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The Highest Safety Standards in the Region (since 2012)
Professionally Guided Whitewater Rafting & Scenic Tours
Nature Connection Therapy in the North Cascades
“Best rafting experience for beginners or experienced rafters in the State of Washington.
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Whitewater Rafting with expert guides at Triad River Tours on the Sauk, Skykomish, and Skagit Rivers in the North Cascades.
Triad River Tours Rafting System
After 15 years no major accidents on the river despite running more people in the North Cascades than all others combined.
A Safety Record that is Unparalleled; with over 50,000 user days in over 15 years, without a major incident or fatality.
Absolute commitment to the safety of our guests; our guide staff puts safety first no matter what.
The only local rafting company that is actually located on the Skagit River near North Cascades National Park, and the only rafting company on the Sauk and Skagit Rivers that operates year round (based in Marblemount, WA).
Lead guides are all search and rescue volunteers with ample experience in SAR operations and standards.
All guides have swiftwater rescue training as well as advanced medical training. Highest guide standards in the region.
Staff are lead instructors for Swiftwater Safety Institute and trains NPS, and has worked alongside Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom County Search and Rescue. Our guides rescue the other guides.
A commitment to diversity and inclusion that serves as the model for all outfitters in the region.
LGBTQ+ friendly, and LGBTQ+ leadership within the organisation.
The most rigorous guide training standards in the region, with the highest training requirements in Washington.
15 years of conservation and land stewardship and a reputation for absolute leave no trace standards.
The best equipment on the river w/ Maravia, Aire, and NRS rafts and equipment.
The best guides on the river; focusing on core learning objectives, psychology, and guide wellness.
A no nonsense approach to safety that includes preventative rescues.
A drug and alcohol free workplace.
Our passion for nature comes through in our minimalist approach—we love the outdoors, so we play our part in protecting it. We don’t just train to rescue you from incidents, we train to prevent them. Our goal is to give our guests the experience of a lifetime by bringing them into connection with mother nature in the safest way possible. We do this by hiring only the highest trained, most committed professional guides who are both knowledgeable stewards of public land, as well as trained in the most advanced planning and techniques while adhering to meticulously strict safety protocols to ensure everyone has a great time on the river in the safest way possible. Learn more below, and you’ll see why we’re the place to experience the best whitewater rafting, nature therapy, wilderness connection, and scenic float tours near Seattle, WA. For 15 years Triad River Tours has offered the highest quality training, equipment, and guides in the industry and the region. That is why our safety record is among the very best in the business.
With an industry leading safety record, and experience with search and rescue as well as teaching swiftwater skills to everyone from private boaters with their own kayaks, to professional or government agencies, we believe in 3 key factors in sustainable and safe professional river running, where our first priority is to protect human life, and our second priority is to protect the environment. These 3 factors (our “Triad of Safety”) are:
Well Trained, Well Compensated, Professional Guides
Hire experienced river rafting guides and pay a fair wage. Require all guides to have swiftwater rescue training, advanced medical training. Demand the best, and pay the best.
When river conditions change, require guides to take scouting trips down the river to ensure the river is within protocol. Pay by the hour.
Empower a communicative work environment where younger river guides can learn and improve.
Openly challenge outdated gender norms and comfort zones and make sure that all evaluations are done completely based on merit, with no “good ol’ boys club”.
Maintain a drug and alcohol free workplace (yes, a rafting company that doesn’t allow drinking), and promote guide wellness with real procedures and budget built into the trip costs (we hire yoga teachers and massage therapists for our guides). It all starts with guides.
Well Researched, Effective Safety Protocols
Operate researched safety protocol systems which are continually refined, and audited by third party experts. Being willing to adapt and amend safety procedures through a cyclical process of suggestion, implementation, feedback, refinement, and documentation. Being willing to throw away anything, if the data shows it does not enhance the safety or experience for our guests.
Always be up to date on river conditions and if necessary perform a scouting trip prior to commercial operations.
Have well documented research and database so that guides can learn from previous mistakes and practice preventative rescues by understanding root causes of incidents so they can be avoided.
Always operate trips in areas that have been properly surveyed for environmental impact and teach "leave no trace" ethics to guests.
The Best Possible Equipment
Use the right tool for the job; using multiple different sizes or rafts that are hand selected by guides at the beginning of the season, and at the beginning of each day to ensure the highest chances for success.
Removal of any equipment that is worn, damage, or otherwise is not in perfect working condition.
Continual research and development with suppliers such as Aire, Northwest River Supply, and Maravia, to ensure that not only do we have accessed to the best gear, but we are involved in the development of the next generation of equipment.
Utilise our equipment not just for rafting, but as search and rescue volunteers to prove its worth and viability in all conditions.
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