"I am an inexperienced passenger, and have a healthy fear of the rapids. When I see Hance — the first Class 7-8 rapid boaters must navigate on the river — anxiety floods my limbs. I do not want to swim here, I think."
OARS.COM
Rapid Musings: Hance, a Stolen Stone and River Magic | OARS
“Booking a trip—even just getting it on the calendar—might be the very thing we need to restore our emotional immune system after months of mounting uncertainty and stress.” #LetsMakePlans
AFAR.COM
Does Planning Future Travel Fend off the Pandemic Blues—or Just Make It Worse?
If private river trips are something you’ve always dreamed of doing, but don’t have the know-how, we offer several clinics each season that which will teach you everything from basic rowing techniques and the essentials of whitewater safety to how to rig a boat and cook for a group.
OARS.COM
How to Snag 10 of the Most Coveted Private River Permits | OARS
"The real measurable change was watching how everyone cordoned off with their travel cohorts in stadium-like seating the first night, but came together into a group-wide semi-circle by the last night. Whether time in the wilderness had created that shift or people had become comfortable enough with their space to navigate it a bit more loosely, conversations flowed freely and distance was just right to feel safe."
OARS.COM
Social but Distanced | OARS
Check out the sneak peek of a fun new film by director Dawn Kish featuring Fretwater Boatworks and a few of the boat builders carrying on the legacy of Martin Litton and dories.
We're teaming up with American Rivers to bring you the online premiere of the full film next month. Stay tuned...
The digital version of our 2021 Adventures Catalog is now available online. View it here or request a print copy (mailing soon!) 👇
OARS.COM
Request a Catalog | OARS
"It’s a way to tap clarity during muddied messy times and a true disconnect from reality and technology — something we could all benefit from."
SPOKEANDBLOSSOM.COM
Finding Clarity Downriver
"I loved that boat. I didn’t want to row it, and none of us did. The boat came out and you would look at it and kind of slobber about it, but my thought was, 'Absolutely not. I don’t want to row that boat, because I don’t want to be the first one that hits a rock and puts a hole in it, tips it over or something like that.'”
OARS.COM
Stories From the Vault: Lew Steiger | OARS
River trips are an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, engage with others and develop lasting connections.
OARS.COM
River Trips: Skip the Small Talk | OARS
At Fretwater Boatworks, having fun is serious business. Step into a day in the life of the team of boat builders keeping the tradition of building dories alive. 👇
American Rivers | @fretwaterboatworks | @dawnkishphoto | #grandcanyon | #woodenboats
OARS - Whitewater Rafting
October 6 at 6:00 AM ·
Step into the work (and play!) shop of Flagstaff, Arizona’s Fretwater Boatworks as they keep the tradition of wooden boat building alive in this new video from American Rivers and OARS - Whitewater Rafting.
Embodying the legacy of famed river runner and ardent conservationist Martin Litton, the Fretwater team will show you how, in Litton’s own words, “Win or lose, there’s a measure of victory in the endeavor.”
Speaking of which, have you gotten your 2021 OARS Adventures catalog yet? If not, be sure to request your copy here 👉 https://buff.ly/2CNnbrc
OARS.COM
Planning a Vacation is Good for Your Health | OARS
"This is a love letter to you, my 16-foot partner in crime—a praise to all your nooks and crannies; your ability to bounce back when life gets you down; your wild spirit."
OARS.COM
Ode to My Raft | OARS
"Thank you for trusting us to keep you safe amidst the most uncertain times. Thank you for the reassuring nods when we stumbled through the lists of new protocols and rules. More than anything, thank you for allowing us another season on the river."
OARS.COM
Reflections on Guiding During a Pandemic | OARS
"My late-October version of missing the river entails embracing how my hands are slowly creaking back into position and that I can starfish on my bed while I sleep. My holiday-time version of missing the river is full of reminiscing about summer whitewater tales...then the year turns."
OARS.COM
The Highs and Lows of Seasonal Guiding | OARS
How many of these unforgettable views have you experienced?
OARS.COM
5 World-Class River Views
"Walking through the world like Roger means fostering a greater connection to the land. It means curiosity and inquiry. It means experiencing the power of childlike wonder."
OARS.COM
Be Like Roger: Exploring Nature through a Different Lens | OARS
Anybody else ever felt like this after a river trip? #takemeback
OARS.COM
Warning: Side Effects of Rafting May Include... | OARS
Let these action-packed itineraries from some of the West’s biggest travel hubs be the inspiration for your next road trip vacation. And just because we couldn’t help ourselves, they all lead to at least one unforgettable rafting adventure!
OARS.COM
The Best Road Trips in the West | OARS
Whether you’ve got toddlers or teens, we’re confident that there’s an adventurous story below (or three!) that your kids won’t be able to put down. Even better? These books are sure to inspire a lifetime of outdoor adventures.
OARS.COM
15 of the Best Outdoor Books for Kids | OARS
"The things we have reservations about doing are often also the things that will fill us with the most joy, catharsis, elation and contentment."
OARS.COM
Zero Regrets: The Power of the Countdown | OARS
"Best" can mean a lot of things, but these states are clear standouts...
OARS.COM
What's the Best State for Whitewater Rafting? | OARS
There’s a lot to love about humping a backpack into the wilderness, but after your first river trip you’ll understand why rafting is better...
OARS.COM
Like Backpacking, But Better...
"Harvey could move nimbly across the Canyons rough and vertical terrain, with the nerve to calmly walk foot-wide ledges above the plunging abyss. He wore the cheapest hiking boots and drank from a boy-scout canteen. His pack rarely weighed more than 20 pounds."
OARS.COM
He's the Grand Canyon Hiking Legend You've Probably Never Heard Of...
Rafting in Grand Canyon is only half of the adventure...
OTTSWORLD.COM
Hiking in the Grand Canyon Where Few People Can Go
One of the added bonuses of a river trip? The exclusive access you get to some of the best (and least-traveled) hikes out there.
OARS.COM
7 Incredible River Hikes in the Western U.S. | OARS
"I sit, eyeing the boils and deceiving eddy lines surrounding my raft, and I feel the panic. 'Oh no,' I think. 'I’m too far left. We’re going over the ledge hole.'” #grandcanyon
OARS.COM
Rapid Musings: Above Lava Falls | OARS
"River trips have a way of opening people up. Very little is taboo as long as you remember you’re going to see that person in the groover line or at breakfast in the morning."
OARS.COM
Social but Distanced | OARS
From the Appalachians to Alaska, and many places in-between, here's how to experience America's "Best Idea" while floating down a river.
OARS.COM
The Best National Parks for Rafting | OARS
"We were raising kids who yearned for new experiences, and who wouldn’t think twice about striking out for parts unknown."
OARS.COM
Family Vacations That Keep Your Kids Coming Back | OARS
