Raft Camping 101: What Actually Matters (And What Doesn’t)

Raft camping is hands down the best way to experience a river. A one-day float trip is awesome, but getting to see the river at sunrise, high noon, sunset, and by the glow of a campfire at night is a totally different adventure. Don’t be intimidated by thinking that you need the newest, most, and priciest gear. Organization and planning are much more important.

Match the Raft to Your Trip

Choosing the right raft is a big part of the trip. Camping trips inherently involve hauling gear. The exact amount of gear, the number of people, and the river conditions all contribute to the type of raft that will best suit you. Rocky Mountain Rafts has nearly 30 different rafts that can get you down the river and accommodate any situation that you have. The versatile SB-120 would be just fine for a couple that doesn’t need to haul a ton of gear. The SBDS-120 is the same size but includes a drop stitched floor which allows for transportation of more camping or fishing gear. A slightly larger group, like a family of four would do well in the SB-130, or the Peak 134 if the water is more technical. Longer floats or bigger groups may need a bigger craft like the SB-140 or SB-160. An undersized raft can make transporting gear a pain. An oversized raft can increase difficulty transportation, launching, and maneuvering.

Packing

The gear that you choose and the way that you pack it will pay dividends throughout the entire trip. Saving space is crucial. Opt for compact items when possible, like tents, and sleeping bags and pads. Plan simple meals. It may be tempting to want to bring an extravagant outdoor kitchen set-up. There are plenty of packable grills and eating utensils now which can fill your belly just the same which will still allow you to enjoy a shore lunch of fresh fish if you so choose. Sandwiches and freeze-dried food are very packable if you are running low on space. Not saying that you need to “rough it” in every aspect of the trip, but pack smart. Certainly bring things that keep you comfortable like a folding camp chair, extra layers of clothes, coffee, and maybe a hammock, but leave the full-sized Blackstone at home.

It’s hard to float over so many fish and not wet a line. There are so many types of fly and spinning rods built for travel. These can be tucked away securely when the sun is high in the sky and floating is the main mission. In the same vein, foldable nets save room if you are cutting it close on space. PFDs made for fishing include front pockets and eliminate the need for a vest, chest pack, or tackle box.

Even when floating class 1 water, dry bags should be used. Frothy whitewater may not be pouring into your boat, but every time you step in and out of the boat, water comes in from your feet. And don’t forget about the possibility of rain. Lastly, once your gear is packed and loaded, be sure to secure it with cam straps from secure tie-down points. We’ve all seen gear washed up along the bank that wasn’t secured properly secured.

Final Thoughts

Like anything, planning will have a big impact of the experience of your raft camping trip. Pick the river based on paddlers’ experience and goals for the trip. This is as important as the gear itself. Then, match the raft with the water to be floated and the occupants of the raft. Finally, pack your gear to stay dry and secure within the boat. It’s that easy! And always share your float plan with people who are not on the trip!