Packrafting - Why is it so awesome?

Also, what is Packrafting?

For most hikers, land is the domain of our adventures. But have you ever considered how rivers and lakes can give you more access to great hiking?

Picture yourself at the edge of a glacier-fed alpine lake, high in the mountains. Imagine yourself in canyon country, cut off from trails by a pesky river and sheer canyon walls, or a far-north forest riddled with lakes and streams that reroute you or block you altogether. There are some landscapes where hiking has its limits. Sometimes the water in certain areas cuts you off from hiking where you'd really like to go. But imagine if you had a way to travel on the water, and that lake or river could become an extension of the trail itself––another route for moving deeper into the backcountry.

That, my friends, is where packrafting comes in.

But first, what is a packraft?

A packraft is an inflatable boat that is small and light enough to fit inside a backpack. They generally weigh less than 10 pounds and roll up tight, roughly the size of a sleeping bag. It may sound crazy, but with proper packing, you can fit all your camping gear plus the deflated boat and a collapsible paddle all into your backpack. Then, that inflated boat can handle you, your pack, and all your gear. Congratulations! You are now amphibious!

After 15 miles of hiking, it's time to put in to the South Fork of the Flathead

With a packraft, you can enter endless possibilities for extended adventures on both land and water.

Trusting your entire expedition to a thin rubber boat might sound like a recipe for disaster. I’ll admit that the first time I picked up a packraft, I had a hard time trusting it. I thought it felt flimsy because it was so light. But a good packraft is surprisingly dependable and durable even though it is incredibly light. These are carefully designed to be both highly packable and delightfully durable.

A freshly inflated packraft, ready to float a section of the Colorado River in Arizona

A quality packraft is more than just any ol' inflatable boat that you can buy at a sporting goods store. For very casual trips, sure, you can get away with some very budget-friendly versions. I've even seen some oddballs out there using pool floaties.

But for adventures that are really “out there” you need something more durable and capable. There are quite a few variations and brands on the market, each tailored to slightly different uses. The most notable brands are Alpacka and Kokopelli, but there are others as well.

Some are designed for calm water and are fairly basic, and therefore cheaper. Others can get quite elaborate in design and can handle even expert-level whitewater. These designs are closer to kayaks and include skirts, self-bailing systems, air-tight zippers on air chambers that can store gear, all while still being incredible light and packable.

As you can imagine, the cost is is not negligible. Packrafts typically vary in price from $500-$2000. But even the basic versions can be extremely useful, durable, and can open up your adventures to almost limitless possibilities.

Feel like giving it a try? Here are a few options to stoke your imagination:

Alpine Lakes

Paddling across a large alpine lake in the wilderness of northern Canada

Picture a sparkling blue lake high in the mountains, surrounded by dramatic snowy peaks. If you have to hike miles uphill to reach this alpine lake, there’s no way you would ever consider lugging a boat there––unless it’s a packraft. Maybe paddling the lake is an essential part of your route, or maybe it’s just for fun and the photo opportunity. Either way, a packraft is the only way to go. Whether it's the Rocky Mountains of the US and Canada, the Sierra Nevada of California, the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, and the mountains of the Northeast US, there's an almost limitless supply of spectacular lakes to packraft.

Desert Canyons

Linking trails by packraft in Canyonlands National Park

You might not typically think of the desert as a place to bring a boat. But where there’s a river, there’s a really unique way to travel through otherwise inhospitable terrain. Packrafting is particularly popular with canyoneers, who drop into slot canyons where the only way out is a river or lake. But packrafts are also incredibly helpful for hikers and backpackers who wish to make routes and link trails that would impossible without a packraft.

Take Canyonlands National Park in Utah, for example. That’s where two big rivers, the Green and the Colorado, come together amid a labyrinth of sandstone gorges. A packraft allows you to connect and hike canyon trails, mixed with river travel, creating a route that's simply not possible without a packraft. Other places in the Southwest with hiking and packrafting routes are Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Remote Rivers

Taking a break while packrafting a remote river in northern Canada

If you are accustomed to floating on swift-flowing rivers on rafts, kayaks, or drift boats, and you probably prefer a roadside put-in. Those crafts are not fun to carry far. But think about fishing or paddling a remote river with almost no one else around. For example, the South Fork of the Flathead in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness is one of the most beautiful rivers in North America. It also happens to be really hard to get to. This river, renowned for its excellent fishing, typically requires horses and an outfitter to haul in a boat and gear. But if you have a packraft, well, you can float this masterpiece of a river all on your own.

A very remote camp along the South Fork of the Flathead

Rivers in wilderness areas are abundant in places like the Pacific Northwest and throughout Canada and Alaska, and typically require navigating whitewater rapids. I don't necessarily recommend starting here. It's generally something to work up to. But for those who are high on adventure and a zest for the daring, packrafting these rivers can be the experience of a lifetime.

https://youtu.be/7vka276RSSE

Wanna see packrafting in action? Check out this video made by Natasha Moon

Backyard Adventures

Lake Powell might not be in your backyard, but any sizable body of water will do!

While it's tempting to think of packrafting only as dedicated to extreme expeditions, there are all kinds of uses for these amazing pieces of gear. Once you own a packraft, you’re sure to find all kinds of uses for it. Your backyard will have plenty of new playground opportunities, wilderness not necessary.

Local creeks and lakes are perfect for a casual paddle and a wonderful day outside. I highly recommend using it close to home to practice packing, unpacking, inflating, and paddling it around before you take a big trip.

Even though packrafting has become popular recently, it's still a relatively new sport and most people have never seen one. Toting one of these will likely garner the question “what is that thing?”. But when people see what these puppies can do, you'll be sure to receive a lot of jealous looks.

Because frankly, packrafts are awesome.

Notes about regulations and safety:

Please keep in mind that water environments introduce a set of hazards unique from what you’re used to on the trail, obviously drowning being chief among them. Calm lakes are relatively safe, but accidents can always happen. Wearing a PFD (life jacket) is recommended, if not required by regulations. Rivers are more dynamic and dangerous, so you shouldn’t paddle a river you aren’t familiar with, and should never take on whitewater rapids without the proper equipment and experience. 

Most national parks and other recreation areas have different regulations for river travel than for hiking. Make sure you look up the rules before you go and secure any necessary permits for the trip you want to do.

This article was contributed by Jesse Weber

Jesse Weber is an adventure writer, multi-sport enthusiast, and the creator of Unweary Traveler. Based in the Southwest USA, Jesse has a special love for America's deserts and mountains, but tries to experience epic trails all over the world.

Interested in contributing to the blog? Email me at eric@erichanson.tv