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Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that planning a whitewater rafting adventure can be daunting, so we’ve put together this FAQ page to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you. 

If you don’t find the answer to your question here, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re happy to help. 

Safety & Risk Awareness

Sometimes your plans may change, or unavoidable situations arise that require cancelling or changing your trip plans – we understand! However, please understand that once you book the trip, we reserve your space and assign staff and resources to ensure everything runs smoothly. Few of these costs are recoverable at the last minute.

If you have to cancel your trip, the full amount is refundable (minus the $20.00 non-refundable deposit), provided we are given at least 48 hours notice prior to your trip date. If notice occurs within 48 hours of the trip date, the full amount is non-refundable. We apply all cancellation fees to the same credit card used for the initial booking.

We regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies and recommend that Trip Cancellation Protection be purchased through your travel insurance company to protect your payments.

Trips cancelled by Apex Rafting due to insufficient bookings, events beyond our control, or children cancelled due to high water will receive a full refund.

Yes! It is a requirement that everyone must read and agree to sign a waiver prior to participating in our river rafting trip. By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the waiver. You can also download and print the waiver for review.

Rapids are rated on a scale of 1–6. Class 1: fast moving water, Class 2: Splashy waves, Class 3: waves or holes big enough to swamp an open canoe, Class 4: numerous big waves or holes with obstacles to avoid, Class 5: Large chance of raft flipping, Class 6: un-navigable in any raft, not available commercially (think Niagara Falls)!

The rapids which we navigate are rated at a Class 2 and 3, with a couple 4’s in spring’s high water.

We use high-quality, 100% self-bailing rafts, ranging from 14 feet to 16 feet that comfortably carry 8-10 passengers. Depending on your raft size, there is usually room for 7-9 guest paddlers, a non-paddling child, and your guide.

The Illecillewaet River is rated as Class 3-4 whitewater. This is not a laid-back float. There are waves, splashes and fun paddling. Later in the season with the low water, the rating drops down to Class 2-3. This allows us to take younger families and first timers.

You don’t need to be a confident swimmer, but should be comfortable around water. All rafters are equipped with whitewater lifejackets chosen for their high floatation. Therefore, we do not require participants to know how to swim. Please inform your guide if you have any concerns regarding your swimming abilities so we can assist you to our fullest.

Booking

Yes! It is a requirement that everyone must read and agree to sign a waiver prior to participating in our river rafting trip. By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the waiver. You can also download and print the waiver for review.

Not at all! In fact, many of our rafters are first timers. Our guides will demonstrate proper paddle techniques and commands. You will have time to get comfortable in the raft and ask lots of questions.

The minimum requirement is 8 years old AND weigh 50lbs/23kgs.

General guidelines: Typically, June/early July is our high water season. This is usually restricted to 16 years and older. Over July, the water drops, so 10-15 years are typical here. August and September are usually good for everyone. We can take right down to 8 years old AND 50lbs minimum.

Our minimum age varies with current river conditions. In high water levels, the minimum age to raft is 16 years. As the summer progresses, the river will gradually have less water and can be suitable for younger children. Unfortunately, water levels can change significantly, even overnight, due to extreme weather conditions. When booking a trip in advance, we do our best by basing the minimum age on typical water levels for the date of your trip.

There is always the possibility that we may have to raise the minimum age on the actual day of the trip if river conditions have changed enough to unreasonably compromise the safety of younger participants. If that happens, there will be no charge for anyone in your party who no longer can/wishes to join the trip.

Rafters 18 and younger must have a parent or guardian co-sign waiver prior to raft departure.

We require a 6-person minimum to run a trip. However, this does not need to be all from one group. Please feel free to book with however many people you can, and we’ll match numbers from other groups to meet the minimum per boat. Try your best to book your trip as soon as you know when you want to go. 

It depends on the river and your personal preferences. The Illecillewaet River offers higher water levels, with fast-paced action from June through early July. As the water levels drop, so does our minimum age. We usually restrict high water times to around 16 years old, depending on conditions. However, July and August’s lower river levels allow us to take more families with younger children down to about 8 years old.

Book as early as you can to ensure space on the date of your choice. Afternoons tend to fill up faster than morning trips and weekends fill faster than weekdays. Any of the long weekends of the summer are the busiest and can fill well in advance. Book early to avoid disappointment.

What to expect and bring

Sometimes your plans may change, or unavoidable situations arise that require cancelling or changing your trip plans – we understand! However, please understand that once you book the trip, we reserve your space and assign staff and resources to ensure everything runs smoothly. Few of these costs are recoverable at the last minute.

If you have to cancel your trip, the full amount is refundable (minus the $20.00 non-refundable deposit), provided we are given at least 48 hours notice prior to your trip date. If notice occurs within 48 hours of the trip date, the full amount is non-refundable. We apply all cancellation fees to the same credit card used for the initial booking.

We regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies and recommend that Trip Cancellation Protection be purchased through your travel insurance company to protect your payments.

Trips cancelled by Apex Rafting due to insufficient bookings, events beyond our control, or children cancelled due to high water will receive a full refund.

Yes! It is a requirement that everyone must read and agree to sign a waiver prior to participating in our river rafting trip. By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the waiver. You can also download and print the waiver for review.

Rapids are rated on a scale of 1–6. Class 1: fast moving water, Class 2: Splashy waves, Class 3: waves or holes big enough to swamp an open canoe, Class 4: numerous big waves or holes with obstacles to avoid, Class 5: Large chance of raft flipping, Class 6: un-navigable in any raft, not available commercially (think Niagara Falls)!

The rapids which we navigate are rated at a Class 2 and 3, with a couple 4’s in spring’s high water.

We use high-quality, 100% self-bailing rafts, ranging from 14 feet to 16 feet that comfortably carry 8-10 passengers. Depending on your raft size, there is usually room for 7-9 guest paddlers, a non-paddling child, and your guide.

The Illecillewaet River is rated as Class 3-4 whitewater. This is not a laid-back float. There are waves, splashes and fun paddling. Later in the season with the low water, the rating drops down to Class 2-3. This allows us to take younger families and first timers.

You don’t need to be a confident swimmer, but should be comfortable around water. All rafters are equipped with whitewater lifejackets chosen for their high floatation. Therefore, we do not require participants to know how to swim. Please inform your guide if you have any concerns regarding your swimming abilities so we can assist you to our fullest.

Misc

We have several dog care companies located in Revelstoke. Whether you want someone to keep your dog company in your hotel room, or someone to take your dog on an adventure walk and meet new friends, one of these reputable companies listed below may be able to help you.

Be sure to book ahead to secure a spot!

Walks&Fun
Website: https://www.walksandfun.com

Ruff’ ’N’ Revy
Website: https://www.ruffnrevy.com

Or, search the Revelstoke Dog Walk Exchange Facebook Page

The closest RV/ oversized vehicle parking to our office is located kitty-corner to the Regent Hotel- at the corner of 1st Street East and McArthur Ave.

See map below.

Or copy and paste the following coordinates into your GPS: 50.997443, -118.193380

revelstoke rv parking map

Booking

Yes! It is a requirement that everyone must read and agree to sign a waiver prior to participating in our river rafting trip. By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the waiver. You can also download and print the waiver for review.

Not at all! In fact, many of our rafters are first timers. Our guides will demonstrate proper paddle techniques and commands. You will have time to get comfortable in the raft and ask lots of questions.

The minimum requirement is 8 years old AND weigh 50lbs/23kgs.

General guidelines: Typically, June/early July is our high water season. This is usually restricted to 16 years and older. Over July, the water drops, so 10-15 years are typical here. August and September are usually good for everyone. We can take right down to 8 years old AND 50lbs minimum.

Our minimum age varies with current river conditions. In high water levels, the minimum age to raft is 16 years. As the summer progresses, the river will gradually have less water and can be suitable for younger children. Unfortunately, water levels can change significantly, even overnight, due to extreme weather conditions. When booking a trip in advance, we do our best by basing the minimum age on typical water levels for the date of your trip.

There is always the possibility that we may have to raise the minimum age on the actual day of the trip if river conditions have changed enough to unreasonably compromise the safety of younger participants. If that happens, there will be no charge for anyone in your party who no longer can/wishes to join the trip.

Rafters 18 and younger must have a parent or guardian co-sign waiver prior to raft departure.

We require a 6-person minimum to run a trip. However, this does not need to be all from one group. Please feel free to book with however many people you can, and we’ll match numbers from other groups to meet the minimum per boat. Try your best to book your trip as soon as you know when you want to go. 

It depends on the river and your personal preferences. The Illecillewaet River offers higher water levels, with fast-paced action from June through early July. As the water levels drop, so does our minimum age. We usually restrict high water times to around 16 years old, depending on conditions. However, July and August’s lower river levels allow us to take more families with younger children down to about 8 years old.

Book as early as you can to ensure space on the date of your choice. Afternoons tend to fill up faster than morning trips and weekends fill faster than weekdays. Any of the long weekends of the summer are the busiest and can fill well in advance. Book early to avoid disappointment.

What to expect and bring

Glasses can be worn at your own risk and should be fastened with a strap. Contact lenses are very rarely a problem and are worn by many professional guides.

Absolutely! We have a change room that is kept locked from start to finish of your rafting adventure so it is a secure place to keep your phone, wallet, keys etc. while you are on the water.

Whitewater rafting is fun in any type of weather, provided you are properly dressed. We raft daily, rain or shine. You’ll get wet either way, but will still have a blast! We’ll do our best to get everything you wear on the river soaking wet, so bring a change of clothes for after your trip.

Weather conditions vary from month to month, however, river attire generally does not. We provide you with a wetsuit, wetsuit socks, and a spray jacket. We also have fleece tops for cooler days.

For under the wetsuit: Wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt. Please try to avoid wearing cotton, as it tends to be cold once it gets wet.

For your feet: We supply wetsuit socks, but you need shoes to wear over them. A pair of running shoes or strap-on sandals work, but they will get wet! We have a supply of “experienced rafting footwear” on hand for guests who want to keep their shoes dry or don’t have anything appropriate.

It is always possible! However, the vast majority of our guests have managed to keep themselves in the raft, so your odds are pretty good that you’ll stay on board. There are ropes on every boat to hold onto if you feel unsteady or off balance. If you do fall out, you are likely to stay very close to your raft and can be hauled back in fairly quickly. Every guide has a rescue line to throw your way if you drift out of arms reach. The guides will also give more detailed safety instructions before the trip starts.

We will raft through an area that is home to many of the animals British Columbia is known for. There are a variety of animals that frequent the river valley, but there is also a lot of forest for the animals to hide in. Although we can’t guarantee you’ll see any of the larger animals that live here, it’s definitely a possibility. On the Illecillewaet River, we occasionally see black bear, moose, elk, deer, coyote, beaver, red-tailed hawk, bald eagles, river otters and many other smaller animals and waterfowl. Keep your eyes peeled!

Misc

We have several dog care companies located in Revelstoke. Whether you want someone to keep your dog company in your hotel room, or someone to take your dog on an adventure walk and meet new friends, one of these reputable companies listed below may be able to help you.

Be sure to book ahead to secure a spot!

Walks&Fun
Website: https://www.walksandfun.com

Ruff’ ’N’ Revy
Website: https://www.ruffnrevy.com

Or, search the Revelstoke Dog Walk Exchange Facebook Page

The closest RV/ oversized vehicle parking to our office is located kitty-corner to the Regent Hotel- at the corner of 1st Street East and McArthur Ave.

See map below.

Or copy and paste the following coordinates into your GPS: 50.997443, -118.193380

revelstoke rv parking map