Whitewater rafting in a rubber raft

Adventure Gateway Outfitters use many different boats for river rafting. Primarily, we use rafts, hard shell or inflatable kayaks, and canoes.

The first "rubber" rafts came to the United States prior to the Civil War. The military pioneered these boats and designed all the original boats. The first river trip in a rubber raft was lead by Army Lt. John C. Freemont along with mountain man Kit Carson on Utah’s Bear River in September, 1843.

The first rafts to run the New and Gauley Rivers in West Virginia were woven cotton rafts with a synthetic rubber coating made for the Army Air Corp in the 1940’s. Many of the original boats and river equipment came from military surplus. Today’s boats are designed for our specific needs by companies around the world. They come in all colors and shapes with specially designed floors to allow the water to self drain. Our rafting equipment has come a long way from the old military rubber rafts.

Ducking the Green River in an inflatable kayak,
Desolation Canyon, Utah

The same goes for our canoes and kayaks. Design changes that have to do with how a boat moves in current are changing every year. Kayaks are shorter and designed to work in a three-dimensional world of rivers. Canoes are made of lighter, stronger plastics. Kayaks are both hard shelled and inflatable. The inflatable kayak with the self-bailing floor has made kayaking much easier. They have allowed us to expand our options for guests to participate on an individual level. The two-person inflatable makes for great family boats with father/son, mother/son, brother/sister, and other combinations available.

Extended trips will often use a boat or multiple boats to carry rafting gear or gear and people. These boats can carry a remarkable amount of gear. It is unusual to have a trip re-supplied, so generally all that is needed (food, gear, cooking equipment) departs on the first day of the trip and lasts until the end. You would be surprised at how long we can keep fresh meats, vegetables and fruits.

As far as your participation in paddling the boat, we have many options. Some boats have a guide in the boat with a team of guests. The guide simply helps the guest negotiate the rapids and river. Our guides have been on these rivers many times before and know the proper route or line through a specific rapid. Without your help paddling, he or she would have a hard time getting the right line. These boats, known as paddle rafts, are generally used on most eastern rivers.

Santa Elena canoeing

A center mount raft has the guide sitting on a frame and he/she rows two oars. Because the oars are in the center of the boats, maneuverability by the guide is much better. These boats generally allow the guest to ride along without paddling. This type of setup is more common on our western rivers.

Many times a combination of boats will run the river. It is very common to have paddle rafts, center mounts and inflatable kayaks. The specific combination however, is often dictated by the river as well as the guests’ wishes. So, be sure and talk with your outfitter or link to their website for more specific information on the types of boats used.