Rafting the Dryway
Experience Class IV rafting excitement close to home (only 2 hours from Boston) on the Deerfield River’s most exciting section, the Monroe Bridge Dryway. Combining the rush of advanced whitewater, the beauty of the northern Berkshires and the camaraderie of a paddling adventure, a Dryway rafting trip will be the highlight of your summer.
From Factory Rapid past Dunbar Brook, Dragon’s Tooth and Labyrinth, the rolling whitewater keeps you on your toes while the rugged northern Berkshires provide a backdrop of exceptional natural beauty. We stop for a snack along the river, but after the trip, we return to our basecamp where a hearty barbecue lunch and a slide show of the day’s adventures await.
Our highly skilled guides really make the difference on this maze of rocks, holes and waves. Their well-honed skills and friendly professional attitude help make your day memorable. Rafters ages 14 and up are welcome on all Dryway rafting trips. Participants must be comfortable in the water and able to paddle and work as a team.
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Early season discount
$96 per person
May 29, 30
June 18, 25
Regular season
$107 weekends; $104 Fridays
June 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
July 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 25, 30, 31
August 1, 7, 8, 13, 14, 22, 27, 28, 29
September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18
Typical Day
The Dryway trip meets at our base in Charlemont, Massachusetts at 10:30a.m. Please try to be on time, since we must work within the schedule of water releases decided on by the power company. You will be required to read and sign a release of liability at this time.
We raft a section of class III and IV whitewater on the Deerfield River in Northwestern Massachusetts. We put in below the#5 Station Dam and finish the trip at Dunbar Brook in Florida, MA. The trip usually takes about 6 hours overall, including registration, transportation to the river, a snack stop, a barbecue lunch served at our base, and a slide show of your run through the biggest rapids.
What To Wear
You should bring the following with you for your trip. Expect everything you bring on the raft to get wet. Thus, it is advisable to leave all valuables locked in your vehicle.
- Wool or fleece sweater and wind breaker or nylon jacket
- Bathing suit and/or shorts in the warmer weather, longer pants made of wool, nylon, or polypropylene in the colder weather.
- Wool or synthetic socks
- Sneakers or other shoes that can get wet (no flip-flops)
- A change of clothes and a towel for after the trip!
- Extra money for T-shirts, photos, snacks, coin-op showers, etc...
- Required medications
- Sun screen and sun glasses (strap for sun glasses)
Cotton Clothing such as blue jeans, sweatshirts, or t-shirts, is not appropriate for rafting since cotton keeps you cold when it gets wet. Wool, nylon, or polypropylene clothing are ideal. These materials will wick the water away from your skin and will keep you warm when it's wet.
Wetsuits, spray jackets and neoprene booties are available for rent at our base.
All guests will be required to wear a Zoar Outdoor issued PFD (Personal Floatation Device) and helmet.
Getting Here
Dryway trips leave from our basecamp at Zoar Outdoor at the west end of Charlemont, Massachusetts. We are approximately 2 1/2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from New York.
- To get here from Boston take Route 2 west. Where Route 2 merges with Interstate 91 in Greenfield be sure to exit again onto Route 2 west (exit 26.) Zoar Outdoor is about 17 miles west of this exit. We're based in a red colonial on the north side of the road.
- To get here from New York City take Interstate 95 north to Interstate 91 north. Take exit 26 in Massachusetts and follow Route 2 west for about 17 miles. We're based in a red colonial on the north side of the road.
