Frequently Asked Questions
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Whitewater Trips: Children must be six years of age or older on the date of the trip. Please do mind our recommended ages for each of our whitewater boat sizes.
Scenic Floats: Children must be four years of age or older, on the date of the trip, to go on a scenic float.
**Mad River may change the age limits or restrict certain individuals from rafting because of health conditions, physical ability or number of able passengers. We do our best to notify you of any changes, but when water levels are variable, we may make last minute changes for your safety.
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We run three different boat sizes on the whitewater section. That means you have lots of options to find the perfect boat for your group. Our three boat sizes are Classic Boats (16-man), Small Boats (8-man), and Super Small Boats (6-man).
Classic Boats: This is our standard raft on the Snake River with a guide on a stern oar frame. With eight paddling positions and eight non-paddling positions (when full), this raft has a seat for everyone. This is our largest boat, which means it is our most stable boat. You will experience more tame hits going through rapids, and fewer splashes. This boat is great for families with young children, multi-generational groups, large groups, solo travelers looking to join a group, and first-time rafters. **Please note that due to Covid there are restrictions on the number of people that can be in a boat. For 2021 we will only allow 8 to 10 people per boat. If restrictions are to be lifted, we will offer more availability on our classic boat.**
Small Boats: This is our most popular boat and our Guide’s Choice. This boat has a guide on a stern oar frame, and when full has six paddling positions and two non-paddling positions. Being a smaller boat than the Classic, this boat feels more action. The guide relies more on the crew to power this boat. You’ll be sure to get wet as you crash through the rapids of the Snake River in this craft. This boat is great for families with older children, groups with mixed levels of adventure-seeking, couples, and solo travelers.
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You will cover Class I-III rapids on your whitewater adventure with Mad River; this is considered a “moderate” whitewater trip. The Snake River will sometimes reach Class IV rapids during spring runoff in May and early June. Class I water has minor ripples and splashes. Class II rapids may have waves up to three feet high that occur in wide river channels and require moderate navigation. Class III rapids are of moderate difficultly, typically occurring in narrow channels, or those containing rocks or pinch points. They may have irregular waves and require precise maneuvering.
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Whitewater Trips: Start at the West Table Boat Ramp and end at the Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp.
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We recommend making reservations as soon as you know which date, time, and trip you’d like to go on. Some trips remain available until the day of, however, most trips book up quickly. Don’t quite have all the details and numbers in line, or worried your friend may flake? No worries! We have a 48-hour (or 72-hour, for groups of 10+) cancellation policy, so you can always make changes up until 48 hours (or 72 hours) before your trip with no financial penalties. Once within our 48-hour (or 72-hour) cancellation period, trips become non-refundable.
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Our weather here in Jackson is variable. When dealing with mountain weather you can have anything from 90-degree weather to snow all in one day. Don’t worry though, we have gear for almost any weather conditions you may encounter on your float trip.
For all trips, both whitewater and scenic, we recommend all clothing be synthetic or wool (no cotton please); footwear that will stay on your feet (no flip-flops), a hat, sun glasses with croakies, sunscreen and a towel. A synthetic/wool t-shirt and shorts should be fine for warmer days. For cooler days, or those of you that run cold, we offer wetsuits, booties, and wetsuit jackets. We also offer complimentary splash gear (glorified rain gear) on all our whitewater trips.
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Space on the rafts is limited. Each guide will have a dry location for necessary medical supplies; no other items will be allowed. Medical items may be but are not limited to diabetic supplies, heart medication, or asthma supplies. Please bring along any necessary medications or medical supplies, and inform your guide of all medical history, injuries, and current illnesses. Guides aren’t keen on surprises halfway down the river.
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Whitewater Trips: You will check in 30 minutes prior to your departure time at the Mad River Boathouse; 1255 South Highway 89 Jackson, Wyoming 83001. All trips leave promptly at their scheduled departure times, then travel about 30 minutes to the put-in at West Table Boat Ramp. You will meet your guides, listen to a safety speech, receive your PFD and splash gear, get divided into groups, and hit the river. You will be on the water for about 1.5 hours, before completing the trip at Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp. You will then have about a 45-minute drive back to the Mad River Boat House. This is the only section of commercially run whitewater in Jackson Hole.
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Please plan about 3.5 hours door to door for most trips. The time spent on the water depends on the CFS (cubic feet per second) of the water at the time of your trip. However, typically you will spend 1.5 hours on the water for all whitewater trips, and 2 hours on the water for all scenic floats.
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A Class II or III rapid indicates that it is “moderate” whitewater. You may have easy to moderate waves, some may be irregular. Most rapids may be runnable without scouting but may require precise maneuvers to pass through.
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CFS stands for “cubic feet per second,” and is the standard measure of volume for rivers within the United States. The CFS of the river section we operate on in the Snake River Canyon generally ranges from 2,500 CFS to 12,000 CFS in normal water conditions during the summer months. During peak runoff, it can reach 38,000 CFS. To visualize what this looks like, imagine that 1,000 CFS is about the size of a bull elephant. That’s like saying that at any point in the river, 2.5 to 12 elephants charge past every second. That’s a lot of water!
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For whitewater trips that include a meal, you will eat at our exclusive riverside dining site in the Snake River Canyon. This is a riverside meal area located prior to the two biggest rapids of the day; Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna. All meals are served in areas of river access only, so you will not have access to anything you left on the bus. If you need medication while you eat, please be sure to bring it with you. **Due to the outdoor environment of our river kitchen we are unable to guarantee an allergy-free meal. If you have food allergies, feel free to bring along your own meal and your guide will carry it, so you can eat with your group.
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The Snake River is an excellent river to experience your first rafting trip on. Whether you’re feeling adventurous wanting to try a whitewater trip there is a trip to fit almost everyone. Always remember that this is an activity on a wild and scenic river, please make sure you have chosen the appropriate trip for your comfort level. If you are unsure, contact one of our lovely Mad River staff to get advice on what trip may best fit you. P: 307-733-6203 | E: reservations@mad-river.com. Every Mad River staff member is here to ensure that you have a wonderful experience, whether it is your first time or you are a seasoned rafter.
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Rafting is an activity with inherent risks associated with it. We do our best to mitigate risks on all our rafting trips, but can never say that rafting is 100% safe. Being on a wild and scenic river in a mountain region comes with an ever-changing setting and environment. Our guides spend a lot of time training and preparing to take guests down the river. We try our best to minimize the risks without changing the nature of the activity. We do our part and expect that guests do theirs by actively listening to all guide instruction, safety speeches, and asking questions or seeking clarification if something is unclear. A key part to mitigating risk, and giving you peace of mind, is selecting the appropriate trip for you.
Please check out our whitewater page to get a better idea of what each trip entails. If you are still unsure do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable staff at 307-733-6203 or reservations@mad-river.com. So, choose a trip that is right for you and enjoy yourself on the river! Rest assured, your guide will do their best to make sure it is a fun experience for everyone in your group. ** Please remember this is an adventurous and risky activity that can result in injury or even death.
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You can visit Snake River Photo to view your rafting photos. There are a number of purchasing options. These photographers took your photo at Big Kahuna/Lunch Counter Rapid in the Snake River Canyon. Contact them directly for assistance.
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Inherent risk is a risk that can not be mitigated without changing the fundamental nature of the activity. Our
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We consider highwater to be anything above 14,000 CFS, and adjust our age limits, physical requirements and required equipment accordingly at this point. Typically, we see highwater conditions in May and early June. Following a big winter, we can have highwater conditions into July. Water levels are unpredictable and ever-changing. We may need to adjust your trip the day before or even the morning of your scheduled departure. Please be patient with our staff, we promise we are not trying to ruin your vacation with our last-minute adjustments or cancellations. It is for your safety and wellbeing. Our highwater protocols have been compiled and reviewed by guides with over 100 years of collective experience. These are river professionals, many of whom have children. If the professionals wouldn’t put their kids on the water, then it’s not a good idea for your child to go down the river. Our number one priority is safety and risk management. We have your best interest in mind when we follow our highwater protocols. The inherent risks of rafting are elevated during highwater conditions. We expect all guests to follow safety protocols, actively listen to staff instruction, be honest and forthcoming about their health and fitness levels, and seek clarification when needed. Highwater is an exciting time to head down on the river with a commercial outfitter but, as always with adventurous activities, can result in injury or death.
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Mad River has a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drug use. Partaking in the use of alcohol and/or drugs prior to, or during your trip puts you, and everyone else in your boat at an elevated risk. Mad River staff reserve the right to remove any patron from their scheduled departure if there is suspicion of drugs and/or alcohol. Removal of a guest by a staff member due to suspected drug and/or alcohol use will result in the forfeiture of the trip cost, with no chance to reschedule. Serious infringements of this policy may result in a permanent ban from all future Mad River Boat Trips activities.
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No. Our PFDs are equipped with the proper flotation and head pillow required to commercially raft this stretch of river. If you want to raft commercially, you’ll have to wear the gear.
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The safety speech is an instructional speech given by a guide to the guests prior to getting into the boat, and onto the water. This speech is given to inform guests of the potential risks associated with their trip, how to mitigate those risks, and what to do if something goes wrong. It is critical that all guests actively listen, and seek clarification on anything that may be unclear during the safety speech.