Whitewater river rafting can be an exciting adventure and a great part of a camping trip or overall vacation. You might have seen video or pamphlets of river rafting and the idea of racing down rapids appeals to you. If it's your first time heading out on the water, however, there are some things you should know ahead of time.

Here's what you need to know before you go on a whitewater river rafting trip for the first time. If you follow these tips, you could be in for a fantastic time.

Rapids Are Rated On A Scale

The first thing you need to know is that rapids are rated on a scale of 1 to 6. The lower the number, for example, 1 and 2, the milder the rapids are. The lower numbers tend to have no obstructions the raft must navigate around with mild rapids along the river. The highest number, or number 6, features large and frequent rapids and many large obstructions to navigate around.

If you are new to rafting, it's best to start out at either number 1 or 2 to get used to the feel of paddling and the boat as a whole. When you have more training and experience, you can attempt the higher numbers.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

When you go whitewater river rafting, even at the lower number scale rapids, you can expect to get wet. You should wear warm and quick-to-dry clothing like synthetics instead of cotton. It's a good idea to wear protection for your bottom as the raft ride can be pretty rough and you could end up hurting at the end of it. Wear bike shorts or water-resistant gym shorts to help protect you underneath other shorts or pants.

Wear Protective Items

It is very important to wear protective gear even at lower rapid numbers. This means, wear a helmet, elbow pads, or any other protective item the company gives you at all times while on the river. This could include gloves and kneepads, too. Since the raft will jostle you around, you could end up with bruises or bumps if you don't wear your protective items.

Wear Your Lifejacket

Even if you are a good swimmer--and it is recommended that you can swim well if you intend to raft on higher scale rapid rivers--you need to wear your lifejacket. It's possible that if you fall out of the raft, you could hit against a rock or become disoriented. This should keep you afloat until the river guide can bring you back into the raft.

A lifejacket will also help the guide pull you back into the raft as it's easier to grab the lifejacket's straps than your shirt or arm.