Advanced Beginner to Low Intermediate
Class II-III

Intermediate to Advanced
Class III-IV

Hidden among rugged Appalachian hills, west of the Washington area, you'll find a web of rivers flowing north, south, east and west. These are the classic white water rivers of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Western Maryland, and they will open for you a new world of river running and river play.

There are miles of winding rivers with rapids around every bend, through rocky canyons where you can't see a car or a road. Some rivers offer more waves and holes ideal for play, others require more precise scouting and choosing a controlled line to reach the bottom.

Liquid Adventures' expert instructors have run these rivers hundreds of times. If you're new to these rivers, we will serve as your coaches and guides as you make your first descent. Maybe you've run these rivers before with friends or clubs, but wish you could take greater control of your run with better technique. We'll help you to improve your skills and gain confidence in your abilities to navigate and scout your way down a river.

If you and your regular paddling buddies are looking to explore new rivers, ask us about custom trips - we can help you to learn together as a team. We'll take of logistics, give you tips on technique, show you how to communicate and organize on the river, and help you to build your own scouting skills.  We look forward to sharing the experience with new friends and old.

Deciding if you are ready for a trip
The best way to judge if you are qualified for a trip is to join one of our river classes and ask the instructor to evaluate your skills for the specific trip in question.  He or she will be able to help you make a good judgement after speaking with you about your experience and watching you paddle.

Alternately, feel free to call our office and ask to speak with Nathan, Tom or Sarah.  In addition to providing river level and water temperature updates, we can help you to consider other issues which may influence your decision, such as volume of water, steepness, remoteness, frequency of hazards, etc.

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registration and payment
For day trips and weekend trips, please print out a registration form and mail with a check to the address below, or use the online registration system. We will send a waiver and a suggested equipment list.

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cancellation
As plans have to be confirmed in a timely manner, we are unable to issue refunds for last minute cancellations. If notice is received more than 7 days prior to the trip date, a refund, less 10%, will be issued . We thank you for your understanding.

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getting there, logistics, and meals
The journey to find a remote stretch of river is part of the adventure! Day trip destinations are anywhere from 50 to 200 miles from the Washington, DC area. In these cases, we both provide directions and often meet at a designated spot to organize car pools. Students often like to stop for a meal after paddling, so be sure to bring a little extra cash - nothing stokes the appetite like a full day on the river!

Weekend trips usually involve camping at a park near the river and enjoying meals at nearby restaurants.  We'll usually carpool from an agreed upon rendezvous spot to be determined prior to each trip.  Meals are not included, so please bring a little extra cash to cover your expenses - let us know if you have any questions.

what to bring
For both day and weekend trips, the usual equipment guidelines apply, including boat, paddle, PFD, sprayskirt, helmet, sprayjacket. and warm layers.  See what to bring for more details. 

We generally sleep at nearby campgrounds for our weekend trips, so you'll need to bring a sleeping bag, tent and other overnight gear. Let us know if you have any questions or need help with a packing list.

If you don't have your own boat and paddling gear, don't fear!  We have plenty to share. Depending on circumstances, especially for our Intermediate and Advanced trips, our equipment and rental policy may apply. Please let us know at the time of sign up if  you need to borrow so we can plan accordingly.  

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equipment and rental
Students joining us on our overnight river trips usually provide their own equipment. You're welcome to rent a full set of our equipment at $15 for one day or or $10 a day for two or more days.