19 Jan Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry, WV

Did you even know whitewater tubing tours existed? Well, they do! The town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia has a variety of adventure tours available, including whitewater tubing. One year I gifted my boyfriend a whitewater rafting tour for his birthday. Then the next year I figured I would continue the trend and gift a whitewater tubing tour in Harpers Ferry. Honestly, I think experiences often make the best presents, for we had such a fun time on the tour and created memories that we will not soon forget. 

Contents:

1) Location of Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

2) Tubing Tour Options

3) Recommended Items to Bring

4) What to Expect on Tubing Day

5) My Experience: Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

1) Location of Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

The town of Harpers Ferry is located in West Virginia. However, the town is a bit unique due to the fact it borders the states of Maryland and Virginia and also sits where the Potomac River and Shenandoah River meet. If you stand at the viewpoint called The Point, you will see where the two rivers meet. If you hike to the top of the Maryland Heights Trail, you will be able to overlook the town of Harpers Ferry, the meeting of the two rivers, and also the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.

For reference, Harpers Ferry is approximately one hour northwest of Washington, DC. I recommend you head to DC for at least a day if you have the time. You can then check out attractions such as Scott’s Run Falls Trail or the Billy Goat Trail Section A (hint – this one has a fun rock scramble). Additionally, Harpers Ferry is an hour and a half west of Baltimore, Maryland.

Parking

Please be aware that parking is extremely limited along the streets in town. However, you will find a couple of parking lots. First, there is a parking lot right beside the train station, which is located within walking distance of The Point. The cost is around $20 per day per vehicle. Second, there is a parking lot at the visitor center, which is located at the end of Shoreline Drive. Since this lot is a bit further out, there is a shuttle available to take you into town. The cost is around $20 per day per vehicle.

The last option, which is often a bit cheaper, is to park along a street outside of town. For example, there is a lot of parking available along Washington Street. The cost is around $2 an hour, and you can pay through the ParkMobile app. I choose this option each time I visit Harpers Ferry mainly due to the fact it costs a bit less. However, please be aware that the walk into town is downhill if you park along Washington Street. The walk back to your car will thus be uphill.

Nearby Lodging

There are a few lodging accommodations available within the town of Harpers Ferry. However, consider staying in Washington, DC if you are only driving into Harpers Ferry for a day trip.

Nearby Airports

The closest airports are regional or municipal airports, though they are all pretty small. In terms of international airports, the closest one is Dulles International Airport 50 minutes southeast. Public transportation is available from Dulles to Harpers Ferry. However, be aware that it will take you approximately three hours on public transportation compared to one hour in a car. Therefore, you can choose to rent a car from the airport or order a car from a ride share service such as Uber.

Panoramic view of Harpers Ferry from the Maryland Heights Trail

2) Tubing Tour Options

There are three main tubing tours offered in Harpers Ferry: (1) flat water tubing (2) whitewater tubing (3) flat water + whitewater tubing combo. Additionally, there are a few different tour companies that operate out of the town. You can thus do a bit of research to find the one that best suits your preferences.

We booked a whitewater tubing tour with the company Harpers Ferry Adventure Center and had a fantastic time. While the information for flat water and whitewater tubing tours will be fairly similar across all tour companies, the information below will be slightly geared towards this company.

General Info for All Tubing Tours

The tour company will provide you with everything you need, including a life vest as well as a tube, before they shuttle you to the starting point on the river. While on the shuttle, they will point out where you need to exit the river (and someone from their company should be waiting for you there). They will remind you again before you begin, for no tour guide accompanies you. That might sound a bit scary, but the point at which you need to exit the river is generally around or right after a bridge, so it is actually quite easy to remember.

In terms of hours, general start times are from 10:00am to 3:00pm on weekdays and 9:00am to 4:00pm on weekends. You will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your tubing tour start time in order to check in and take the shuttle to the river.

Due to safety reasons, anyone under 18 years of age will need an accompanying adult. Additionally, all those participating in the tour must wear footwear that has a strap around the ankle.

Flat Water Tubing Tour

The flat water tubing tour takes place on the Shenandoah River. Do not worry, as there are no fast water sections or rapids for which you need to brace yourself on this tour. Instead, you can enjoy a relaxing float down the river.

While each tour company will be slightly different, the flat water tubing tour for Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is approximately one and a half hours long. While floating along, you will cover one and a half miles of the river.

For more information, visit their site.

Whitewater Tubing Tour in Harpers Ferry

The whitewater tubing tour takes place on the Potomac River. While tubing along the river, you will get the thrill of experiencing Class I to Class III rapids. However, do not fear as these are not the largest rapids; the category classification is from Class I to Class V. This means you will experience small to medium-sized rapids.

While each tour company will be slightly different, the whitewater tubing tour for Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is approximately two hours long. While floating along, you will cover two and a half miles of the river.

For more information, visit their site.

Flat Water + Whitewater Tubing Combo Tour in Harpers Ferry

The flat water + whitewater tubing combo tour takes place on the Potomac River as well as the Shenandoah River. You can enjoy a relaxing float down the Shenandoah River and then a more thrilling float down the rapids of the Potomac River or vice versa. The flat water vs. whitewater tubing segments are separate, so you will shuttle between the starting and end points as needed.

While each tour company will be slightly different, the flat water + whitewater tubing combo tour for Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is approximately four hours long. Each segment, flat water as well as whitewater, are close to two hours long each, and then you have to account for a bit of time taking the shuttle between the ending and starting points.

For more information, visit their site.

Additional Tour Options

The three tours described above are the main tubing tours offered by tour companies in Harpers Ferry. However, certain companies might have a few other tour options that include another adventure activity. For example, Harpers Ferry Adventure Center also has a tube + zip tour, which includes either a flat water or whitewater tubing trip plus the zip line course. Another example is the tube + climb tour, which includes either a flat water or whitewater tubing trip plus the high ropes course.

You can thus easily find a tour that fits your preferences because there are so many options. While I have not personally done a combo tour, it is on my list for the future. I have completed two tours in Harpers Ferry: whitewater rafting and whitewater tubing. Both were incredible experiences, so I would love to go back for more. 

To learn more about whitewater rafting: My Experience Whitewater Rafting in Harpers Ferry.

View of the river from the Maryland Heights Trail

3) Recommended Items to Bring

I will go into detail below concerning my recommendations for what to wear on the tubing tour as well as additional items to bring, complimentary key check, storage lockers, and rentals available.

**Please consider what you bring with you on the tubing tour, for you do not want to lose anything in the river and accidentally litter. In that case, consider bringing a backpack if you have loose items.

Additionally, I want you to be aware that everything you bring on the shuttle comes with you onto the river. That being said, be sure to limit what you carry onto the shuttle. For example, I did not bring any additional items with me. However, I would have brought a GoPro if I had one at the time.

Items to Bring for Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

First, let us go over a few clothing recommendations. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center tour company (and probably other companies as well) require everyone on the tubing tour to wear shoes with ankle straps. This means no flip flops. Additionally, I would recommend you wear a swimsuit or athletic clothing that can get wet. As a note, the tour company will provide you with life vests as well as tubes.

Second, you might want to bring a few items with you to the check-in site but not on the tour itself. However, what you bring on the tour is totally up to you. For example, bring along sunscreen so you can apply it before the tour begins. If you tend to burn easily, you might want to bring it on the tour with you also. Another option is to wear sunglasses and/or a hat to protect you from the sun. Nevertheless, be aware that you might lose them if you decide to wear them on the whitewater tubing tour. Lastly, drink a fair amount of water before the tour, especially if it is a hot day. You might want to also consider bringing a water bottle with you on the tour.

Third, I would suggest packing an extra pair of clothes as well as a towel in the car so that you can dry off and change after the tour ends. You do not want to be sitting in the car soaking wet on the drive home.

Key Check + Available Lockers

The tour company of Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers a complimentary key check at the check-in site. This means that you can give them your car keys once you are ready to board the shuttle for a tubing tour and then have no worries about losing your keys in the river.

Additionally, the company has some lockers available at the check-in site. You can store your belongings in a locker if you wish, though please note they do not have locks. However, locks are available for purchase.

Otherwise, you can store your items in your car and just utilize the complimentary key check.

Cooler Rentals Available

The tour company of Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers two cooler rental options. The first is a backpack cooler while the second is a cooler tube. If you want to bring some water or snacks with you on the tubing tour, paying an additional fee for a cooler rental can be well worth the money.

Views from The Point within the town of Harpers Ferry

4) What to Expect on Tubing Day

This is it…the day you have been waiting for! You finally get to experience whitewater tubing on the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. There are just a few more logistical items to get out of the way before you can get on the river.

Important Details to Keep in Mind

First, it is important to check the river and weather conditions on the day of your tour. Each tour company will have different rules concerning how they deal with adverse conditions. For example, Harper Ferry Adventure Center will postpone trips due to lightning or thunder. You can visit here to see if they have any current weather conditions highlighted.

Second, be sure to arrive 30 minutes prior to your reservation for Harper Ferry Adventure Center tours. You need time to check-in, use the bathroom, put on sunscreen, etc. before your shuttle departs for the river. If you book with a different tour company, be sure you read their policies.

Third, Harper Ferry Adventure Center requires you to be out of the river by 5:00pm on weekdays and 6:00pm on weekends. If you are in the river past those times, they will charge you a late fee. If you book with a different tour company, be sure you read their policies.

Checking In for Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

Once you arrive at the location given by the tour company, you will need to check-in for your tour if you reserved online. Otherwise, you can try to do a walk-in and book immediately. However, please note this is subject to availability and not always an option on the weekends.

After you check in, you can take care of any other necessary business before the tour. For example, you can go to the bathroom, put on a layer of sunscreen, etc. Once you no longer need access to your car, you can use the complimentary key check provided at the check-in desk so you no longer have to worry about your car keys.

The front desk will instruct you to wait in a certain area. You will then be given a short safety briefing for the whitewater tubing tour. Since you will experience rapids on this tour, they want to make sure you are prepared if you do happen to fall out of your tube or experience any other issue. After that, a tour guide will help you obtain a life vest as well as a tube.

Shuttle To and From the River

You are almost there! Board the shuttle with your life vest. All of the tubes will be kept in the back during transport. The driving time to the starting point at the river is only around 10 minutes, so it is not too long of a ride.

During the shuttle transfer to the starting point, they will also point out where your tour end point will be. For our whitewater tubing tour, the end point was on the right just past a bridge. It was thus pretty easy to remember.

Once you arrive at the starting point, you can put on your life vest and grab a tube. Then put your tube into the water and gracefully (or most likely clumsily) get into your tube. No tour guide will accompany you at this point, so you and your group can float down the river at your own pace. While floating down the river, you will experience some rapids sections as well as some calmer sections. It is truly the best of both worlds.

Once you are near the end point of the tubing tour, make sure you are on the same side of the river as the exit point. You do not want to be to the very left when you know you have to exit on the right. Furthermore, a tour guide should be waiting there for you to help you out of the water and take your tube. Then you can board the shuttle to ride back to the check-in location.

View of the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry

5) My Experience: Whitewater Tubing in Harpers Ferry

First off, let me say that I had a great time on my whitewater tubing tour on the Potomac River with Harpers Ferry Adventure Company. Everything went smoothly from the check in process to the safety briefing to the shuttle to floating down the river to exiting the river at the end point. Nothing throughout the day surprised us, but rather everything occurred exactly as how it was detailed on their website and in the confirmation email they sent us after booking. 

Favorite Parts of the Tour

Now, let me talk a bit about my favorite parts of the tour. First, I enjoyed not having a guide with us. While not having a guide may make you wary for safety reasons, I will say that I felt safe throughout my entire time on the river. However, I would also say that I am a good swimmer. The main reason I enjoyed not having a guide was that we were able to take our time floating down the river. If we wanted to stop at some of the large rocks within the river to sit down and relax for a moment, we could. There was no time limit (other than needing to be out of the river by 6:00pm).

Second, I loved the rapids. I was a bit cautious at the first one, for you can never truly know what it is like to experience Class I to Class III rapids in a tube until you actually do. However, I loved the thrill of going over the first rapid and could not wait for more. We even tried to find the biggest rapids on the river and go over them. 

I am sure you can guess this by now, but I would absolutely book the tour again. My experience was fantastic, five out of five stars. However, next time I might even try to go when the river is a bit higher by watching river conditions to experience even more rapids.

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While in West Virginia, be sure to visit New River Gorge National Park: New River Gorge Bridge Overlook.

Also check out a hike with a great view of the bridge and surrounding mountains: Endless Wall Trail.