On behalf of myself and my group, this was one of the best Richmond experiences we've ever had…read more Collin was our guide and it could not have been any more fun. Not only did he help with any slight nervousness we had but he also was so attentive towards my amputee fiancé on our first time white water rafting. Needless to say, this was absolutely amazing and we will be back

Me, wife, and 2 daughters (16 & 11) went the last week of July '25 and it was a great time. I never…read moreknew there was rafting in Richmond but will def be going back for a quick trip on the water that is quite fun. Tom was our guide, Hailey, was the other rafts guide, and both were awesome. Tom knew so much about the area history and is very experienced guiding. Such an easy trip to make with fun rapids (III's and sometimes IV's). I'm sure all the guides are great, but we will ask for Tom and Hailey first next trip. Pretty impressed with this outfit. (Wish they had more merch to purchase though, just imo).

We spent a full day at River Riders, splitting our time between the Harpers Ferry Waterpark in the…read moremorning and the Aerial Adventure Park in the afternoon. It was a great combination for both the kids and adults. The inflatable waterpark kept the kids busy for the entire session. El Jefe, the large slide, and Thor, the climbing tower and slide, were our favorites. I strongly recommend booking one of the first sessions during the summer. We went early when it was less crowded, and it became noticeably busier later. In the afternoon, we completed the green and blue aerial trails. Both were a lot of fun, and the progression from one to the next worked well. Overall, River Riders is an excellent choice for families or groups looking for an active full day near Harpers Ferry.

I am posting this review to urge prospective guests to exercise extreme caution and to call on…read moremanagement to address severe safety oversights. Despite having prior rafting experience and maintaining strong physical fitness, this individual tubing trip presented hazardous conditions with virtually no on-water safety support. ​Key Issues Observed: ​No Helmets Suggested or Required: Helmets were not recommended, suggested, or provided for navigating rocky rapids. I capsized and hit my head on submerged rocks--a dangerous hazard that warrants clear guidance and mandatory head protection. ​Zero Rescue Personnel: No river guides or safety kayakers were stationed along technical sections. When participants were pinned against rocks or stranded in strong currents, there was no staff to assist. ​Inadequate Instruction & Extreme Strain: Relying solely on arm paddling through boulder gardens offers minimal control and quickly causes physical exhaustion, even for fit individuals. ​Equipment Failures: Some tubes were punctured by sharp rocks, leaving guests stranded in turbulent water with no emergency extraction protocol. Commercial river outfitters have a basic duty of care to provide essential protective gear, clear instruction, and active supervision. I strongly advise making sure these safety practices are in place before booking unless you have experience and are comfortable without the precautions.

Our whitewater rafting guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and incredibly sweet. He was a high…read moreschool senior working there for the summer, and he shared interesting facts about Richmond and the history of the buildings along the way. He also pointed out the birds and native plants we saw throughout the trip. I always thought whitewater rafting was primarily a summer activity, but I learned that the water is actually at its lowest during the summer, so there aren't as many rapids. Our guide encouraged us to come back in the fall or winter for a more thrilling experience! The company was casual and laid-back, and they were very responsive when I accidentally booked the wrong date. They quickly adjusted my reservation without any hassle. Sunscreen was available if needed, and water shoes could be rented if you didn't have appropriate footwear. I'll definitely be back for some whitewater rafting during the cooler seasons!

Had a great time with my kiddo (10) and our guide Mason. Weather was beautiful, other people in our…read moregroup were chill, and we felt a great balance of safe and excited. Some swimming, rock jumping, and riding through rapids... a really good experience. Thanks Mason, Stephanie (the other group's guide), and our driver/photographer, Nick!

We had a great time on our white water rafting trip today. Our guide Ronan was the best! He made…read moresure we had a great experience. We are already planning our next trip.

Superior trip. Our guide was amazing - he was knowledgeable; pleasant; a proverbial tour guide and…read morelocal historian; safety expert; and great with kids. Honestly, his name escapes me but he was leading our excursion. I'll always remember him, as his verbal prompts of "one more, perfect " echoed in the afternoon air. Great trip!

This was so much fun! Hands down all the gold stars will go back!! My 11 year old son loved it too!read more

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

More like 3.5 stars. Tubing on the river was fun and our family of 5 enjoyed it. Our kids are 5-9…read moreyears old so we had to keep an extra eye on them and help them a little. We used the strap that came with the cooler tube to strap my youngest child's tube to another one. One employee told us we could purchase another strap to tether them together but then the employee in the shop kind of scoffed and said it wouldn't necessary. It was definitely necessary! We had to paddle after all the kids cause their arms and legs are too short to even reach the water and paddle themselves. The employees really didn't do a whole lot of customer service so I'm not really sure the tip (which was paid in advance) was worth it. We even had to carry all our tubes all the way back up the hill after we finished. The river itself is mostly calm and it is a beautiful area. But there was quite a bit of algae/scum in the slower moving water which grossed out the kids lol. And the island where we stopped to each lunch had some trash on it. Overall tubing was a good experience but the $200+ price felt like a lot for what it was.

Our float was nice despite the river being low and getting stuck a few times. However, the guy…read moreworking the front desk (the owner? I don't know, I see what I assume to be the same guy mentioned in several other reviews) was *incredibly* rude. I can't understand this; I own a business and if I ever spoke to a client like that, they would never hire me again. So I guess he doesn't count on repeat business? The guy driving the shuttle was nice enough but I also don't understand this whole tip jar thing for boating companies. All the guys do is drive us a few minutes down the road and unload gear. Is that not their literal job? Why isn't the company paying them a living wage? I'd definitely scope out other places given the customer service at this place

Had a group of family and friends here from North Dakota and we did a tube float. Ages from 7-60…read moreeveryone enjoyed the time and the teens enjoyed swimming around and pulling our tube island around the river. Beautiful day and the staff at Downriver are awesome. Very informative and helpful

We took the two-day trip with camping at Compton site. Online reservations was a breeze the staff…read moreis amazing. They are friendly and helpful, answering any questions and making sure we were informed about shuttle times, river conditions, and any weather precautions. Special shout out to Alex, who went way above and beyond in helping us on the first leg of our trip. He really made our experience more enjoyable! The only "negative" would be about the road condition into the camp site. The poor condition of the road beyond the gated entry really needs attention.

Extremely disappointing customer service…read more I'm leaving this review because the way Watermelon Park handled a very minor fence repair was extremely disappointing. During our stay, I accidentally broke a fence board. I immediately brought it to their attention, and I was told not to worry about it. I had originally offered to replace it myself, but honestly, after being told not to worry about it, I forgot about it. When we went to check out, I was presented with a $150 charge for the damaged board. I called to ask about the charge and wanted to understand where the $150 was coming from. I was told it included the cost of the board, someone's gas/travel to pick it up, labor to replace it, and the cost of a special stain. I asked for an itemized breakdown, but they refused to provide one. What made the situation even more frustrating was that during the conversation, they acknowledged that the board hadn't even been stained yet and that they still had to do that. At the time I called, I was actually at Lowe's. I offered to simply purchase the replacement board myself and bring it directly to the park, just as I had originally offered to do. I was told no--that I had to pay the full $150. I completely understand being responsible for damage that I caused. I'm not disputing that. What I have a problem with is being charged $150 for a board that costs $15.99, being refused an itemized bill, and being denied the opportunity to simply replace the board myself. I wasn't trying to get out of paying for the damage. I was literally standing in Lowe's ready to buy the replacement myself. Mistakes happen, and I take responsibility for mine. But the way Watermelon Park handled this left a really bad impression. A simple $15.99 fence board could have been resolved easily and reasonably, but instead I was told I had no choice but to pay $150. If you stay here, I'd recommend documenting any damage immediately and getting any charges explained in writing. The amount isn't what bothers me nearly as much as the way the situation was handled and the complete unwillingness to work with me on a reasonable solution.

After our stay I contacted the manager informing her of our experiences there…read more Over $100 a night for only power and water. which is high compared to some other parks. She stated that maybe another time would fit my budget . Also the long term campers seemed to be somewhat unfriendly. I will not stay there again and would not recommend this RV Park.

Fun experience for floating down the river! Great service, chill vibes, great staff... I'd go back!read more

Tubing Review: We had an amazing time. Was is exhausting,…read moreyes. Worth it, yes! Owen was great. He was a great driving the stick shift bus back to the outfitters. It was nice being dropped off and picked up. We did have issues with our card online, but when I called in to book, Nancy was helpful. She got us all situated and sent an email to confirm. We filled out waivers online which was a breeze. We watched a quick safety video, picked up our lifevest and were on our way. The water was the perfect temp, and it was clear. Tips: bring snacks and water. You are out there 4-5 or longer hours. Especially if the water is low, which ours was. We used a waterproof bag and had no issues. We used a tube with a cup holder which was nice. I wore my life vest out of precaution even though I can swim, plus it made it comfortable for my to use it as a neck rest. I've noticed people mention in previous reviews that the bus was dirty ect. Um, you're in the woods. If you get picked up after many other groups the bus will be dirty as everyone is wet coming out of the water no matter what activity you choose. I would not own a brand spanking new vehicle for this type of environment and job. Used is best and saves money I'm sure. Wear a hat and sunglasses, put in that sunscreen. Bring a waterproof phone case/bag. You will have no service out there so put it on airplane mode and use it as a camera.

The whole process was very easy and enjoyable. I filled out the waiver online. Parking was easy,…read morelittle difficult to find penguin paddles from the road, but just walk towards the water behind the restaurant on the main strip. Easy rental, chill experience. Everyone, even the Boston Terrier, had a blast!

Had a superb time kayaking today! The employees were incredibly friendly and helpful when assisting…read moreto get off the kayak. Make sure to fill out the waiver online prior so you don't have to do it when you get there. Definitely revisiting again soon!