White water rafting is a great way to connect with the important people in your life while getting up close and personal with Washington’s nature. The river you decide to go on, though, can greatly affect how the experience will go. If your loved ones aren’t used to extreme sports they could get stressed out riding on a turbulent river. On the flip side, if the river is slow moving and has less white cap action, your group may get bored
Young Family
Families that have smaller and younger children may want to stay on the safe side and ride less intense rivers. By going on class 2 - 3 rapids, the kiddos will be introduced to a side of the river that greets its participants rather than intimidating them. A ride on the Skagit offers education and scenic enjoyment more than rapid intensity. Especially if you’re trying to get your child hooked on the white water rafting bug, rivers that are easier and less scary to navigate are a great way to ease them into the sport.
Your Significant Other
Depending on your level of comfortability, the river level to take a date on can vary greatly. Regardless of the class of the rapids, a white water rafting trip makes for an excellent bonding session. The Snoqualmie River is an intermediate river, class 3-4, that offers flexibility for the partner you choose to join. A trip down to the Snoqualmie is a quick drive from Seattle so the commute isn’t unreasonably long from the city. The trust each member of the raft puts in each other to stay safe and follow directions works much like a trust exercise. It will also break down the barriers of embarrassment of self conscious dates because your partner will be too focused on the river to notice if you smell like onions. Even though the date won’t necessarily be romantic in a typical way, the both of you will have a stronger connection after getting off the raft. Plus, there is nothing better than a post-white water rafting trip smooch.
An Outing With Your Buddies
When you’re with your homies, fun and excitement are the first priorities when embarking on a trip like this. If you and your friends are physically fit and have had previous experience with whitewater rafting, the Skykomish and the Sauk rivers are perfect for adventurous outings. Both rivers boast beautiful scenery and class 3 - 4+ rapids. One of the biggest drops around Seattle, named Boulder Drop, offers adrenaline for you and your friends on the Skykomish River that no other river offers around the area.
To Impress Your Boss or Parents
Showing off to the people you respect in life is a special kind of satisfying. It’s always enjoyable to watch the people you worry about impressing have a great experience because of you. That being said, people you’d want to impress are usually older and more respected. In this case, the Nooksack River is a slow and steady body of water that allows older people to access white water rafting experiences. You’ll have time to show off your wildlife knowledge as well. Whether it’s eagles, bears, or salmon; you’re bound to sight one of the creatures of Washington’s forests.
