This was my second experience whitewater rafting, and it was perfect, because of the staff ant Crab Apple. Our guide Tyler was amazing, engaging with everyone in the boat. He was helpful, supportive, and I always felt safe. Also I had a lot of fun! Everything was taken thoughtfully taken care of by the staff, from our food orders to the pictures after. We were matched with people of similar age and ability in our boat. FYI, our family was myself, my husband and 17 yo son. If you have a chance to choose Crabapple, do so. You'll get a family run business that focuses on service, safety, and fun. Just a note, our first experience whitewater rafting was in a different state and with higher class rapids. As a newbie, it was much less fun as our guide there barked orders and yellled if we weren't "pulling our weight". So don't align the class of rapids with the fun factor... go with people who will make it fun. read more

Great first time experience! Since this was our first time whitewater rafting we didn't know what to expect. But once we were out on the river we already wanted to plan our next trip. It was a great experience and our guide Ethan was extremely helpful and also very friendly. He made sure we knew what we were were doing and talked with us throughout the whole experience. Afterwards they served us a great complimentary meal along with the rafting photo slideshow. It was delicious and had a lot of great choices. Overall this was an insanely fun experience and we can't wait to go again! read more

Really enjoyed my rafting trip on Saturday the 18th! The team was welcoming from the moment we arrived. Brendan was our guide and he was very patient with our group of 6 (4 of whom it was their first time). I was very impressed with how knowledgeable he was about the area we were rafting in and felt like I was in excellent hands. There were 4 rafts in total on our trip. They have plenty of changing areas for after your trip and the food was ready when we arrived back to the headquarters. It was very foggy the day of our trip so they gave us our photos for free which was a nice gesture. They have a merch shop as well if you want to take back a souvenir. I would recommend them to anyone. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

See all

I've been on plenty of whitewater rafting trips with a lot of outfitters. Crabapple is by far the most organized and professional I've ever been with. Plus our guide Matt this past trip on the Deerfield Monroe Bridge run was terrific. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - our latest crew!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

An absolute 10/10 experience! We did a whitewater trip with Crab Apple Whitewater and had the best time from start to finish. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and made everyone in the boat feel completely safe while still delivering a thrilling ride on the rapids.The entire operation is run smoothly and finishing off the day with their delicious hot meal was a welcome reward. Whether you are a beginner or experienced on the river, this family-owned team knows how to make it unforgettable. We can't wait to come back! read more

It was fun and I definitely enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it but only if you enjoy risks. We went out with about 19 people and about 5 people fell into the rapids. But that is part of the fun and we got to see beautiful sights. I would definitely recommend it read more

I came here with my son and two nephews, and this is easily one of those family vacation experiences we will be talking about for years to come, and it may serve as a gateway drug to finding more and more whitewater rafting opportunities, all thanks to the incredible service of Crab Apple Whitewater. Easily more than five stars. Ten stars. A billion stars. A galaxy of stars and supernovas and quasars rotating in a vast and endless universe. You get the idea. This company is awesome. Jennifer the owner has staffed her company with the most incredibly friendly, down-to-earth people you'll ever meet. Our guide, Charlotte, was fantastic. Wise beyond her years, professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to on the stretches of lazy river in between rapids, and an inspiring, true leader. We did the Deerfield River Fife Brook section in Massachusetts, which was about ten miles (normally 7) and two hours. The minimum age is 8 with most rapids being class 2 and one class 3, so it's good for beginners and/or kids. All of the staff are great with kids. My son is 9 and had a great time. They also offer the Monroe Bridge section with mostly class 3 and 4's which has a minimum age 15. The cost also includes a meal afterwards, and I had the salmon with salad, noodles and cornbread. Delicious and the perfect way to end the day. Can't recommend this place enough, and hope to see their other locations someday as well. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Heaven is a post rafting beer overlooking the river. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

See all

This was a new experience for my family. My wife and child (12) were apprehensive to say the least after watching some videos online. We signed up for the Fife Brook section, which had level 1-3 rapids. Their website said that it was appropriate for ages 8 and up (this was a comfort for my wife and sealed the deal). When we arrived, the staff was incredibly warm and welcoming, making sure to make a personal connection with everyone. We were fitted for safety equipment, and were able to rent a wet suit top for our son who was already chilly before getting wet ($10). During our bus ride to the launch point, further safety instructions were given to make sure that we were all on the same page before starting. After the bus ride we met our guide (Ethan), who has been with the company for 2 years. Like the employees we initially met, he made sure to connect with everyone on his boat. Ethan was not only knowledgeable about the area, but a great conversationalist with plenty of dad jokes to pass the time. In between rapids, we were able to float down the river, enjoying sites while being given a history lesson on the area. We even saw 2 river celebrities, Justin Beaver and Sigourney Beaver! We got to swim (the few that were willing to jump in and get hoisted out like a sack of potatoes), as well as having a balancing competition on spinning rafts. When the trip finished, we rode back to the shop, ate a delicious homemade lunch (included in the price) and watched a slideshow of our adventure. We started with nerves about what was to come and ended with smiles on our faces and anticipation of our next trip with Crab Apple. Ethan, thanks again, and good luck at school this year! read more

See all

Fantastic experience! Can't say enough good things about these guys! Roger's our guide, full of passion, professionalism, knowledge and most importantly, fun! If you got a group of 5-8 ppl looking for a day full of laughters and joy, look no further, you're not gonna regret it! Well worth everything! They worth 10 stars if yelp let me XD read more

See all

We had a great day with a group of friends rafting and eating a great meal after. The day was so exciting and we all want to do it again!! People are very nice and the business is well run. So fun! read more

Absolute BLAST! The trip is really fun but that is just half of it. Booking was easy, arriving, checking in, and getting your gear was effortless. The trip was exciting, made better by skilled and friendly guides. After your trip, you get to change into warm clothes and have a tasty meal. Then, everyone, all the boats gets together to review the photos from the day. Fun and funny. You leave excited, tired, and feeling like you've made new friends. I can't recommend this Crab Apple Whitewater enough. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Family outing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

This was a great way to enjoy the river with family. It is clear at every turn that this family owned & operated business prioritizes a fun, inclusive, family experience. The staff is excellent and exudes care from the guides to clerks to owners. From big things like the ear of check in and booking, to the home cooked meal, to remembering our names and where we are fun. It felt more like a camp experience than a raft guiding excursion. Lots of humor and care goes into the structure of the day. The guides are well trained and they make even the slow would be boring parts of the river fun with water fights and "practice" river maneuvers. A totally great experience. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

Love this place!!! Staff is always friendly and super helpful. I've been here 4 times for rafting and it is always a blast!!! Food has changed for the better over the years for sure!!! I'm going back with friends in August for some more fun!!! They took safety precautions for COVID like masks, gloves, food was in individual packing with our own groups designated picnic table. During these COVID times and all the restrictions in place some places are struggling. Just wanted to shout out & spread some positivity. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Rafting picture - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

See all

Absolutely amazing day on the water!! I booked the Deerfield River-Monroe Bridge Section Rafting (Sunday Sept 2022) and it completely exceeded my expectations. Frank was an amazing guide for our raft of 6 (3 groups who didn't know each other prior to the trip, including some first timers). We rolled through class 2, 3, and 4 rapids and he kept everyone safe and smiling! Ended the day with a top-notch pulled pork sandwich and a few too many brownies. 10/10 would recommend-- thanks for the great experience we will definitely be returning again! read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Pulled pork, pasta salad, cold slaw, corn bread. (Not pictured: salad and BROWNIES!) - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

See all

Crabapple booked my trip for the wrong location. They refused to refund. We booked a rafting trip for Charlemont with Carrie over the phone. We drove almost 3 hours to Charlemont and the shop was closed. We called Crabapple and Sharon claimed our trip was actually booked for the Vermont location. I told her we were pretty explicit about booking a trip in Charlemont over the phone with Carrie, and asked for a refund. She refused and became frustrated. I asked her to check with Carrie, and she refused again and hung up the phone. Be very careful when booking your trip with Crabapple. They may get the details of your trip wrong and they have an aggressive no-refunds policy. read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

My experience with Crab Apple Whitewater on Saturday 9/3/22 was incredible. My friends and I rafted on the Monroe Bridge trip. I think the best thing about rafting this stretch of River is that the rapids get bigger as the day goes on. This really gives everyone a chance to improve their paddling and get comfortable before heading to the bigger rapids. Our group was mixed with some having experience rafting while others were brand new and a little nervous. Our guides, Frank and Zach really knew how to make everyone feel safe, while having a great time. ( We laughed so much my and hurt by the end of the day) By the time we were back at the base having lunch, everyone was already planning our trip next summer. 10 out of 10, we definitely recommend. : ) Looking forward to returning next summer- hopefully with a bigger crew. Thanks again to everyone at Crab Apple for making our day so memorable. read more

See all

We had a really wonderful day with TJ Even though I had no experience of drafting and were not confident about my swimming skills, we ended up safe and pleasant! read more

SO MUCH FUN!!! MATT IS THE BEST EVER our tour guide MATT was the funniest person ever he made the experience so fun for all of us! WE LOVED HIM! overall such a good experience my friends and i had the best time. if your thinking of going REQUEST MATT!!! read more

Awesome summer activity! Found this place on groupon and got the "funyaking" adventure. This family-run business offers excellent equipment and instruction. Jen, our "team leader" got us all organized, fitted with life jackets and helmets, then we were bussed to the drop in point. Helped into very sturdy, inflatable kayaks and given paddles and water guns if you wanted them, we were off for an 8 mile trek down the Deerfield River. Beautiful day, clear water and the gorgeous scenery made for a lovely day. We were trying to beat a thunderstorm at the end and didn't escape the big raindrops, but we got out of the river before the lightning. Highly recommend this trip and this company, great day!! read more

What a great experience!! Jeff, our guide, was so knowledgeable, funny and a great guide! It was so much fun! These people know what they are doing! What a welcoming outfit! We will be back!!! read more

What amazing experience! My wife and I did that class 3-4 rapids. The guides were extremely nice and friendly! I would definitely recommend going here read more

Planned a week of day or two-day trips as our family week-long vacation this year (me, my partner, and my two children aged 18 and 20), and our day at Crab Apple Whitewater beat out all of the others in being our favorite day! An unbelievably well-run, family organization that made you feel welcomed as soon as you drove into their parking lot. Our guide, Sawyer, was absolutely amazing - so fun, so knowledgable, so personable, so attentive - that he felt like an old friend. I mentioned in the paperwork sent in weeks earlier that I had a hearing disability, and they remembered when I got there, and went out of their way to make certain I would be able to hear all of the directions, including Sawyer letting me sit right next to him on the raft. Talk about inclusivity! Great meal afterwards and extremely clean facilities. Looking forward to our next visit back, and will definitely request Sawyer although it looked like EVERY raft adored their respective guide. read more

Deerfield Monroe Bridge rafting. Four ladies ranging from 40 to 50 years old taking on the rapids for the first time. It was a picture perfect day. Starting out with a warm greeting from Ryan when we pulled into the parking lot to the video recap at the end of the day, it was a picture perfect day. Wetsuit rental available. The water was still a little chilly at 55 degrees. Our guide Sawyer was the best. He gave us great instructions and directions that kept us safe and in the raft, while still having so much fun. We were all a bit nervous starting out, but by the last rapid, Sawyer had us feeling confident, having fun, and ready for the last challenge. So much fun! The cookout lunch at the end was fabulous. Picnic tables outside by the river with a nice breeze, a cold beer, good food, shared with good friends. Life is good. Thank you Sawyer and Crap Apple for great memories! read more

See all

Did the Level I-III at Fife Brook. Relaxing and fun and very scenic. But not as fun as the III-IV at Monroe Bridge that I did with them before. John our guide was awesome and super sweet. They served us make it yourself peanut butter and deli sandwiches, which I thought was a rip off for a $100/person trip. Come on, the least you can do is grill some burgers and hotdogs, not some pathetic cold turkey deli meat. Level IV didn't pay much more money, had more fun with better rapids, and got steak and salmon grills afterwards. I won't take my family back for level III, seems like the lunch really ruined the nice ending to the trip. Not worth the $$, just book level IV three weeks in advance next time. read more

Went with large group of coworkers Frank and Zach were our great river guides Actually everyone was professional, informative and very laid back . Tried stage 4 rapids as a newbie and had one coworker fall in the drink,but she survived unscathed thanks to Frank. Beautiful day,great time. Definitely recommend this place. And thanks to Zach our guide. read more

This is our 3rd time rafting with Crab Apple White Water. Always a great time, amazing family owned business. Our guide today was Zack and he was terrific! Professional, sense of humor and made the trip adventurous and fun. Looking forward to next year and keeping this great tradition going! read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - White water rafter with Crab Apple - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

See all

Five star operation from check-in to goodbye. The rafting was amazing, but what sets Crab Apple apart is everything else. Things like the bathroom and changing room being spotless, or how delicious the food is, or how seamless the whole pre-rafting process is. Our guide, Roger, was knowledgeable and personable. He made sure we had a fun trip, but safety was always first for him. We thought we had the best guide until dinner when we realized that's how everyone felt about their guide! Can't wait to go again!! read more

We had such an amazing time on the water with Crab Apple today! The guides were professional, funny, informative, and very experienced. They made sure to address all health and safety concerns, and ensured everyone felt safe from beginning to end. They were also very personable learning everyone's names, took an actual interest in who we were, and made the trip feel like it was tailored just for us. The dinner afterwards was great, as were the views of the reservoir from the picnic tables outside, and our guide actually sat and ate dinner with us! I know this is a business, but we felt like family, and not just customers. Thank you to our guide Gus for an amazing day! read more

See all

Such a great trip! The gals and I spent many hours battling the rapids with our guide, Matt(ray bands, cute button nose) He was a kind kind soul and allowed BOTH lauren and Michaela to "ride the bull" at the front of the boat. By the end of the ride we felt completely at home on the river with Matt. Although he didn't seem very interested in dating my sister when I tried to set them up, we got along so well and cracked so many good jokes that we even invited him to our gals trip next week in Maine. Hope he attends! read more

Went in with no expectations, left with a great experience in our memory banks. This third generation family owned company provided a day that was both mellow and exciting all wrapped into one. Each staff member (mostly older college aged) were very attentive and tried to make the trip fun for all ages - we brought two 14 yer olds and a 12 year old, who can be a challenge - not one rolled eye, and NO SMART PHONES! This allowed us all to pay attention to each other. We got really interesting tips about the river, wildlife, and history. They talked about their other trip in Maine which we're really considering for next year. Well worth it, take the trip! read more

We visited on a Tuesday afternoon with reservations for 4. The desk clerk was professional and thorough. She set us up with gear and instructions for our afternoon. My wife and I, my sister and her 7 yr old grandson filled our roster. Having a 7 yr old and it being named Funyaking we weren't expecting class 3 or 4 rapids. It was a blast, especially the water guns. We battled most of the way down the river. Definitely as advertised, great for families, would love to do it again. read more

Our family has a most excellent adventure on the level3 and 4 rapids on the Deerfield River. The company has figured out how to safely run a fun, thrilling day on the water in middle of a pandemic. Hurrah! They serve a super generous lunch after your rafting trip. I cannot say enough about our guide, Ben. He made the day even better with his command of the raft. I felt safe and exhilarated all at the same time. Worth the price, perfect day trip. Support local business. All boxes checked! read more

I had a ton of fun rafting the Fife Brook Section with Crab Apple Whitewater. Check-in and getting our gear went exceptionally smooth in comparison to other companies I've done rafting trips with. All of the guides were super helpful and informative. And their enthusiasm and wonderful sense of humor made the trip especially memorable. Our raft guide, Kevin, was a pleasure to spend the day with. He was very personable and made the day feel like our own experience and not just any other trip down the river. It was evident that he truly enjoys his job. I would 100% return to Crab Apple to try the more advanced trip on the Monroe Bridge Section and I would ask for Kevin again. read more

Had the most amazing experience white water rafting! Frank was an excellent guide. Will definitely be returning next year! read more

Crab Apple Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Charlemont, Massachusetts

Our family of four had an amazing time on the Deerfield River Fife Brook Section trip yesterday. Because we are still practicing social distancing rather strictly, we felt very comfortable with how the employees at Crab Apple organized the day. Every family had its own tent/table at check-in, and everyone was required to wear a mask in all public spaces at the "base camp," including in the bathrooms. On the bus to the river there were just two families - ours sat in the front and another family sat in back. All of the bus windows were open the entire time and the bus driver wore a mask, too. Only when we were situated in our raft did our guide allow us to remove our masks if we felt comfortable to do so. We did, but our guide (Ryan - who was wonderful!) kept his mask on. The rafting itself was super fun, perfect for our 7 and 10 year olds to enjoy! We loved the photos taken by the staff, and definitely plan to return soon. read more

Another AMAZING day on the river with the Crab Apple crew! Ryan was our guide and made sure we all had an exceptional experience! I visited for the first time last year and today was my second trip. This is absolutely a yearly adventure for me now! The place is run so well. They are professional, highly skilled, friendly and they'll keep you laughing all day! Ryan provided us with great explanations on what to expect at each of the rapids and his instructions ensured we were prepared to handle everything. If you are looking for an outstanding outdoor adventure give them a call and register for a trip. We did the Monroe Bridge trip. You'll LOVE it! See you all again next summer read more

See all

My family had a great time at the crab apple white water rafting trip my husband set up. Noah was our guide down the river and was very informative and made the trip more fun for us all. No one in my family had ever been white water rafting before so it was a new experience for us it and it was really fun and exciting!! I would recommend this place to everyone and anyone who wants a trip of a lifetime They supply all the Equipment you need including lifejackets and helmets you get a snack on the side of the river halfway down and at the end of your trip you get to have a delicious lunch. Thanks again to the entire staff and all you do HF. ps. no one fell out but we got soaked!!! read more

I had an amazing time Saturday 6/15. 4 woman ventured out on the Deerfield River Monroe Bridge Rafting trip with Zero experience. Yes we were a little nervous at first, thinking what's going to happen when we fall in. Yes we were convinced we were. During our bus ride to the starting destination, we received a nice informative introduction on what to do and what to expect. Sawyer was our guide and he was awesome!! Very confident in his skills and we felt safe and at ease in no time. If you forget anything.. they have it there. A couple girls bought wicking shirts, straps for glasses. We all rented wetsuits (very reasonably priced.. I think 15). Water was a cold 55 degrees so they were much needed. They also have GoPros for rent as well. I know some people in other posts commented on pictures being overpriced.. I purchased the USB of our boat and am very happy I did. There is no other way to capture those moments. We laughed a lot, gained confidence and have great memories. Planning on taking my nephews ages 8 and 10 on a trip there in August and hoping to book again with Sawyer.. that's if he can tolerate us again. BBQ at the end was delicious and a nice ending to chat with our guide and recap our day with each other before heading our separate ways. Also Carrie who booked us was fabulous and attentive to detail. One in our party had the wrong start time. After she called to fix it I received a call from Carrie confirming everything was correct. Thanks again for the great memories and looking forward to August BTW.. no one fell in read more

See all

My 12 year old son and I booked a rafting trip at the last minute, and we are so glad we did! Everything about our day was fabulous and well organized, fun and safe. Our raft's guide, Charlotte, did a fabulous job and made our first ever white water rafting experience awesome! Lunch afterwards was delicious and the perfect way to end our day. Thank you!! read more

This is a great activity to do with your family. The food was great. Our guide Charlotte was super awesome. I highly recommend going. We felt very safe through these crazy Covid times. They really know what they are doing. read more