Family Float Trip

A Typical Day

Float trips meet at our base in Charlemont, Massachusetts at 3:30 p.m.  Please do not be late, 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 seven-mile class I-II section of the Deerfield River. We enter the river across from our basecamp in Charlemont, Massachusetts and float to just above the dam in Buckland, Massachusetts.  The entire trip, including dinner and swim stops, takes about 4-5 hours, depending on conditions.  We run these trips during daylight hours on the water released from the power company's Fife Brook Dam.  Occasionally, the power company releases water late in the day or not at all; this is out of our control.  Thus, Zoar Outdoor reserves the right to move the trip to another section of the river or a different river, or cancel a trip depending on water releases. In the event of a late water release, the trip may end as late as 8:00 pm.  Please allow extra time in your schedule at the end of the day to accommodate this possibility.

The following statement is required by state law: "Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy."

What To Wear

You should bring the following with you for your float 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
• 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.

Getting Here

Float 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.