River & Trail offers a variety of river adventures, and we want you to feel prepared before you arrive. Whether you’re doing an adventurous whitewater trip, a relaxing tubing trip, or a scenic paddle, here are things to keep in mind before you head on the river.
1. Why You Should Arrive 30 Minutes Before Your Harpers Ferry River Trip
This gives you plenty of time to check in, complete any remaining paperwork, get fitted with your equipment, and attend your required safety talk. Every trip has a different safety briefing based on the activity and river conditions, so everyone in your group must be present.
If you think you may arrive less than 30 minutes before your scheduled trip time, please give us a call as soon as possible. We’ll do our best to accommodate you, but late arrivals may miss the required safety talk or shuttle departure, and we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to join your scheduled trip.
2. Check Your Location Before Your Harpers Ferry River Adventure
River & Trail has four different locations, each having specific activities that occur there. Please check the link in your confirmation email to see which location your activity takes place at. When in doubt, feel free to give us a call at 301-834-9950 to confirm your address; we’re happy to help!
To make getting here as easy as possible, we’ve put together a list of the activities offered at each of our locations.
➡️ River & Trail – Shenandoah Tubing | Park & Paddle Adventures Location
- 90 Millville Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
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- Activities:
- Walk-ins: Welcome, based on availability
➡️ River & Trail Outfitters – Harpers Ferry Location
- 99 Cary Lu Cir Ste 108, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
- Activities:
- Walk-Ins: Not available. Reservations are required.
➡️ River & Trail Outfitters – Knoxville Location – Whitewater Tubing
- 604 Valley Rd, Knoxville, MD 21758
- Activities:
- Whitewater Tubing on Potomac River
- Only Airsoft Field In Harpers Ferry
- Walk-ins: Welcome, based on availability
- Activities:
➡️ Brunswick Family Campground
- 40 Canal Rd, Brunswick, MD 21716
- Activities:
- Walk-ins: Availability varies by activity. Please give us a call before arriving, and we’ll let you know if we can accommodate you.
3. What To Wear For Your Outdoor Adventure in Harpers Ferry
We do require proper footwear for our trips. This includes things like:
- Sneakers
- Watershoes
- Tevas
- Chacos
- Crocs (must be worn in “Sport Mode,” with the heel strap secured)
Flip-flops, slides, and bare feet are not allowed. Don’t have the right footwear? No worries! We sell water shoes at all of our locations, so you can grab a pair before your trip.
The Shenandoah and Potomac are rock-bottom rivers, meaning you’ll encounter uneven surfaces and sharp rocks both in and out of the water. Wearing secure, closed-toe or strapped footwear helps protect your feet and provides better traction while entering, exiting, and enjoying your time on the river.
As for what to wear, that is a personal preference, but here are our recommendations:
Summer & Warm Days
- Quick-dry shorts (no cotton)
- Quick-dry t-shirt, regular t-shirt, or bathing suit
- Sneakers or sport sandals with a heel strap, that will stay on your feet. No flip flops, slides or bare feet!
- Hat with brim or visor.
- Sunglasses; be sure to have a strap to keep them on your head!
Cooler Weather Days
- Quick-dry shorts, synthetic pants, or leggings. No cotton shorts or pants!
- Quick-dry T-shirt and wool or fleece long-sleeved top (that you don’t mind getting wet!)
- Waterproof jacket or shell for an extra layer.
- Sneakers or sport sandals with a heel strap that will stay on your feet. No flip-flops, slides, or bare feet!
- Wool or fleece socks to wear with your sneakers or sports sandals. No cotton!
- Hat with brim or visor.
- Sunglasses; be sure to have a strap to keep them on your head!
Check out our What to Wear On Your River Adventure In Harpers Ferry page for trip-specific clothing recommendations. Whether you’re rafting, tubing, kayaking, or canoeing, you’ll find everything you need to know to stay comfortable and prepared for your day on the river.
4. What To Bring On Your River Trip With River & Trail
Leave anything you don’t want to get wet, lost, or damaged in your vehicle. Anything you bring on the river is your responsibility, and it will get wet!
We’re happy to hold onto your keys behind the check-in desk while you’re out on the water.
If you’d like to bring your phone or other small items with you, we sell waterproof phone cases in our store to help keep your belongings protected.
5. What To Expect From The Weather on Your River Adventure
All of our trips run rain or shine! Thunderstorms are not uncommon predictions for summer afternoons. When predicted, they only sometimes materialize. Typically they pass quickly.
Our whitewater raft trips run rain or shine since getting wet is part of the fun! If there are thunderstorms before you get on the river, we will hold the trip and wait until the storms subside to launch.
If we are on the river, we will pull over on land and wait until the storm subsides before continuing the trip.
Approximately 2 times per year, we may cancel a trip due to extreme weather.
6. Save On Your River & Trail Adventure
River & Trail offers several ways to save on your adventure!
Group Discounts:
- We offer discounts for groups of 10 or more. These differ per trip and automatically apply online.
MilitaryDiscount:
- We offer a 10% military discount as a thank you for your service. This discount must be booked over the phone.
Locals Discount:
- Local guests can use promo code RIVERANDTRAIL when booking online to receive a discount. This offer is only available for online bookings. Check the list of participating ZIP codes here to see if you qualify.
Please note: Only one discount may be applied per group. If your group qualifies for multiple discounts, we will apply the discount with the greatest savings.
7. Understanding Our Cancellation Policies Before Your Trip
Without Trip Insurance:
- Individuals (1-9 people): No money refunds are given. However, with at least 48 hours’ notice, you may reschedule your trip to a later date or receive a credit for the amount you paid with no penalty.
- Groups of ten or more: No refund with less than three weeks’ notice for entire group cancellation. With three weeks’ notice, River & Trail keeps 25% for administrative costs. Numbers may be fine-tuned without penalty up until seven days prior to the trip.
With Trip Insurance:
- Individuals (1-9 people): Cancel up to 48 hours in advance of your trip for any reason and receive a refund for your trip. The cost of the insurance is non-refundable. Cancellations less than 48 hours will receive a credit with a minimum of 1 hour’s notice before the trip. The cost of the insurance is non-refundable.
- Groups of ten or more: Cancel up to 48 hours in advance of your trip for any reason and receive a refund for your trip. The cost of the insurance is non-refundable. Cancellations less than 48 hours will receive a credit with a minimum of 3 hours’ notice before the trip. The cost of the insurance is non-refundable.
8. Before You Go: Completing Your Adventure Waiver
Online waivers are available to be filled out via your email confirmation and MUST be filled out. A new waiver must be filled out and signed for each day and for each activity before participating. Waivers can also be found under the waivers link on our website. Waivers are also available onsite.
Minors: Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor and must have a parent/guardian signature.
9. Understanding Water Levels For Rafting, Tubing, and Kayaking
We always want our guests to feel prepared and informed before their trip. Water levels can change throughout the season, so be sure to check our social media for the latest updates.
You can also visit our River Levels at Harpers Ferry, WV page for current conditions and additional information before your adventure.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is always happy to help. If you have questions before your trip, don’t hesitate to give us a call or email us. We want you to feel prepared, confident, and excited for your day on the river.