Location: Jungfrau Region near Interlaken, Switzerland

The Lütschine River is located in the Jungfrau Region in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. It flows from the base of Eiger’s North Face out into the Interlaken Valley and finally into Lake Brienz. Rafting trips on the Lütschine generally begin below Grindelwald in the Grindelwald Valley and end in Lake Brienz near Interlaken.

Level of Difficulty: Class IV+ / Intermediate

The Lütschine is a high volume, class IV+ river. No previous experience necessary, but most companies require a minimum age of at least 15, and of course some physical fitness and a good sense of adventure!

The Canyon: Glacial Waters, Waterfalls, Granite Cliffs

Although many tourist destinations will use exaggerated descriptive vocabulary to depict the surrounding scenery, few places actually live up to those words as well as Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region. It is, in fact, stunning. The Lütschine River is literally glacier-fed, gathering an immense amount of turquoise-grey water from the famous Eiger North Face. Rafting trips on the Lütschine take paddlers through an incredible green glacial valley complete with impressive waterfalls and sheer granite cliffs, surrounded by the famous white peaks of Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch. To top it all off, the Lutschine’s whitewater is just as big and powerful as its surroundings, with rapids that demand an equal amount of attention.

Season: May through August

Whitewater rafting trips on Switzerland’s Lütschine River are available from May through August.

Location: Half-hour Drive From Salzburg, Austria

The Lammer River flows by the town of Abtenau, near the resort of St. Martin in Land Salzburg, Austria.

Level of Difficulty: Class III – IV+  Beginner – Intermediate

The Lammer River has several longer Class II-III sections in its upper reaches, perfectly suitable for beginner rafters and families. If you are interested in a little bit more adventure and excitement, you can book a trip that continues downstream into the Lammeröfen: 1.5 kilometers of non-stop Class IV+ whitewater. The Lammeröfen Gorge itself is one of the more narrow passages that rafts can actually navigate. At times barely wide enough for the boat to fit through, the Lammeröfen create a very real sense of discovery and wilderness for those passing through, as only the guide has any idea of what may wait around the next river’s bend. The walls in the gorge sometimes tower several hundred meters above the river, and rafts are forced to navigate exciting rapids with names like Entrance Cataract and Elephant’s Teeth.

The Canyon and Scenery: Alpine Mountain Valley, Green Rolling Hills, and Deep Gorges

Before entering the narrow confines of Lammeröfen Gorge, the Lammer River is surrounded by stunning scenery. Granite fortresses of jagged rocks rise tall amidst sloping, densely forested valley walls. Tall snow-covered peaks tower in the distance, and thin veils of water drop hundreds of feet over the canyon walls. Several rafting operators will take a break in the middle of their trip to hike up the famous Aubach Canyon to a dramatic waterfall.

Season: May through September

From late Spring through the end of Summer, rafting trips are offered on the Lammer River.

Location: Near Salzburg, Austria

The whitewater rafting section of the Salzach River runs between the towns of Taxenbach and Schwarzach. Other nearby towns include Zell am See, Saalbach Hinterglemm, and St Johann. The river itself runs directly through Salzburg below the rafted section.

Level of Difficulty: Class III-IV and Class V / Intermediate – Advanced

The Salzach River is broken into several different sections for rafting:

Gries to Schwarzach: Class III-IV

This section provides 12 kilometers of beginner Class IV whitewater rafting. A little adventurous for a first-timer but definitely do-able. Kids 12 years and over are welcome by most outfitters.

Salzachöfen: Class V

Here the Salzach enters an extremely narrow, sheer-walled gorge. Partly because of the boulder-choked rapids and partly because of the commitment the gorge requires, this is a Class V stretch and is considered one of the more challenging to raft in Austria. Participants must be at least 18 years of age, physically fit, and be looking for some thrills!

The Canyon: Wide Powerful River Flowing Through Alpine Forests

The Salzach River Valley sits between two high mountains: Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg. Born in the glaciers of the Kitzbühel Alps, the Salzach’s water is a pure aqua blue color, a beautiful contrast to the dark green forests that line the river’s banks. The valley itself is the stuff of fairytales; distant waterfalls, green pastures, and castles are all part of the scenery.

Season: May through September

Rafting trips on the Salzach River are available throughout the summer.

Location: Near Salzburg, Austria

The whitewater rafting section of the Saalach River is located between Lofer and Unken, near Salzburg, Austria. A few rafting companies have their base in the nearby town of Taxenbach.

Level of Difficulty: Class III, IV and V / Beginner – Advanced

The Saalach can be run in three separate stretches:

Au to Unken, Class III, 11 km:

This is the most often-rafted section of the Saalach River. Characterized by rolling waves and beautiful scenery, this is a great introduction to whitewater rafting. Good for beginners and families.

The “World Cup Course”: Class IV

International Kayaking Rodeo contests are held in this part of the river every year, giving the section its name. During this upper stretch, the river flows through a densely forested gorge, through large wave trains interspersed with bigger holes that need to be avoided.

Devil’s Gorge: Class V, 4 km

This short stretch of whitewater is one of the most famous in Austria. After flowing under the Devil’s Bridge, the River Saalach enters a very narrow gorge, forcing the current to double in speed and ferocity in order to fit through. Big drops, huge mid-channel boulders, and undercuts characterize this extremely challenging rafting trip.

The Canyon: Alpine Pastures and Forest Gorges

The Saalach river runs through a U-shaped glacial valley of the central Alps. At times, its banks are composed of broad rolling hills, pastures, hayfields, ancient towns and vineyards. Other times, conifer trees crowd in and engulf the river, confining its waters between walls of towering evergreens. Snow-clad peaks and granite ramparts are constantly visible in the distance, an unforgettable testament to the grandeur of the Alps.

Season: May through September

Rafting trips on the Saalach River are available during the summer.

Land Sazburg rafting is close to Salzburg, Zell am See, and St Johann. Snow capped mountains rise in the background and dense forests line the river canyons. Rafting trips range from beginner to advanced.

Saalach River Rafting Trips (Class III, IV, & V):
The Saalach River has something for everyone, with three separate sections ranging from beginner to advanced. Its course winds through Alpine pastures, dense forests, and steep gorges.

Salzach River Rafting Trips (Class III-V):
The Salzach River is mainly a Class III-IV river, with one small gorge of intense Class V. Each section can be run separately, or you can choose to combine them. Flowing between the two mountains of Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg, the Salzach bears witness to stunning scenery.

Lammer River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV+):
A Class III run through an Alpine forest and past towering granite formations, or a Class IV+ run through a deep, narrow gorge.

Location: 120 kilometers north-west of Innsbruck, Austria
The Lech River flows through the north-west corner of the Tirol, between the parallel mountain ranges of the Allgauer and Lechtaler Alps.

Level of Difficulty: Class II-III / Beginner
The Lech River takes a leisurely, meandering course between two Alpine mountain ranges, providing a unique perspective from which to enjoy the grandeur of the Tyrolean mountains. A whitewater rafting trip on the Lech is suitable for families, beginners, or anyone interested in a mellow adventure with amazing sight-seeing opportunities.

The Canyon: Broad Green Valley and Water Meadows
Not a very steep river, the Lech has expanded more horizontally than vertically. Its course meanders lazily through vast meadows and around large gravel beds, in between the 3000-meter high peaks of the Allgauer and Lechtaler Alps. In springtime, its clear aqua waters will take boats past dense green fields of bright wildflowers. The last wild river to flow through a remote game landscape, the Lech is treasured in Austria as one of the country’s last true wilderness rivers.

Season: May through August
Whitewater Rafting trips are available on the Lech for all of Austria’s spring and summer, but the scenery is at its best in springtime, when the Lechtal Valley is bursting forth in an amazing array of colors.

Location: 45 minutes west of Innsbruck in Tyrol, Austria

There is a very short, 7-kilometer, navigable section of the Sanna River between the power station at Tobadil and the city of Landeck.

Level of Difficulty: Class V / Advanced

Unlike most other Alpine rivers, the Sanna is an extremely technical river, with less volume in a very tight and steep canyon. The river is rated Class V, which is true for most times that the dam is spilling. However for planned releases, which is an even lower amount of water, the river is considered by some to drop back to Class IV+.

The Canyon: Narrow, Sheer-walled and Steep

The Sanna River’s pure glacial waters flows through an incredibly tight, winding gorge, packing an incredible amount of cascading rapids into 7 kilometers. In one section of the river, called the “Deep Green Room”, the Sanna is squeezed into a width of only about 4 meters, barely wide enough get through. Boats that commit to this intimate gorge are forced to deal with rapids like “Shark’s Fin”, “Sharp Corner” and “Hackl” before flowing under the last bridge before take-out.

Season: May through September

Because it is dam-controlled, the Sanna River is the perfect place to go for an adventurous summer holiday.

Location: 45 minutes west of Innsbruck in Tirol, Austria

Whitewater rafting trips on the Oetz River begin in the village of Oetz and travel 7.5 kilometers until the confluence with the Inn River near Imst, then usually continue on another 7 kilometers on the Inn River until Haiming.

Level of Difficulty: Class IV+ / Intermediate

The Oetz is one of Austria’s more exciting rivers. Fed by the melting waters of two glaciers, it is a very high-volume river, with extremely fast currents and stopper waves that demand constant attention. The minimum age for rafting on the Oetz is usually 16 years old. Previous rafting experience is required by most companies, or in lieu of experience, a day of warm-up rafting on the Inn River beforehand.

The Canyon: Dense Alpine Forest, Waterfalls, and Towering Snowy Peaks

A relatively short river, the Oetz begins as the melting waters of the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers high up in the Tyrolean Alps. From there, it cuts a steep and impulsive course until joining forces with the River Inn, creating a name for itself as a mighty river regardless of its shorter length. A whitewater rafting trip on the Oetz starts out fast with rapids like the Slalom Cataract and the Constructa. Soon, rafts enter the “Waldschlucht”, which translates directly into “forest gorge” and is composed of 1.5 kilometers of huge rapids constrained in by narrow walls of dense Alpine forest. When not engulfed by evergreen woods, rafters can enjoy some of the Oetz River’s more grandiose scenery… The icy-cold waters cut a valley deep in the heart of some of the highest peaks in the eastern alpine range, with numerous waterfalls tumbling from hanging valleys left by the retreating glaciers.

Season: May through September

Although whitewater rafting trips are available on the Oetz from May through September, its icy cold waters make a better contrast to the warmer months of June through August.

Location: West of Innsbruck in Tirol, Austria

The Inn River flows out of Switzerland into Austria’s Tyrolean Alps, gathering the waters of the Ötz River near Imst. Most whitewater rafting companies that run trips on the Inn River in Austria have meeting places in Landeck, Haiming, or Imst.

Level of Difficulty: Class III or Class V / Beginner or Advanced

The Inn River can be broken into two separate sections:

Landeck Gorge: Class IV-V, 8 km

Also known as the “Consumer” section of the Inn River, this run begins with 2 kilometers of near-continuous Class V, then mellows out to class IV+ for the remaining 6 kilometers.

Imst Gorge: Class III+, 14—17 km

With the high volume of water flowing through the gorge’s walls, “Imster Schlucht” (German) is like a fun rollercoaster ride, with breaks in between to enjoy the scenery or go for a swim.

The Canyon: Swiss Alps, Evergreen Forests, and Huge Waves

The Inn River originates from Lake Lughino in Switzerland and keeps gathering more and more speed as it travels through the snowy Swiss Alps down to Austria, taking in water from tributaries as it tumbles east. Once it enters the dark, evergreen-clad, and steep walls of the Landeck Gorge, the Inn is already a relatively large and powerful river. Strong currents combine with the confines of narrow walls to make Landeck Gorge a challenging and very exciting stretch of river.

In Imst, the Inn River acquires all the waters of the mighty Ötz. At this point it becomes a truly high-volume river, with huge waves, non-stop current, and an absence of any obstructing rocks. The Imst Gorge itself is a little more open than the Landeck, as the powerful currents form a wider valley with mountains rising on both sides.

Season: May through September

The best months to book a rafting trip on the Inn are during the heat of Austria’s summer, from June through August.

Whitewater rafting in the Tirolean Alps gives one the chance to actually ride and navigate on pure aqua waters that were just hours before flowing out from the bottom of an Alpine glacier. With a few exceptions, the style of rafting is usually high volume, through a landscape both peaceful and immensely powerful at the same time.

Inn River Rafting Trips (Class III-V):
A classic high-volume river, the Inn provides two distinct sections for whitewater rafting, the upper being a bit more intense and challenging than the lower. Both gorges are enclosed by steep, densely-forested walls.

Lech River Rafting Trips (Class II-III):
The Lech River is a beginner whitewater river that meanders peacefully through a high glacial valley of exceptional beauty, about 120 kilometers from Innsbruck

Otztaler Ache River Rafting Trips (Class IV+):
The Otztaler Ache runs through one Austria’s most rugged and remote regions: Eastern Tirol. Fed by the melting waters of two glaciers, the Otztaler Ache is a very high-volume river whose currents make for an incredibly exciting whitewater rafting trip.

Sanna River Rafting Trips (Class V):
The River Sanna is Tirol’s most challenging whitewater rafting run. Unlike other river’s in this high Alpine region, the Sanna is a very steep and technical river, flowing 7 kilometers through a narrow gorge.

More About Rafting in Tirol

Surrounded by Germany, Italy and Switzerland, Austria’s Tirol is a rugged land of innumerable mountain peaks, wild rivers, green valleys, impressive glaciers, and ancient towns. The perfect place for outdoor adventure, Tirol attracts a variety of sporty visitors every year. Rafting in the Tirol Region is close to the cities of Innsbruck, Landeck, and Haiming.