Accessibility
White water rafting is not just an activity; it’s a celebration of human spirit and determination.
Endless Adventure is proud to be a part of this celebration where barriers are broken and experiences are shared regardless of abilities. Join us on the river and let’s navigate the rapids together, forging unforgettable memories and fostering a community of inclusivity.
Accessibility and Endless Adventure
Exploring the river environment can be an exhilarating experience that knows no boundaries, ranging from calm and scenic tours to wild and thrilling adventures. Contrary to common misconceptions, even those with accessibility challenges can partake in the thrill of navigating rapids. At Endless Adventure, we believe that the river is for everyone and we are committed to removing barriers to adventure.
Our commitment to accessibility ensures that our tours and lessons are available to those who want to experience the river, regardless of their ability. We will work with our potential guests on a case by case basis with the understanding that everyone will have different abilities and needs to be met. Our cornerstone principles of Education, Safety, Accessible Equipment, and Adaptation guide us in hosting an awesome experience with the guest in mind.
Our Accessibility Story
In 2023, founder Chris Ryman won a SPARK accessibility grant to help Endless Adventure develop accessible tourism initiatives. The whole experience was hugely enlightening and left Ryman exploring questions like: “What does accessible rafting look like?” “How can Endless Adventure adapt and offer tours and lessons to more people?” “What equipment and improvements are needed to make the most of our accessibility goals?”.
Even before officially starting this journey, Endless happily accommodated guests with accessibility challenges as best as we could with the knowledge and equipment we had available. We hosted a weekend kayak course with Warren MacDonald, author, environmentalist, and motivational speaker. Warren is an accessibility champion who experienced a double amputation below the knees in a climbing accident. We also unknowingly hosted a visually impaired guest on an inflatable kayak tour, which wound up being a most adventurous experience! We have hosted people with wheelchairs on rafting trips and did our best to accommodate. We are looking forward to implementing the knowledge and equipment that SPARK has made possible to further enhance these experiences in the future.
Since our journey with SPARK, Endless has invested in accessibility equipment and have been working to improve overall wheelchair access and accessibility in our parking lot and change rooms. We teamed up with mentors in the industry including Keith Phillips of West Coast Aquatic Safaris and Jezza Williams of The Making Trax Foundation who have vast experience in the area. We continue to learn and grow with hopes of building our accessible offerings.
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about your potential experience with us. After reading this page, please reach out to us with inquiries and help us grow our accessibility movement. Let’s work together to create a memorable, safe and accessible experience on the river!
Learn more about safety and equipment at Endless Adventure
The Universal Appeal of Rafting
Adaptive white water rafting or kayaking provides a holistic lift for the mind, body, and spirit in addition to an adrenaline high. A truly fulfilling experience is one that takes into account the natural beauty of the river, the necessity of teamwork and the sense of satisfaction after overcoming rapids. Even though the challenges are genuine, they can be overcome with the right safety measures, the advice of knowledgeable experts, and the encouraging comradery of other rafters.
White Water Rafting Accessibility: Key Points to Consider
Degree of Difficulty: Our rafting trips come in three different levels of difficulty:
- Our Gentle Cruise is on a slower stretch of river suitable for ages and skills. A guide pilots the raft and minimal to no paddling is required by the guests.
- The River Rafting Tours require a minimum weight of 50lbs.(22.7 kgs) and some paddling is required but the guide pilots the raft.
- Our Adventure Kayak Tour and Sturgeon Search Tour are self propelled tours. The kayak trip involves lots of paddling and good physical fitness. Our Sturgeon Search Trip can be modified with easier, more stable craft but ultimately, the guest is the pilot of the craft. Guides are present to lead the way but are not in the craft with you. If you are interested in one of these tours but are unsure if you can pilot your own craft, please reach out as we may be able to assign a guide to your craft at an extra cost.
Our team will help assess your comfort and abilities to match you with the most suitable adventure, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rafter.
Rivers for white water rafting receive a rating on the International Scale of Difficulty, which ranges from Class I (easy) to Class VI (extreme and exploratory rapids). The stretches of the Slocan River used by Endless Adventure consist of Class I-III rapids.
Education and Cooperation
The crew is here to help at every stage of the game, from the initial inquiry to the follow-up after your experience. Please reach out and start the conversation that could make experiencing your bucket list dream a reality. We are dedicated to learning about your abilities and needs in order to provide the best possible experience. We consider all trips to be unique and aim to provide worry free and comfortable options that suit our guests as best we can.