Montgomery Whitewater: What to know before your trip to the park

Before you and the family suddenly show up for a wet adventure at Montgomery Whitewater this summer, there are some things you really need to know.

Not a water park!

Its grounds are very park like. It has water. But, folks, this is not a "water park" — no waterslides and no swimming if it can be avoided.

This is actually two channels of artificial river created to challenge whitewater enthusiasts who love rafting and kayaking, and also riding inflatables — tubes and kayaks called "duckies."

No experience required to go rafting

If you're up to it, book a rafting ride — in person or at montgomerywhitewater.com. They have different levels to pick from, including a more family-friendly one for beginners. Don't worry if you haven't gone whitewater rafting before. Your guides will show you how. Hence their title — guides.

You can, and should, wear your bathing suits, along with the required helmets and life jackets they provide. Just bring some dry clothing to change into when you're done. You're gonna get soooooooooaked!

Train up, newbie kayakers

That "no experience required" thing for going on rafts... well, that doesn't apply to kayak users.

If someone bought you a kayak for Christmas and you've never really used it, much less in whitewater conditions, don't dust it off and expect to immediately use it here. That's dangerous. You need some experience in kayaks made for whitewater.

The good news is that you don't have to keep being kayak newbies. Montgomery Whitewater offers several training courses you can pay to enroll in.

Kayakers run the course as training continues, on Saturday June 10, 2023, while Montgomery Whitewater prepares for its July opening in Montgomery, Ala.

New option: Go tubing on the water

New for 2025, guests can book tubing trips on the channels. It's not a lazy river — you're going over whitewater rapids. But it is a new way for people to enjoy the water, with no skills required. Just hang on and enjoy the 90 minute ride.

Fun on the dry side

Yes, there's stuff to do outside of whitewater adventures:

• Rope and zipline course: Go climb rope courses through the trees, and do a little flying on ziplines also.
• Trails: There are trails on site perfect for walking, running, hiking, and biking. They're free to use. You can bring your own bike, or rent one on site. You should probably check the Montgomery Whitewater website before going, beause these trails can occasionally be closed due to weather or extra-muddy conditions.

Give your Crocs and flip flops the boot

The kind of footwear you're most likely think to wear for a day of water fun is exactly the kind you shouldn't — and can't — while whitewater rafting. You're going to bounce around, so Crocs and flip flops are not allowed.

Instead, you could wear old shoes you don’t mind getting soaked. The outfitter store also has footwear for sale, plus some you can rent.

Unless you're going on the water, it's free to be there!

You can drive up, park, walk around, walk your dog, ride your bike, without necessarily paying for anything, unless you are booking an activitiy or going to the restaurant.

Parking's free also, something else different from most water parks.

Leave your food back home in the fridge

There's no outside food or drink allowed. The only eating on site comes from outfitter store and Eddy's Restaurant and Bar. You can also grab beer and other drinks on tap from the beer garden.

The view from the terraces at Eddy’s Restarant and Bar at Montgomery Whitewater in Montgomery, Ala, on Tuesday May 30, 2023.

Don't smoke 'em if you've got 'em

No smoking, vaping or e-cigarette use is allowed on Montgomery Whitewater grounds.

They haven’t banned smokeless tobacco  — snuff, dip, chewing tobacco and similar stuff. At least not yet. You can bet they don't want rafters spitting 'bacca juice in their pristine water.

Other bits of whitewater wisdom

Whitewater training continues at Montgomery Whitewater in Montgomery, Ala, on Wednesday May 24, 2023 as they prepare for the opening this summer.

• You can probably go rafting more than once: Each rafting trip is about 90 minutes, and that's roughly four or five laps. One round of action could wear you out. But maybe not? If you're super energetic and want to keep going, the day passes you purchased allow you to go back out raft multiple times in a day — based on capacity. So go, row, row, row your boat all day long, if you want.
• Rafting for the disabled: Montgomery Whitewater follows Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, and their staff will offer guidance on if a water activity can be safely accommodated for an individual. It's best to contact them about this well in advance.
• If you bring it, you might lose it: Don't bring anything on a raft that you don't mind losing forever. That include phones!
• No, there’s not a weight limit for raft riders: The only caveat to this is that the life vest has to fit. They’ve got a 55 inch chest limit.
• Yes, there are age requirements: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The youngest a kid can be to go rafting is 8, and that’s on the beginner rafting with a group. For moderate adventure rafting, it's age 10 and up. Ramp it all the way to advanced rodeo rafting, and you’ve got to be at least 16. For those going out on inflatable kayaks (aka duckies), the youngest age is 13 — and that’s in a two-person ducky with an adult.
• Watch the weather: When you pay to get out on the water, that’s nonrefundable. If severe weather causes Montgomery Whitewater to close, still no refund. So take a moment to check out the forecast before you pay for a ride.

Portions of this article previously appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected]. To support his work please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.