerous and physically demanding . When participating in a whitewater rafting trip , you run the risk of being thrown out of the boat by rushing waves or hitting large rocks , as well as falling out when riding the water downhill , such as downstream on a river towards a waterfall .
Whitewater rafting sites are rated by class . Class I is a simple trip , with not much danger . Class VI is nearly suicidal , and waters of this class are considered un-raft-able . It is best to opt for Class I or II when just starting out , and if you like what you experience , then try Class III or IV . Class V is for experts only , and usually not accomplished without the help of guide service . Most whitewater rafting adventures are guided no matter what class you are considering , which is helpful since the watersport is among the more dangerous styles .
The best place to try your hand at whitewater rafting is along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon . This is the most popular place to book a rafting trip and extremely touristic . Trips can range from a simple day ’ s worth of rushing through the waters , to a luxurious 6 or 7-day excursion through the canyon . The best route for booking a trip of this nature in the Colorado River is to plan well in advance .
Whether you ’ re looking to escape into the quiet portion of nature and take a ride down a calming river in the middle of the forest , or if you ’ re hoping for something to get your adrenaline pumping , these watersports will surely keep you cool and content this summer , and hopefully
KEEP YOU COMING BACK
FOR MORE NEXT SEASON !
For a more last-minute or spur-of-the-moment trip , try the Salmon River in Idaho or the Tuolumne River in California . Cherry Creek in Tuolumne is a class V , so be careful !
106 Summer 2016 Adventure Outdoors