Looking for a summer thrill? The Catskills boasts some of the best white water rafting near NYC. With multiple rivers running throughout the region, there are endless opportunities for getting on the water. Leave the kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on shore for the day and take a raft or personal tube instead! Get your adrenaline pumping on the faster moving rivers, or take your time and enjoy a beautiful summer day on one of the tamer routes. Whichever pace you choose, your next white water rafting adventure awaits in the Catskills!
Best Whitewater Rafting Spots in the Catskills
Sullivan County
Bordering the Delaware River, the southern Catskills is where whitewater rafting is at. This crystal clear river is fed by multiple reservoirs, so there is never any shortage of water to raft on. The surrounding landscape provides a stunning backdrop and calm areas and deep pools within the river provide opportunities for sunbathing and swimming along the way. Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks, put on your swimsuits, and enjoy a relaxing day out on the water with Indian Head Canoes. They even let kids raft for free! Kittatinny River Trips offers several different routes of varying lengths, and even feature special whitewater days when the reservoirs release their stores and the river kicks it up a notch. Lander’s River has 5 launch and land locations for trips varying from two and half to five hours so you can choose your best adventure. They also offer group discount rates, overnight packages, and have several campgrounds where you can rest up after a great day on the river. They’re not the only campground that provides river experiences either. Soaring Eagle Campground has tube rentals for a one hour, two-mile tour down the river and will even transport your tubes for an additional fee. While Jerry’s 3 River Campground offers a variety of camping options, river trips is where their true passion lies. They will help you plan a multi-hour or even a multi-day trip down the Delaware in one of their rafts. If you’re staying at Roscoe Campsite Park, rent a personal tube from the General Store and float down the private half-mile of the park’s river frontage or take a longer trip down the Beaverkill River.
Ulster County
Leave the Delaware and its slower waters behind and get into the rapids! Town Tinker Tube Rental in Phoenicia has everything you need for a memorable day on the Esopus Creek. White water tubing is the ultimate summer fun, and Phoenicia creek is no lazy river. Your heart will be pumping as you sweep down class II whitewater rapids and splash through waves up to three feet high! Maneuver around rocks, downed trees, and try your best to stay in your tube. To keep you safe, Town Tinker Tube Rental provides life jackets and helmets, and requires that guests be at least 12 years old and good swimmers in order to participate. They also provide wetsuits for cooler days and transportation to the put in location. Depending on the depth and speed of the water, trips generally last an hour and a half to two hours.
Greene County
Looking to get your feet wet but not ready for the full white water rafting experience? Head to Zoom Flume Water Park in East Durham for all the water fun you could possible imagine! Tube rides, lazy rivers, and pools provide endless fun and will help you beat the summer heat. For many of us, floating down our local river or creek in a tube was a favorite summer pastime. Bring back those memories, and make new ones, by white water rafting or tubing the in the Catskills. After a day on the water, refuel at one of the many great restaurants in the Catskills, or combine your river adventures with another fun outdoor activity like hiking or biking!
