River Rafting

River rafting, better known as “white water rafting”, may not be directly associated with South Lake Tahoe, but it is nevertheless one of the many activities in the area that visitors can engage in, with much thanks to South Lake Tahoe's proximity to The Truckee River (it's only an hour and fifteen minutes away from South Lake Tahoe). This being the case, despite what a lot of people may think, there IS some river rafting in South Lake Tahoe.

Just a brief introduction to the activity of rafting before we move on: river rafting is a high-adrenaline activity in which persons navigate through river water (often, we refer to rough river water) by means of rubber rafts. This leisure activity is recognized as a very exciting and challenging one, and often requires the presence of at least one or two experienced river rafters in order to coordinate the experience. River rafting in South Lake Tahoe, or in any other place for that matter, also requires the participants to be fully prepared and to be aware of their surroundings and the events, as river rafting could be very dangerous even for the experienced.

Going back to river rafting in South Lake Tahoe: the premiere white water tours company in the area happens to be Tributary Whitewater Tours, and it actually is a very good company to place your trust in when you decide to have a river rafting experience in South Lake Tahoe. What Tributary Whitewater Tours offers is a fun white water adventure that's seven miles worth of guided paddling, beauty and excitement. There are some beautiful stops in this trip, so it's advisable to bring a disposable camera or two, although the company has professional photographers on-site for your needs.

Safety is, of course an issue here, since some groups bring their children with them – but there's little need for worry, as children above the age of seven can participate for the whole trip and younger children only have to cut their trip slightly shorter than the rest. For those who are new to river rafting in South Lake Tahoe or any other river rafting area, there will be safety instructions and life jackets given out before the trip. For those who have done it before, there is no need to worry at all, as everyone shall be given the chance to learn and practice paddling at the beginning of the tour.

While the Truckee River is the only river in the area (meaning it is the only place in South Lake Tahoe that you can do your river rafting on), it doesn't mean that it has to be boring. Of course, it's not as prone to giving adrenaline rushes as some other rivers out there, so the thrill-seekers may not appreciate it for the most part. But it's a great place to acquaint yourself with the activity and fall in love with river rafting in South Lake Tahoe altogether. In the end, river rafting in South Lake Tahoe is less about the adrenaline and more about communing with the beauty and power of nature.