If you like fast water and challenging rapids, then spring is the best time of year to go whitewater rafting in Lake George and the Adirondacks!
Whitewater rafting season usually starts sometime in April and runs though mid-October, but the first month or so is always the best time if you’re an experienced rafter seeking the thrills of the Hudson River’s class III, IV, and V rapids.
Why is spring the best time of year for whitewater rafting in the Lake George area? Snow melt, of course!
In the spring, snow melt creates high, fast water in the Hudson River, making for some of the best whitewater rapids in the Northeast! If you are looking for thrills on your whitewater rafting trip, there’s no better time than spring and snow melt.
This year the weather has been a bit unpredictable, but we’re expecting snow melt to start in earnest in early-to-mid April.
Before you head out for an Adirondack whitewater adventure this spring, however, make sure you’re prepared:
- The water is going to be cold! Dress warmly in polypropylene, fleece, and wool. Stay away from cotton and plan to wear two pairs of wool socks – yes, two (and definitely wool).
- Put on sunscreen. It may still be chilly out, but sunscreen is important, especially on the water, so don’t forget that SPF 45!
- Leave expensive gear (and anything you don’t want to lose or get wet) at home. This includes your GoPro. Spring rapids are fast fast fast. This is great if you’re seeking a thrilling whitewater adventure, but it’s also a great way to lose things to Mother Nature.
- Make sure you’re in good health, which is just generally a good idea whenever you’re going on an outdoor adventure.
- Wait until summer if this is your first time going on a rafting adventure. Spring water is fast, and the rapids along the Hudson are for intermediate to experienced rafters. That said, the Hudson River rapids are a lot of fun and – especially in summer – have some beautiful stretches of scenic, calmer waterways. In other words, these class III, IV, and V rapids are the perfect place to get started whitewater rafting during the summer and fall seasons.
