Rafting in the Northeast

[Bobonli]

I'm looking to take the kids rafting this summer to get them some more exposure to water sports. I haven't been rafting in a million years. What is accessible within a 2 or 3 hour drive of New York City?

Googling brings me back to the Delaware and someplace upstate that I've never heard of. Either way, I have no basis of knowledge of where I should be looking for something fun but not overly hair-raising for 8 year olds.

Thanks

[EDS]

Deerfield River in Mass. has class a few different sections that are good for this.

[roseyscot]

I remember rafting as a kid in PA I think. It was part of a YMCA camp and it was 6 hours from central CT. Good for white water kayaking and for rafting. Maybe it was this:

Pocono Whitewater Rafting in Jim Thorpe, PA |

[lumpy]

Second on the Deerfield, or there's rafting in the Hudson River Gorge near North Creek NY. For summer you'll need a dam release river like the Deerfield or else the water level is too low.

[Markco]

Deerfield river per Lumpy or you can rent canoes, kayaks, and I belief tubes for class 2 water in CT at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Collinsville CT.

[Chris Yates]

Batten Kill on the NY/VT border - This might be more low key than you want. But, as a side bonus excellent riding in the areas.

Battenkill Riversports & Campground

As mentioned above there is rafting on various rivers in the Adirondack park that are timed to daily releases from reservoirs.

Hudson River Rafting Company - Rafting and Tubing Adventures on the Hudson, Sacandaga, Moose Rivers and Black River Canyon

[Bobonli]

Thank you everyone. There's enough here to keep me busy for awhile.

[Bob Ross]

I remember rafting as a kid in PA I think. It was part of a YMCA camp and it was 6 hours from central CT. Good for white water kayaking and for rafting. Maybe it was this:

Pocono Whitewater Rafting in Jim Thorpe, PA |

20-something years ago I went on a combination rafting/cycling vacation with a big group somewhere in the Poconos, pretty sure it was less than 3 hours from NYC. A splendid time was had by all. And it was apparently not candy-ass easy water; the guide admitted these were gnarlier rapids than he would ordinarily take a raft full of newbs on, but he saw what nutjobs we were on the bikes and figured we'd be up for whatever happened.

[xjoex]

The oldest white water company in the eastern US is in Ohiopyle, PA Wilderness Voyageurs Ohiopyle White Water Rafting, Adventures & Bike Tours

You can go rafting, then hit up some amazing and oddly somehow completely empty singletrack and visit two Frank Lloyd Wright buildings within 15 minutes of Ohiopyle; Falling Water and Kentuck Knob .

-Joe