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White-Water Adventure Trips

Are you a couple of adrenaline junkies? Get your blood pumping on one of these exciting-yet comfortable-white-water rafting adventure trips.

by Joe Yogerst
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Imagine waking up to the smell of pine trees and wildflowers, nuzzling each other beside a campfire on a secluded riverbank and relaxing in the privacy of your ;own rock pool. Taking a white-water rafting vacation is a wonderful way to enjoy some truly remote wilderness together. And, with a little planning, you won't have to rough it: We found a handful of rafting outfitters that deliver a five-star wilderness experience, where guides do all the work, from steering the boats to carrying the supplies and preparing impressive meals. During the day, time on the river alternates between action-packed adventure on the rapids and relaxing hours of fishing and swimming. At night, you'll sleep beneath starry skies or in cozy two-person tents. Some trips are perfect for novices; others promise adrenaline-laden, roller-coaster-style rides that more experienced rafters will relish. Either way, groups are fairly small, making it easy for you and your honey to slip away for a little riverside romance.

So, whether you want to get your feet wet with a three- or four-day excursion, or sign up for one that lasts two weeks, we've found four great trips in fabulous American locales. Check out these exciting adventures on your honeymoon.

Tuolumne River

Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions Three-day "Tuolumne River Trip" in California

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The Tuolumne (pronounced too-all-o-me) is one of the prettiest rivers in the country. It starts high in California's snowcapped Sierra Nevada Mountains and meanders through flower-filled meadows before plunging through the Sierra foothills. From April to September, Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions leads groups along a pristine stretch of the river that can only be reached on foot or by boat. The U.S. Forest Service restricts expeditions to two per day and Zephyr never carries more than 20 people, so you'll have one of America's most pristine rivers practically to yourselves.

There's no denying that the powerful Tuolumne promises a thrills-and-chills ride at times—but, because the guides take care of most of the piloting of these six-passenger rafts, it's suitable for any skill level.

Starting from Casa Loma, on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park, the boats negotiate the 18 miles to Ward's Ferry. At night, the group sleeps at a remote campground on a creek that feeds into the main river. Zephyr provides waterproof storage bags for your gear, known as "dry bags," and sets up portable toilets; tents and sleeping bags are available for rent. But you won't have to lift a finger in the "kitchen." Guides prepare feasts, including dishes such as Caesar salad, salmon fillets and sautéed asparagus, all served up with tasty red and white wines from the nearby Stevenot Winery.

In addition to enjoying the lush mountain scenery, you can explore an abandoned mining town together and splash around in refreshing swimming holes. Want to extend your trip? After a few days of rafting, head to nearby Yosemite National Park, or the Gold Country's many wineries and historic ghost towns (800-431-3636; zrafting.com).

Snake River

Hughes River: Expeditions Four-day "Snake River Trip" in Idaho

Evel Knievel jumped across Idaho's famed Snake River on a motorcycle, but you can run it in a rubber raft. The river, which cuts an 8,000-foot-deep chasm on its way to the Columbia River and, beyond that, the Pacific Ocean, is about as remote as it gets in the U.S.A. On a rafting trip here, you'll float along a spectacular watercourse through pristine wilderness where you can see mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep roaming in the wild. Idaho-based Hughes River Expeditions runs three- and four-day trips down the river between early May and late September. While the towering rock walls will impress you right away, it's the quieter moments that will linger in your memory, from activities like poking around historic Kirkwood Ranch and pondering Indian rock paintings, to listening to your guide relate tales of local folklore. The fishing here is some of the best in the country, and you can spend some quiet time alone casting for rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and massive white sturgeon.

A typical Hughes voyage never includes more than 18 rafters, spread across five boats, and is overseen by five highly experienced guides. The guides also bring along several inflatable kayaks, which guests can use as alternatives to the larger boats when they want some time alone. Overnights are spent at riverside campgrounds, where you can sleep alfresco or in cozy two-person tents. The company provides the tents, sleeping bags, pillows, camp chairs, dry bags and all cooking gear, and the guides whip up rich dishes such as steak and lobster, served with Dutch oven potatoes and chocolate cake.

One of the distinct advantages of this trip is scenery that ranges from stark desert to verdant forest. And, because you're on the water for no more than four days, a Snake River rafting trip can be combined easily with other attractions, including visits to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons, as part of a larger American West tour (800-262-1882; hughesriver.com).

Colorado River

Mountain Travel Sobek 14-day "Rafting the Grand Canyon" in Arizona

Newlyweds have been rafting Arizona's Grand Canyon since the early 1920s. Back then, it was a highly unusual choice. How times have changed! Today, thousands of people each year enjoy America's most famous white water.

Tour operator Mountain Travel Sobek, a longtime leader in white-water rafting trips, offers a 12-day expedition from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead. While some outfitters run rafts down the Grand Canyon almost daily from May to September, Sobek limits its trips to the spring and fall in order to take advantage of cooler weather. Trips are restricted to no more than 16 passengers, and nights are spent camping on beaches, either in a two-person tent or beneath the stars. Sobek provides tents, sleeping bags, dry bags and cooking materials, and the crew prepares casual American dishes such as burgers, pasta and salad.

Much of the journey is along moderate water, which leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular scenery as guides teach you about the history, geology and mysteries of the canyon. Each day, there's an easy-to-moderate hike, normally up narrow side canyons, giving you the chance to explore prehistoric Anasazi Indian ruins or natural wonders, like a rock crevice called Elves Chasm.

Sure, the scenery is arid, and the heat (temperatures top out at as high as 90ºF at noon, even during spring and autumn) can get to you. But while the swift-moving Colorado River isn't conducive to swimming, the turquoise pools of nearby tributaries are perfect for a cooling dip (skinny or otherwise) together in the middle of the desert.

One caveat: This is not a great trip for beginners. Things can get hairy as the 18-foot inflatable rafts challenge the Nankoweap Rapids (the longest white-water stretch on the Colorado River), so attempt this trip only if you're experienced—or brave at heart (888-687-6235; mountainsobek.com).

Tatshenshini River

Tatshenshini Expediting 12-day "River of Glaciers and Grizzlies Trip" in Alaska

Even hard-core adventurers will find it difficult to top the challenge of the Tatshenshini, a vast wilderness area that sprawls across the frontier between the Alaska panhandle and Canada's Yukon Territory. There's nothing out there: No towns, no roads and no buildings. All there is to see are creatures, from grizzly bears to the bald eagles, wolves, moose and other species that live well beyond the realm of mankind. But if you're up for the adventure, the scenery—from the evergreen forests to the glaciers and icebergs—is sure to knock your socks off.

Based in the historic Yukon town of Whitehorse, Tatshenshini Expediting has been organizing float trips for more than 20 years. The 11-day journey starts on the Tatshenshini River at isolated Dalton Post, in the Kluane Game Sanctuary. You can choose to simply drift past wildlife and wildflowers or burn calories on side hikes to Walker Glacier and Goat Mountain. One of the best photo-ops: Alsek Lake, where some of the icebergs are as large as aircraft carriers.

Given the northerly location, the rafting season (from June to August) is a lot shorter than in the lower 48 states, and weather can play a much bigger role. Even at the height of summer, the region can experience anything from thunderstorms to light dustings of snow. Bugs are a bother in May and June but are much less noticeable by August.

While the company does supply waterproof gear, life jackets and meals, guests must bring their own tents, sleeping bags, rainwear and cold-weather garb—items that are provided on the other trips mentioned in this article. Most important, guests are encouraged to actively participate in propelling and maneuvering their river craft, which is rarely expected on many river trips. But think of it this way: After more than a week of paddling your own way down the river, you'll return home with a true sense of achievement (867-633-2742; tatshenshiniyukon.com).

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