Updated · By Whitewater Columbus, an independent guide
Kids can raft the Chattahoochee in Columbus, GA from age 7 (or 60 lbs) on the guided Classic trip, which runs Class I-III+ rapids at low water for about 2 hours. The Challenge, Carnage and Inflatable Kayak trips require age 12. Every raft has a trained guide, and everyone wears a helmet and a Coast Guard-approved Type V life jacket.
The Columbus course is one of the best places in the Southeast to introduce kids to whitewater: short trips, warm water, real rapids and a town full of food at the finish.
How old do kids need to be?
| Activity | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Classic raft trip | Age 7 or 60 lbs |
| Challenge, Carnage, Inflatable Kayak | Age 12 |
| Blue Heron zipline | Age 10, 70-265 lbs |
| Aerial course | Age 5, if the harness fits |
Which trip should families book?
With anyone under 12, book the Classic. It runs at base flow with Class I-III+ rapids, surf waves and calm stretches. Teens who love it can graduate to the Challenge.
How guides keep kids safe
Every raft has a trained guide who steers and calls commands. Guests wear helmets and Type V Coast Guard-approved life jackets, trips are matched to the water level, and staff can decline anyone who appears unsafe to participate. Kids should still be comfortable in water, because swimming a rapid is possible on any trip.
Tips from parents
- Talk about swimming first. Explain "feet up, point downstream, look for the boat" before the trip. Guides will cover it again.
- Pack a full change of clothes and a towel, plus a snack for the car.
- Cold kid, sad kid. Skip cotton. In cool months ask for a wetsuit and splash jacket.
- Book mornings in summer, before the heat and the naps.
- Let them watch first. Stop at Good Wave on the RiverWalk the night before to see rafts surf.
After the river
The RiverWalk splash pad and playground, a bike ride, the free Columbus Botanical Garden and the National Infantry Museum are all kid-approved. See Plan your trip.