Concord River Rafting
Come join us for early spring whitewater rafting on the Concord River, just 30 minutes north of Boston, Massachusetts. This urban whitewater gem plunges over three major class III-IV rapids – Twisted Sister, Three Beauties, and The Middlesex Dam. When the water level is right, Three Beauties becomes an intensely fun surfing hole. Surfing involves paddling upstream into a wave or hole with the goal to fill the boat with water, splash the entire crew, or maybe even have the boat stand on end.
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The Concord River trip is an urban whitewater gem that plunges over three major class III-IV rapids – Twisted Sister, Three Beauties, and Middlesex Dam. We run this section twice on each Concord River rafting trip. The Concord River rafting trip is a spring trip only. This trip runs on select weekends, April through May. Additional weekday trips are available for groups of 12 or more. Please call the office for more details and availability.
We meet at Wannalancit Mills, located at 650 Suffolk Street in Lowell, MA about half an hour north of Boston. There is parking available in a side parking lot, across a little bridge, specifically designed for guest parking.
Morning trips depart at 9:00 am; afternoon trips depart at 1:00 pm.
Please be on time and plan to arrive for your trip no later than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled departure. You will be required to read and sign a release of liability at this time.
All guests will be required to wear a Zoar Outdoor issued PFD (Personal Flotation Device) and helmet. You will also be provided with a paddle.
Concord rafting trip are run in partnership with the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust. A portion of the rafting proceeds go to support the construction and maintenance of the Concord River Greenway.
What to Bring
Expect everything you bring on the raft to get wet!
Best options for clothing:
- Long pants and long sleeved shirts such as leggings or long underwear made of wool, nylon, fleece, or polypropylene are perfect to wear underneath the wetsuit. Layer a sweater or fleece on top to wear underneath the splash jacket.
- If you choose not to wear the booties that are provided, sneakers or other shoes that can get wet and can remain securely on your feet during a whitewater swim. (Bare feet and flip-flops are not allowed)
- Avoid cotton clothing such as blue jeans, sweatshirts, or t-shirts as cotton keeps you cold when it gets wet and are not appropriate for this activity.
- We provide all the in-raft equipment!
A few more details:
- For this trip, Zoar Outdoor will provide a wetsuit, splash jacket, and river booties at no extra cost.
- Bring any required medications as well as extra money for souvenirs!
- Before the trip, please leave any and all valuables including money as well as your dry clothes and towels for after the trip in your locked vehicle. Keep your car keys with you during registration; we’ll collect those and put them in a lock box before gearing up, and then return them to you when you get off the boats.
Pre-Trip Requirements
Adventurers on the Concord River trip must be 14 years old or older.
For all of our whitewater trips, guests must be able/willing to do the following:
- Wear a helmet and our personal flotation device (PFD)
- Respond to and follow verbal or visual instruction
- Roll from front to back in water while wearing a PFD
- Demonstrate dynamic sitting position (sitting upright), and float with feet up in water.
- Be able to walk on rocky, uneven ground and descend staircases with no railings.
Specifically, for our Concord River trip, guests should be able to:
- Paddle in the rapids, but with frequent rests
- Remain calm, lay flat, and orient their body so their feet are aiming downstream if they find themselves unexpectedly in the water
Please also take the time to fill out your online guest details (available through your confirmation) as fully as possible, as this helps us provide correctly sized wetsuits and booties for everyone.
Our PFDs fit a maximum chest size of 56 inches.
Remember to read your confirmation letter (there is a lot of useful information in there!).
Call our office if you have any additional questions: 413-339-4010. They’re always happy to help!