Top Whitewater Rafting Rivers: Tubing & Duckies

ONE SMOOTH DRINK: Tennessee's Hiwasee River, best enjoyed in an inner tube (courtesy, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development)

Certain rivers are inexorably linked to the ferocity of their whitewater—let's just call it the "my-Class-V-is-bigger-than-yours" complex. However, a river can also mellow out depending on the time of year, with water levels that were bolstered by heavy spring snowmelt dropping to an easier summer flow. Unlike bigger, more cumbersome rafts, duckies—small, inflatable kayaks—allow you to navigate normally fierce rivers like the Middle Fork of the American or Nantahala with greater independence. They also give you a better taste of the contours of the river. Go one step further on certain rivers by plopping yourself in an inner tube with a floating cooler in tow; crack open a cool one, lie back, and enjoy the sun as you let the river do all the work. Medical disclaimer: this approach is not recommended for hyperactive over-achievers.

Tubing & Duckies Whitewater Rafting Rivers