What You Should Wear When White Water Rafting in Jackson Hole

If it’s your first time whitewater rafting in Jackson Hole, you probably have a lot of questions about what you can expect and how you should prepare, but the one question we hear most often is: what should I wear? It’s important to be prepared—and not wearing the right clothes can be quite uncomfortable!—so we’re outlining everything you need to know below.

What to Wear on a Jackson Hole Whitewater Rafting Trip

A lot of guests simply show up for their whitewater rafting adventure wearing whatever they happened to have on for the day. Don’t do this! Whitewater rafting is not like a scenic float trip down the river—you’re going to get wet. Jeans or a polo shirt will be sopping wet by the end of your trip and they’ll stay that way until you’re able to change. You don’t want to spend the rest of your afternoon soggy, waterlogged, and leaving a trail of dripping water everywhere you go—even on a hot day, it doesn’t feel very good!

Instead, here’s what to wear when whitewater rafting. Wear your bathing suit or, failing that, shorts and a t-shirt made with a quick-drying material; we’ll provide you with a splash jacket. If you happen to have a wetsuit, that’s fantastic too, especially for a Jackson Hole whitewater rafting trip in the spring and fall when the water is a bit chillier. (If you don’t have your own wetsuit, you can rent one from us.) Then, when you get wet, you can dry off quickly and not have to worry about getting changed ASAP. 

Next, let’s talk about shoes. The only thing more uncomfortable than soggy clothes is a soggy pair of shoes—wear water or river shoes if possible. If not, wear sneakers that you don’t mind getting wet or rent a pair of booties before your whitewater rafting trip. Don’t wear flip flops, Crocs, or other slip-on shoes—they can easily fall off your feet and get lost in the rapids.

What to Bring to a Jackson Hole Whitewater Rafting Trip

Feel free to bring whatever you like—towels, a change of clothes, snacks—and leave it on the bus during your whitewater rafting trip. We also suggest bringing:

• Sunscreen, and applying it before your rafting trip. Even on a day that’s overcast, you may be surprised to find you’ve gotten a sunburn during your time on the water.
• Sunglasses—but not your best pair. Bring some inexpensive sunglasses that you won’t be upset to lose if they (or you) happen to fall out of the raft.
• A hat to protect you from the sun. Again, don’t bring one you’d be bothered about losing. On a chilly day, you may even want to wear a wool cap.
• Bug spray
• If you have long hair, bring a ponytail holder or something to keep your hair out of your eyes.

Schedule Your Whitewater Rafting Trip Today

Now that you know what to wear, it’s time to reserve your Jackson Hole whitewater rafting trip! To book a trip with JHWW, call us today at 800-700-RAFT or learn more about our Snake River whitewater rafting trips here.