hudson river rafting company

Beware! This company is currently not able to run trips on the Hudson River per the District Attorney of the state of New York! Do your homework! The articles are not hard to find out why he is banned!

If you are visiting the Lake George area be sure to take the time out to try ARO adventures these folks sure know how to have fun and make you part of that experience. Our Guide Steve was great you could tell very quickly that he enjoyed doing what he was doing from start to finish. Some of our team had never done this before but by the end you could never tell. We came looking for a great time and found it here no doubt.

I have never written an on-line review but my experience with this company was very different from many of the reviews so I felt compelled to write a detailed description of my experience. I recently planned a white water rafting trip for my family. It was the first white water trip for my son and I. My sister and her husband had been rafting before. What I learned in my first white water rafting trip is that the guide makes the trip. Pick the best guide, you will have the best trip. My sister and her husband, who have been on several rafting trips, said Mark was the best guide they ever had. I usually do a lot of research before I book a trip, hotel or pick a restaurant. I don’t know why I booked without doing research first. I think it was the person I spoke with on the phone, Mark, he was friendly, professional, knowledgable, and helpful. He helped me pick the best trip for my family. After I booked my trip, I read the reviews for Hudson River Rafting Co. I was very worried that I made the wrong choice. I called Mark and told him and I was worried about my choice and he assured me that my family would be safe and they would have a good time with him. Mark’s voice, calm, confident and in charge made me trust him (it also helped me to feel safe when we were on the water along with his obvious expert skill and knowledge). He did not disappoint me and my family. I can’t think of anything he could have done to make the trip better. We arrived about 20 minutes early. Mark and another guide were there already setting up the boat. He greeted us and then he started off by making sure everyone’s equipment fit well. On the bus he explained in detail what to do if we fell out of the boat and other safety information. When we got to the point where we put the boat in the water he practiced with us to make sure we understood and could follow his commands. He did not take off until he was confident we could execute his commands.After we took off, he picked a path through the rapids that was fun and appropriate for my family. We had so much fun and he was great with my son. He made sure he sure he felt safe and took extra care to watch out for him. He even picked a better spot to pull the raft out of the water than the other companies. At the end of the trip, I noticed the other companies pulling over and wondered why we were not. Mark had planned for us to go through an extra set of rapids and he took us to a favorite spot where we could “surf” and play in the rapids. I was amazed how he was able to maneuver a boat with six people on it on his own. He could flip the boat around, dip it to one side, and then flip it the other way. I am very happy with my choice of rafting company and guide. We even got a bonus guide. Another guide who wanted to learn from Mark and wanted to get more experience (he had his license and had guided 10 trips) went along and rode in the front of the boat. Mark was pointing out important features to him. The guide was eager to learn. We plan to go back again. When we go back, we will raft with Mark again. I would not want to go with anyone else or any other company.Now about some of the other reviews...The helmets were not falling apart. They had many helmets and they seemed fine. We did not use wetsuits but I did look at them. I did not see any with holes. The life vests were not new but the ones we used were not moldy. The back door of the bus was not falling off. The guide was on time, very safe and very professional. Like another review said, he is probably the best guide on the Hudson.

this is the best company that we could find to fit all of are needs. Our guide , mark was fun but safe. I had a great time. I would recommend this company and Mark to any one who would like to go rafting..

Our guide Mark was very professional and instructed us before we launched on our adventure. We got to do several extra Rapids that the other companies did not do. Mark made sure that we had a good time and remained safe the whole trip down the river. He payed extra attention to our 10 year old nephew and at every rapid gave him special instructions so he remained safe in the boat I would highly recommend this company and Mark to anyone who would like to raft the Upper Hudson River. I am an experienced rafter and have gone rafting on multiple rivers in the US and internationally.

Its hard to write a review on a trip we didnt go on, but this could have been the most unprofessional company we have ever worked with. We booked a party of 6, HRRC took all credit card information. The day before the trip, ANOTHER company called to ask if we would rather go with them since our trip was cancelled. We never even got a phone call from Hudson telling us that the trip was cancelled! The other outfit ended up being unable to accomodate us because they don't take kids under 14 and we had two 11-year-old. When I finally got a hold of Hudson they were completely unapologetic and their explanation for last minute cancellation was, "We're just not going on that river tomorrow". They never would have directly contacted us to cancel. Would not recommend this company to anyone ever.

This was my second rafting trip. Went last year on the upper hudson when it was 8.5 feet (very high). This year it was 6.5 so we were hoping for another exciting run. First sign of trouble, all of their gear is garbage. All the wetsuits have huge holes and tears in them. Helmets are a hodge podge of broken and 1970's vintage, gloves, boots, everything looks like it belongs in a dumpster. We press on anyway...get all geared up and wait around for an hour wondering what the delay is. Now we find out just as we're getting on the bus that they're short 1 guide and so they can't send us down the upper hudson. They instead send us to the middle hudson with the owner telling us it will still be fun and exciting and a "guide" who doesn't even have a license yet. To the "guide's" credit, he did the best he could, but the ride was just boring. Only 1 real rapid the whole way down. A complete waste of a day freezing in a raft in 40 degree water for no reason. Get back to the barn and find out that the other boat that was there that day went down the upper part and due to the delay they were the only boat on the water. They ended up flipping and there was nobody around to help them recover. Floated down the river in the water for a long time and a few of them were very scared someone was going to be hurt or killed. Finally, as we were getting on the bus the owner told us he would make it right financially when we got back. He tried to argue that he wasn't at fault and he can't control the river (not the point at all). We ended up getting him to refund our money but only after a 45 minute argument and threatening to dispute credit card charges and call the authorities. Bottom line...don't waste your time and/or possibly risk your life. Not worth it.

I had a great experience when I rafted with these guys in 2010 but this was a completely different experience. Our guide made sure we knew he was a fill in and that the class 3 rapid was beneath him because he rafts the high water. I had brought my 79 y.o. father with me because ww rafting was on his bucket list. I discussed the safety of the situation with the gentemen I made the rez with and he assured me that the trip was safe and that my father would be looked after by the guide. This was completely not the case.Our guide got us stuck on about 15 different rocks. On 3 occasions, we actually had to vacate the raft in order to get it unstuck. The rest of the time, we all either had to go to the front of the boat or the back of the boat which was virtually impossible for my father to do. The guide at no time offered to assist my father. When I asked the guide to wait and stop rowing while I helped my father get situated he actually said to me "Well I cant sit and wait here forever!" I felt totally unsafe and embarassed as all of the other outfitters were making fun of us as they cruised by and watched us be stuck on rock after rock. The guy was a complete moron and I felt very unsafe. This is not the first safety issue this company has and I will be giving a statement to the DA that is trying to shut this place down.

Same thing as previous reviewer. Me and 2 friends showed up early Monday morning. No one there. Call the owner. He finally pics up and blames it all on the guide. YOUR the OWNER! fix it! Nope. He didnt even apologize. Lucky we checked at their neighbors ARO rafting. They couldnt get us in a boat. But a guide named Alex took time out of his day (owner of HRR should have done) to find us a ride. Ended up being a great ride.

booked a trip with them as part of our vacation after spending the previous day touring wineries in the Finger Lakes. got up early and drove two hours to watertown ny in great anticipation of rafting fun. arrived 30 min before departure and no one there. ten minutes before departure we get a call that guide is not showing up and no explanation given despite repeated attempts to find out why. left town very disappointed and frustrated, but at least alive after seeing reports about drownings with this company. horrible experience.

We were staying in Old Forge and wanted to do a white water rafting trip and HRRC was the only company we could book with. So my wife and I arrived at the Ski barn early and was greeted by Mark our guide. When the rest of the rafters arrived he handed us our vests, helmets and paddles and checked each of us to make sure everything fit properly before we loaded into the bus. Once we arrived at the river Mark gave us instruction on how to sit in the raft, how to hold the paddle, what to do if you do get knocked out of the raft. When we launched the raft into the water he had us practice the various paddling commands before we entered the white water section of the river. When he was confident that we al worked well enough as a group and understood all the perils of the river, we entered the white water. One in the white water the fun began, it was exciting, never felt like we were in any danger even in the class IV sections. in the slower sections, Mark was a wealth of info concerning the river and the surrounding area. Everyone on the raft as did us all had a great time. If we are back in the area we will definitely raft with HRRC and request Mark as our guide.

Read a lot of the reviews and I have to say we must disagree with all the negative reviews. We had never been rafting and this was a great first experience. Our guide was very experienced and fun. I would recomend this group to anyone who asked.

This company is notorious for sending unqualified/irresponsible guides down the river with groups of people and has led to some horrific consequences in the past. I am truly surprised that New York State allowed them to remain in business after last years passenger death due in an intoxicated guide. Beware if you decide to raft with this company. You'd be smart to check out other companies who will make the experience much more fun while making sure you feel safe.

Being in the north to visit family in August, my wife and I took this trip as part of a weekend package vacation at the Thousand islands Inn, in Clayton, wanting to see the 1000 Islands. The package vacation included a half day of guided fishing and another half day raft trip on the nearby Black River, with Hudson River Rafting.No doubt about it, the rafting trip was the highlight on our vacation. We had seen TV shows on rafting trips, especially out west, so the thought enticed us. The Black River was fast flowing and that added much to the enjoyment trip. Who wants to float down a creek? You just have to be prepared for it and know you are going to get wet.Our guide told us that usually somebody happens to fall overboard, but not to worry. On our trip, apparently true to form, a young fellow trying to exert his expertise, perhaps for the benefit of his girl friend, zigged when he should have zagged and into the river he went. He was quickly retrieved and safely redelivered to our raft.Their staff was great and always there to quickly help and insure our enjoyment and safety.I can honestly say that our experience was great and we would recommend it to all of our friends. Physically, it's more than a walk in the park, but on the excitement level, it's a great experience. The people on the raft that had the most fun were in their 70s!I can understand why people come back every year because every trip must be a different experience. For sure, we'll be back with family and bring our north country friends the next time we come north, go fishing from the Inn and rafting the Black, and really make it a great, cheap weekend vacation in the 1000 Islands.After reading some of the reviews and having personally experienced the trip, perhaps many are not prepared for what the trip involves? Our trip proved that it was enjoyable for people from ages 20 to 78!

Due to the recent reports regarding Hudson River Rafting, I feel compelled to tell and warn you of our experience with this company. In July 2010, my husband and I took our visiting guest to HRRC to white water on the Hudson. Not sure why we opted for this company! We had 8 people in our raft, which included the guide (we do not remember his name). The trip seemed to be going well until the guide sensed that we were a group that wanted a little more excitement. He thought it would be fun to try to throw out one of the passengers from the raft, but his timing was very poor. He did this just before a section of Class 4 rapid. The entire raft capsized and all 8 of us were now in the rushing, rocky river. I really thought I was going to die that day! 2 passengers got run over by other rafts and pushed deep down into the river. Another 2 (one was me) got sucked into a hydrolic and we were lucky enough to keep our wits about us to push off a rock to escape being sucked deeper into the river. I remember the rapids were so fast and the waves so deep, I hit every rock on the way down the river, which seemed to go on forever. Thank God, there were other rafting companies on the river that day, every raft out there tried saving us and we all were finally rescued by another company. We were the only raft that had a problem that day. We did not file a complaint, I guess because we all understand that accidents do happen...however we did not realize the number of "accidents" that the Hudson River Rafting Company has experienced. We were not offered anything...refund, discount, apology, etc. Now after reading all the press and articles about HRRC...I don't understand how Mr. Cunningham can operate his business in this manner. Risking his reputation and his livelyhood. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED!!