Holiday river and bike trips take us into many of the beautiful and remote backcountry areas of the Colorado Plateau. We are grateful for the relative accessibility of rafting trips for a wide range of ability levels. That said, there remain some basic physical requirements to consider for your safety in these backcountry contexts. Below find a list of what you can expect to be asked of you while on a trip with us. Ultimately, you know your own body’s abilities and limitations better than anyone else and as such it is up to you to assess your ability to participate. Our office staff is always available to answer questions about any of this content if you need further clarification. (801) 266-2087
Whitewater Rafting Physical Requirements:
- Must fit into a U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFD (personal flotation device)
- Maximum 52” chest or belly size. (A crotch straps may be required to ensure proper fit)
- Minimum weight of 50 lbs.
- Must be able to get on and off the boats, including onto uneven, steep, muddy, sandy, or rocky ground.
- Must be able to grip ropes and straps to hold on in whitewater rapids.
- Must be capable of understanding and following verbal and non-verbal instructions.
- Must be capable of performing a certain level of self-rescue behaviors while in the water, such as:
- Kicking/swimming in a given direction
- Reaching for a throw rope or raft
- Ability to assist a rescuer in pulling you back into the raft
- Must be able to carry your dry bags across uneven, steep, muddy, sandy, or rocky terrain either on your own or with the assistance of friends/family.
- Must be able to remain well fed, hydrated, and properly dressed so as to avoid environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat related illness, sunburn and frostbite.
Additional Biking Trip Specific Physical Requirements:
- Must be capable of biking 4-6 hours per day and covering 20-30 miles on unpaved trails/roads (which is more physically challenging than paved road riding).
- Must be able to ride (or walk a bike for short sections) on trails/roads that may include loose rocks, sand, mud, rock ledges, gravel, steep climbs and descents.
- Must be prepared to ride in all kinds of weather, including (but not limited to) strong wind, rain, cold and hot temperatures.