Whitewater Rafting

Latest Stories

Water Sports

“I’m Always Scared.” The World’s Top Kayakers Chase Joy and Risk at Whitewater’s Gnarliest Race.

Extreme whitewater may look like a reckless gamble, but on Idaho’s stoutest rapids, elite paddlers find a sacred language of focus, survival, and profound connection. Our associate editor soaked it all in at the North Fork Championship, kayaking’s gnarliest race.

Madison DapcevichSeptember 23, 20261

Environment

4 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage Just Leaked Into One of America’s Most Popular Recreational Rivers

A pipe failure near Pueblo released millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into a drought-stricken stretch of one of Colorado's most popular rivers, triggering high E. coli warnings.

Suzie DundasSeptember 2, 20264

North America

Experience One of the World’s Best Rafting Trips

West Virginia boasts guaranteed whitewater and one of the country’s newest national parks

Brian HigginsAugust 26, 2026

Water Sports

LISTEN: Low Water, No Problem. We Packrafted One of the Most Remote Rivers in the West

The latest Long Read on the Outside Podcast takes listeners down the Lower Owyhee, a scenic river in eastern Oregon that was too shallow for traditional whitewater rafts.

Frederick DreierAugust 17, 2026

Books & Media

It’s True, Boating the Grand Canyon Will Change Your Life, with Steve Kenney

The river guide and poet had three careers before settling on the least likely fourth option

August 5, 2026

Exploration & Survival

A Tree Fell on a Camper's Tent, Prompting a Late-Night Backcountry Rescue

When a falling tree crushed a camper’s tent on a remote multi-day backcountry rafting trip on Idaho’s Salmon River, search and rescue specialists faced a race against time, darkness, and smoke.

Madison DapcevichJuly 29, 20261

Environment

A Strange Disease Is Striking Grand Canyon Rafters. I Was Patient Zero.

Three days after his Grand Canyon rafting trip, Matthew Wappett was in the ER. He tells Outside what it’s like to battle the mystery illness baffling National Park Service rangers and the medical community at large.

Madison DapcevichJuly 15, 20261

Water Sports

Low Water, No Problem. We Took a Packraft Down One of the Most Remote (and Stunning) Rivers in the West.

The Lower Owyhee River in eastern Oregon is remote, tough to access, and impossibly beautiful. Writer Owen Clarke recently tagged along on an packrafting trip down the river during its dry season.

Owen ClarkeJune 17, 20262

Water Sports

I’m a Professional Raft Guide. Here Is the Messy, Low-Paid Reality of My “Dream Job."

Few raft guides last more than a season or two. One ten-year veteran shares her secret for cracking the code.

Corey BuhayApril 2, 20262

Opinion

My Friends Still Love to Get Wasted. Should I Invite Them on My Next Adventure?

What happens when you outgrow the party? Our ethics columnist has advice on how to deal with your friends who still get after it.

Mark SundeenJanuary 22, 20266

Water Sports

He Brought a Sleeping Pad to the Grand Canyon. Then He Ran One of the River’s Biggest Rapids On It.

Lava Falls is considered to be one of the biggest rapids on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River. Rated a Class 10, this powerful feature is characterized by massive waves, holes, and steep drops.

Madison DapcevichNovember 24, 20251

Water Sports

I Didn't Win the Lottery to Raft the Grand Canyon This Year, So I Met Its Sister River

After three Colorado River trips totaling more than 70 days, Outside associate editor Madison Dapcevich spent a week rowing whitewater through the Grand Canyon’s sister river

Madison DapcevichSeptember 13, 2025

Books & Media

What Life in the Grand Canyon Tells Us About Life Everywhere Else, With Cindell Dale

You learn a lot piloting a wooden dory through "the Big Ditch," and Dale's been doing it for over 40 years

August 20, 2025

Opinion

Is It Ever OK to Steal a Campsite?

A frustrated reader knows it's bad form, but wants to break the rules to secure a riverside site anyway

Mark SundeenNovember 4, 2024

Active Families

Navigating a Class V Marriage

When Katie Arnold and her husband Steve were invited to run the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, it was a lifelong dream come true. But then disaster struck.

October 30, 2024

Opinion

I Loaned My Friend Gear Because I Thought He Was a Dirtbag. Turns Out He’s Loaded.

A frustrated reader feels taken advantage of. But should he?

Mark SundeenOctober 14, 2024

North America

The Best Ways to Get Outside in West Virginia

West Virginia has it all: mountains, rivers, 36 state parks, nine state forests, our newest national park, and a nearly million-acre national forest. Our travel expert reveals his favorite ways to get outside there.

Graham AverillJuly 14, 2024

Opinion

My Friends Won’t Clean My Groover. Should I Stop Bringing It?

Outside's ethics guru on who should be in charge of the groover on a river trip

SundogMarch 23, 2024

North America

Making Labor Day Plans? These Are the 9 Most Fun Outdoor Festivals

At these Labor Day Outdoor fests, for three sweet days, you can be outside, hike, hear live music, swim, boat, and run. Plus: there's food and beer.

Emily CarmichaelAugust 9, 2023

Water Sports

Alex Kim Wants Montana to Know He’s Here

When the photographer moved from his tight-knit Korean-American community to rural Montana to spend more time outdoors, he decided to create a new community for outdoorsy people of color

Lucy LittleJuly 19, 2023

Whitewater Rafting

Latest Stories

“I’m Always Scared.” The World’s Top Kayakers Chase Joy and Risk at Whitewater’s Gnarliest Race.

4 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage Just Leaked Into One of America’s Most Popular Recreational Rivers

Experience One of the World’s Best Rafting Trips

LISTEN: Low Water, No Problem. We Packrafted One of the Most Remote Rivers in the West

It’s True, Boating the Grand Canyon Will Change Your Life, with Steve Kenney

A Tree Fell on a Camper's Tent, Prompting a Late-Night Backcountry Rescue

A Strange Disease Is Striking Grand Canyon Rafters. I Was Patient Zero.

Low Water, No Problem. We Took a Packraft Down One of the Most Remote (and Stunning) Rivers in the West.

I’m a Professional Raft Guide. Here Is the Messy, Low-Paid Reality of My “Dream Job."

My Friends Still Love to Get Wasted. Should I Invite Them on My Next Adventure?

He Brought a Sleeping Pad to the Grand Canyon. Then He Ran One of the River’s Biggest Rapids On It.

I Didn't Win the Lottery to Raft the Grand Canyon This Year, So I Met Its Sister River

What Life in the Grand Canyon Tells Us About Life Everywhere Else, With Cindell Dale

Is It Ever OK to Steal a Campsite?

Navigating a Class V Marriage

I Loaned My Friend Gear Because I Thought He Was a Dirtbag. Turns Out He’s Loaded.

The Best Ways to Get Outside in West Virginia

My Friends Won’t Clean My Groover. Should I Stop Bringing It?

Making Labor Day Plans? These Are the 9 Most Fun Outdoor Festivals

Alex Kim Wants Montana to Know He’s Here

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