The Deerfield River in north-western Massachusetts is a great country getaway for adventurous travelers. The scenery is pristine and the fast flowing rapids make fun memories all day. The Deerfield has many different rapids and is the best place to find consistent whitewater in Massachusetts.

There are two segments to this river, one being for beginners and intermediates and the other for advanced or just daring rafters. This means there are two types of trips to be had on the Deerfield: a leisure floating trip in the sun or an exciting frothy adventure. The beginner segment is called the Zoar Gap with class II to III rapids. The second segment is called the Dryway and has great class III and IV rapids.

The rafting season on the Deerfield starts in mid-April and runs through mid-October for the Zoar Gap. For the Dryway the season starts a little later in May and runs through mid-October. The most popular segment is the Zoar Gap for its versatility for large groups and its reliability. The minimum age requirement for the Zoar Gap is eight years old and the minimum age for the Dryway is fourteen.

Deerfield River - Zoar Gap
The Deerfield River in the north-western part of Massachusetts is a great country getaway for any group or family. On this particular river there are a lot of bird watching opportunities including species of red tail hawks, blue herons, ospreys, and bald eagles. There are also opportunities to see some active beavers and do some trout fishing.

The first and the most popular segment of the Deerfield River is the Zoar Gap. This part is a class II to III river and is great for those beginners wanting a taste or for intermediate rafters wanting more. So, if you have a large group, this would probably be your best choice. Some rapids include Microwave, Freight Train, and the Pinball. This segment is the most popular as it can accommodate large groups and the dam releases water more than one hundred days a year between May and October. The season however starts in mid-April and runs through mid-October. The minimum age requirement is eight years old.

Deerfield River – Dryway
The Deerfield River in the north western part of Massachusetts would be a great country getaway for any group or family. On this particular river there are a lot of bird watching opportunities including species of red tail hawks, blue herons, ospreys, and bald eagles. There are also opportunities to see some active beavers and do some trout fishing.

The second segment of the Deerfield River is the Monroe Bridge Dryway. This segment of the river is the most difficult with its class III and IV rapids. They advise anyone who chooses this 3 mile segment to be very comfortable around water. If you do choose this segment you are in for a great ride full of exciting rapids such as the Dragon’s Tooth, Factory Rapid, and the Labyrinth. This segment gets 1000 cfs (cubic feet per second) of rushing water and thirty-two release dates throughout the season making it a formidable river with rocks, holes, and large waves to bulldoze through. Plus, along the rafting trip there are great views of the northern Berkshire Mountains. Even if you are new to rafting this is a great section of river to try out and bring friends along with as long as they’re 14 years or older.

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