Rafting the Millers River in Massachusetts
When the spring thaw turns New England rivers into a torrent the Millers River in western Massachusetts comes into its own. Its fun Class III and IV rapids peak at the Funnel where the large diagonal waves and holes require total concentration and all-out paddling from all aboard the rafts. At high flows the Millers is a non-stop rollercoaster. At medium and lower levels, it's a moderate raft trip with a big burst of excitement at the Funnel. Rafting on the Millers River is ideal for those seeking a great springtime raft trip for all rafters ages 12 and up.
We stop for a lunch of homemade breads, hot soups, and a delicious dessert just above the town of Millers Falls. After lunch we continue through more exciting rapids, ending where the Millers joins the Connecticut River in the French King Gorge. A bus ride brings us back to Zoar Outdoor where we watch a slide show of our runs through the Funnel and relive our big-water experience.
The Millers River rafting trip is a spring trip only. We depend on seasonal flows to run the Millers. We offer this trip daily from April 1 to 15.
Check out a more detailed description of the Millers River
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Price: $59 per person includes all equipment, lunch and transportation from our base in Charlemont, MA.
A Typical Day
We raft an eight-mile section of class III-IV whitewater on the Millers River. The entire trip, including lunch and transportation, takes about 5-6 hours, depending on conditions. Zoar Outdoor reserves the right to move a trip to another section of the river or a different river depending on water levels. Please allow extra time at the end of your day to accommodate the possibility of a later day.
Please arrive at 10:30 am for registration (10:00 am for groups of 20 or more).
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 & Bring
We provide a farmer john wetsuit, neoprene booties and a sprayjacket at no extra charge on Millers River rafting trips, so the following clothing items are to be worn in conjunction with the wetsuit for added warmth.
- Wool or fleece sweater
- Bathing suit and/or shorts.
- Running tights or other synthetic tights to wear on your legs under the wetsuit if it's especially cold.
- Wool or synthetic socks
You should also bring:
- 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 wet.
We provide paddles, helmets and life jackets. We must insist that you wear our life jackets; no substitutions will be allowed.
Where To Meet
Millers River 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.
