American Packrafting Association

American Packrafting Association Our wildly welcoming members make APA the most dynamic and friendly source of information about packrafting, and their passion powers APA.
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The American Packrafting Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting community among packrafters, packrafter safety and education, and opportunities to packraft responsibly on public lands. Connecting enthusiasts with the world of packrafting, the American Packrafting Association (APA) forges local and national connections to inspire bolder and safer adventures while championin

g packrafters as stewards of public lands. Through education and advocacy, our engaged members are shaping the future of our growing sport.

06/03/2026

Still thinking about RoundUp?

Join us this July for five days of paddling, learning, community, and river fun.

✔️ Evening programming & socials
✔️ Packraft Olympics
✔️ Raffle prizes from event sponsors
✔️ Friday community dinner
✔️ Sponsor demos
✔️ Camping at Hot Springs Campground

Whether you’re newer to packrafting or have years of river miles behind you, RoundUp is a chance to connect with fellow paddlers, learn from one another, share stories, and celebrate the sport we all love.

📍 Hot Springs Campground on the Payette River
📅 July 15–19, 2026

Registration is still open → Link in bio

A special thank you to Utah Whitewater Gear, MRS packraft, and ing Outdoors for their support of RoundUp 2026, and to all of our event sponsors helping make this event possible.

A couple of access updates on our radar this week.The Flathead National Forest released a draft decision notice for thei...
06/02/2026

A couple of access updates on our radar this week.

The Flathead National Forest released a draft decision notice for their Comprehensive River Management Plan, one of the most heavily used packrafting rivers in the country. There's a 45-day public objection window with a deadline of July 13. We're reviewing the plan now and will share our analysis and suggested comment language before the deadline.

We're also keeping tabs on last Friday's executive order directing federal agencies to rewrite travel management plans governing motorized vehicle use on public lands. There's no specific action to take yet, but we'll be watching how travel plans unfold, particularly where it affects the rivers and backcountry corridors our members paddle.

More to come on both. Below is a link to pick up some 'Don't Tread on My Headwaters' gear if you want directly support our advocacy work.

05/29/2026

Most river accidents don’t start on the water. They start with poor communication, unclear roles, and overconfidence in others’ abilities.

Be WaterWise #20 tackles one of the most overlooked topics in paddling safety: group dynamics. This episode covers how to assess your group’s skill level before launching, build a team that communicates clearly under pressure, and recognize that experience doesn’t always equal good judgment on the water.

It also highlights the importance of honest post-trip reflection. Debriefing builds trust, strengthens communication, and helps turn mistakes into prevention for future trips.

The APA Packraft Safety Card is designed to support better group dynamics by guiding pre-trip decision making and post-trip debriefs. Huge thanks to for helping make the safety card possible. APA members — keep an eye out for yours in the mail soon!

▶ Watch now on YouTube at the link in our bio

👇 What’s your team’s go-to for keeping communication clear on the water?

05/28/2026

How do you scan moving water like an expert? Reading river levels and flow, scouting rapids from upstream, and understanding what the current is telling you are all learnable skills.

Be WaterWise #19 – Read It covers the hazards that catch paddlers off guard: strainers and fallen trees, rocks that flip boats, hydraulics, cold water risk, and how fast a calm river can change when dam releases or flash floods hit. It also covers how to use river features to your advantage, and why misreading them is just as risky as missing them entirely.

The ability to spot hazards before you reach them is what separates a good day on the water from a bad one.

▶ Watch now on YouTube at the link in our bio

👇 Do you have a close call or story to share about a river hazard?

thisispackrafting

05/26/2026

Early bird pricing ends May 31 ⏳

If you’ve been thinking about joining us for Packraft RoundUp 2026, now’s the time to register.

Five days of paddling, camping, community, evening events, and time on the river with packrafters from across the country.

Join us on the Payette for the 2026 Packraft RoundUp 🌊

📍 Hot Springs Campground on the Payette River
📅 July 15–19

Thank you again to our Headwaters Event Sponsor 🙌

Register before May 31 to save → link in bio 🔗

05/26/2026

The first skill you need on the water is knowing how to get yourself out of trouble.

Be WaterWise #18 – Self (Rescue) It starts with the wet exit, your first move the moment you flip. Knowing how to get yourself back in your boat is one of the most important skills you can develop on the water, and could keep a bad situation from getting a lot worse.

▶ Watch the full episode now on YouTube at the link in ‘s bio

👇 Self-rescue looks different for everyone. Any tips or tricks that have worked for you? Share them in the comments.

05/22/2026

Most beginners reach for their paddle when things feel unstable. The real skill is in the tilt. Let the water move beneath the boat.

Be WaterWise #17 – Edge It covers edging, ferry gliding, and reading river flow. It starts with balance and learning to decouple your upper body from your hips. From there: eddies, eddy hopping, and ferry gliding — pointing upstream at 11 o’clock, paddling hard, tilting to resist the current, target eddy locked in before you commit.

Your body is the rudder — learn to use it!

▶ Watch now on YouTube at the link in our bio

👇 What’s your go-to drill for building edging confidence?

thisispackrafting

More people on the river. More people in community.The Support a Paddler Fund helps make Packraft RoundUp more accessibl...
05/21/2026

More people on the river. More people in community.

The Support a Paddler Fund helps make Packraft RoundUp more accessible by providing financial assistance to paddlers who may otherwise not be able to attend.

📅 Applications open today through June 22

Support may include:
• Full registration support 🎟️
• Partial registration assistance 🤝

Whether you’re applying for support or helping another paddler attend, every contribution helps strengthen the packrafting community.

Huge thanks to the founding supporter of the Support a Paddler Fund 🙌
NRS

Apply for support 🔗
forms.gle/Z9YNTAPB4dCoXU6r9

Support another paddler 🔗
americanpackraftingassociation.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-a-paddler-donation-form

05/20/2026

Do you actually practice buddy rescue skills before you need them?

Be WaterWise #16 – Buddy It covers wet exit technique, buddy rescues, throw bag use from shore, and communication under pressure. Slow-motion footage and on-land demonstrations make each technique clear and easy to learn.

▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube — link in APA’s bio.

👇 Tell us about a time you had to use a throw bag or buddy rescue on the water.

thisispackrafting

05/18/2026

Controlling your boat on moving water comes down to three things: how you move forward, how you steer, and how you stay upright when things get wobbly.

Be WaterWise #15 – Style It covers the three fundamentals of boat control: the forward stroke (full arm extension, vertical shaft, core engaged), steering strokes (sweep and stern rudder that let you guide your line rather than just go where the current takes you), and bracing (low brace for quick support, high brace for stronger correction).

Filmed on easy moving water with beginners in mind.

▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube — link in bio.

👇 What paddling skill took you the longest to master?

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Missoula, MT
59801–59804, 59806–59808

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