LETS GO RAFTing in denali
VOTED BEST TOUR IN DENALI!!! BOOK NOW LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!!!
VOTED BEST TOUR IN DENALI!!! BOOK NOW LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!!!
raft trips
WILDERNESS WAVE
RAFT TOUR
AGES: 5+ (Min. weight 50lb/23kg)
CHECK-IN: 8am, 12pm, 2pm & 6pm
DURATION:3-3.5 hours start to finish
LOCATION: Denali National Park, Alaska
RIVER: Nenana River 11 miles
LEVEL: Class II-III rapids
COST: Child: $130, Adult: $160
Sit Back, Take It In, and Enjoy the Splash!
Enjoy a mild, scenic rafting adventure along the natural boundary of Denali National Park. On the Wilderness Wave Raft Tour, you’ll float through 11 miles of glacially carved valleys, with panoramic views of Mount Fellows and Flat Top Mountain, occasional rapids, and chances to spot wildlife.
Your guide handles all the rowing—paddling is not offered on this tour. That means your hands are free to snap photos, watch for wildlife, and soak up the scenery while we handle the river. It’s a relaxing, fun, and splashy adventure perfect for the whole family! Pick this adventure if you do not want big rapids. T
Book your Wilderness Wave Raft Trip!
AGES: 12+ (15+ to paddle)
CHECK-IN: 8am, 10:15am & 2pm & 6pm,
DURATION: 3-3.5 hours start to finish
LOCATION: Denali National Park, Alaska
RIVER: Nenana River 11 miles
LEVEL: Class III-IV rapids
COST: $160
Grab a Paddle and Take On the Canyon!
Get ready for 11 miles of splash-filled adventure on the Canyon Wave Raft Tour! Journey through a spectacular glacial river gorge along Denali National Park, tackling rapids with names like Razorback, Train Wreck, and Coffee Grinder. With mostly Class III rapids and a couple of Class IV thrills, this trip delivers big excitement and incredible scenery.
For the most hands-on adventure, join the paddle crew! Work together, follow your guide’s commands, and power through the whitewater. Prefer to hold on and enjoy the ride? Oar boat riders are welcome—no paddling required. This is our most popular trip, and space fills quickly!
CANYON WAVE
RAFT TOUR
Book your Canyon Wave Raft Trip!
New wave combo
Raft tour
AGES: 12+ (15+ to paddle)
CHECK-IN: 8:00 am
DURATION: 5.5 hours start to finish
LOCATION: Denali National Park, Alaska
RIVER: Nenana River 22 Miles
LEVEL: Class III-IV rapids
COST: Adult: $300
Big Views, Big Rapids—the Complete River Adventure!
Experience the best of both worlds on our 22-mile combo adventure! Start with the Wilderness Wave section, floating through glacially carved valleys with breathtaking mountain views, occasional splashes, and chances to spot wildlife. Then continue downstream into the Canyon Wave section, where action-packed rapids turn up the excitement.
Relax while your guide rows the Wilderness section—paddling is available only on the Canyon stretch. Enjoy the scenery first, then grab a paddle for the whitewater! This half-day adventure is perfect for groups who want more miles, more thrills, and the full Nenana River experience.
Book your New Wave Combo Raft Trip!
BEST TRIp Every Trip.
STEp one: Pick the trip you want to go on!
Enjoy mild currents, playful splashes, and relaxing stretches with breathtaking views of the surrounding valley and mountains. There’s no paddling on this section—your guide handles all the rowing, leaving you free to snap photos, watch for wildlife, and enjoy the scenery. With fewer rapids and plenty of time to soak it all in, this trip blends splash-filled fun with peaceful floating. It’s the perfect adventure for young kids, families, and anyone looking for an easygoing day on the water.
WILDERNESS WAVE
RAFT TOUR
Feel the rush as you take on eight named rapids, each bringing fresh excitement, big splashes, and moments you’ll talk about long after the trip! Grab a paddle and join the crew—there’s nothing like working together and charging through the whitewater. Prefer to hold on and soak up the thrill? Ride as an oar boat passenger with no paddling required. You’ll spend approximately 90 minutes on the river, where swift currents and splashy rapids keep the energy high. Come ready to get wet, cheer your crew on, and leave with a huge smile!
CANYON WAVE
RAFT TOUR
New wave combo
Raft tour
Experience both sections of the river on a half-day adventure that blends stunning scenery with whitewater excitement. Depart at 8 AM and settle into the gentle Wilderness section while your guide handles the rowing. After a short break to recharge, continue into the canyon, where you can join the paddle crew or simply hold on as an oar boat rider. Paddling is offered only on the Canyon stretch. From peaceful floating to splash-filled rapids, this 5.5-hour trip gives you the best of both worlds, with a return by 1:30 PM..
STEp two: Pick what style of rafting you want to do!
OAR BOAT RIDER
SIT AND HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE
Let your guide do the work while you soak up the adventure! Oar riders are welcome on the Canyon stretch—just hold on and enjoy the thrills, with no paddling required. On the Wilderness stretch, we highly recommend sitting back and taking in the scenery; your guide handles all the rowing, and paddling isn’t offered. It’s a wonderful way for first-time rafters to experience the river’s beauty, splashes, and excitement!
****THIS IS THE OPTION FOR THE WILDERNESS STRETCH*****
PADDLE RAFTER
ACTIVELY PADDLE ON YOUR RIVER TRIP.
Paddling is offered only on the CANYON stretch! Grab a paddle, join the crew, and feel the excitement of tackling the rapids together. Your guide will be right there in the raft, giving clear instructions along the way. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to get involved and take an active role in the adventure!
*WE DO NOT OFFER PADDLES ON THE WILDERNESS STRETCH *
STEp three: book the time and date you want to go!
Fun Facts Before You Hit the River
Every raft is led by a professional New Wave Adventures guide. You're never on the river without an experienced guide leading the way.
Oar boats and paddle rafts follow the same route. Both trips run the same section of river, tackle the same exciting rapids, and last the same amount of time. The only difference? In a paddle raft, you get to help paddle!
We've got your gear covered. Every guest receives everything needed for the trip, including river shoes. Your own shoes stay safe and dry back at our office.
Dress for warmth, not fashion. Sweatpants, leggings, yoga pants, jeans, hoodies, sweatshirts, and lightweight jackets all work great. Please avoid shorts, and don't forget a pair of warm socks!
Our drysuits go over your clothes. They're designed to fit over warm layers, so don't worry about wearing bulky clothing underneath.
Your drysuit keeps you dry—your layers keep you warm. The Nenana River averages around 36°F, so dressing warmly is important, even on sunny days.
"Dry" really means "mostly dry." We regularly inspect and repair our drysuits, but an occasional small leak can happen. If you notice one, let us know after your trip so we can fix or replace the suit.
Bring warm socks! Trust us—they make a big difference.
Want to bring your phone? No problem! We sell waterproof phone cases in our office to help keep it protected during your adventure.
Wear glasses? Bring them! We also sell eyeglass retainers so you can keep your glasses secure through every splash and wave.
Personal belongings stay safe with us. Wallets, purses, keys, and other valuables can be securely stored at our office while you're out enjoying your rafting adventure.
Come in and find your suit before your adventure! These measurements are a general guide, and sizing varies between suits. Some suits can comfortably accommodate people above the listed measurements, so we encourage you to try one on beforehand. We’re happy to help you find a comfortable fit!
ARE YOU STAYING AT A HOTEL IN THE DENALI AREA?
Pick up & drop off information
New Wave rafting guests can be picked up at the provided list of hotels. Please wait in the front lobby of the hotel.
8AM TRIPS
7:15 am Denali Cabins
7:20 am Denali Park Village
7:25 am Grizzly Bear
7:30 am Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
7:35 am Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
7:40 am Grande Denali
7:45 am Princess & Holland America
7:50 am Denali Bluffs
7:55 am Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
10:15AM TRIPS
9:25 am Denali Cabins
9:30 am Denali Park Village
9:35 am Grizzly Bear
9:40 am Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
9:45 am Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
9:50 am Grande Denali
10 am Princess & Holland America
10:05 am Denali Bluffs
10:10 am Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
12PM TRIPS
11:15 am Denali Cabins
11:20 am Denali Park Village
11:25 am Grizzly Bear
11:30 am Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
11:35 am Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
11:40 am Grande Denali
11:45 am Princess & Holland America
11:50 am Denali Bluffs
11:55 am Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
2PM TRIPS
1:15 pm Denali Cabins
1:20 pm Denali Park Village
1:25 pm Grizzly Bear
1:30 pm Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
1:35 pm Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
1:40 pm Grande Denali
1:45 pm Princess & Holland America
1:50 pm Denali Bluffs
1:55 pm Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
5:30PM TRIPS (End of season only)
4:50 pm Denali Cabins
5:00 pm Denali Park Village
5:05 pm Grizzly Bear
5:05 pm Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
5:10 pm Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
5:15 pm Grande Denali
5:15 pm Princess & Holland America
5:20 pm Denali Bluffs
5:25 pm Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
6PM TRIPS
5:20 pm Denali Cabins
5:25 pm Denali Park Village
5:30 pm Grizzly Bear
5:30 pm Visitor’s Center Bus Stop
5:35 pm Riley Creek Mercantile Bus Stop
5:40 pm Grande Denali
5:45 pm Princess & Holland America
5:50 pm Denali Bluffs
5:55 pm Salmon Bake/Crows Nest (Lower)
cancellation policy.
To book a trip full payment is required at the time of booking. We provide a full refund up to 2 days before your trip. There will be NO refund available for trips cancelled within 1 Day or less of the trip. All trips depart, rain or shine, as scheduled. If we need to cancel your trip and it cannot be rescheduled we will issue a refund in full. Please note the booking fee will not be refunded for partial refunds per our agreement with our booking platform.
New Wave Adventures LLC. reserves the right to cancel or switch the trip section or time of its' raft trips to ensure safety is our top priority.
To participate in any activity with New Wave Adventures LLC. you must accept the risks of designated activity by signing our Liability Waiver.
High-water / Wind Policy
(Canyon Wave Only)
If New Wave cancels a Canyon Wave trip due to high water, wind or other safety reasons you will automatically be rebooked to the Wilderness Wave at the same time slot. We will send emails and texts for notification.
Trip Minimums
Please note that a minimum of 5 rafters must be booked in order for the tour to run. If this minimum is not met, the trip may be canceled or rescheduled for a different time slot.
PURCHASE
GIFT CARDS
Gift Cards are a great option to help support small businesses during this time while sharing a bit of adventure with a loved one.
