River Etiquette

Respect the quiet zone. This is the most important thing you can do to maintain good relations with residents.

Keep your group's rafts together. The maximum group size is seven rafts.
The downstream boat generally has the right-of-way. If you are intentionally playing or surfing, yield to oncoming rafts.
Ask for permission before you pass a slower group. Pass only in a safe stretch of river.
On busy weekends
- There will probably be a continuous line of rafts ahead of you. Stay in the current line and don't pass at all. Passing won't save much time, and only increases contact and congestion.
- Try to create space for your group by slowing down whenever other groups are not right behind you (is space or time the more important factor?).
- If you want to re-enter the river current, look back upstream and wait for a break in the traffic.
- If you are a slower moving group on the gorge, eddy out below Fowler's, above Satan's and above Lower Haystack to allow other groups to pass.
- If you are going to waterfight in the gorge, move your group out of the current line

Maintain at least 30 seconds between your group and the group ahead of you. At the top of a rapid, this is 150-200 feet (old version language).
Group size regulations require enough space for another boat between two groups of the same outfitter. Define spacing by time, or distance at several key points.
- Chili Bar - your company's group ahead of you must be out of sight before leaving Chili Bar pool.
- Meatgrinder Rapid at lower (<1400 cfs) releases: allow the last boat in the group ahead of you to get beyond the wrap rock above rhino rock before your group enters the rapid.
- Trouble Maker - the last boat of the group ahead should clear gunsight rock before you enter the tongue at the rapid's entrance.
- Highway Rapid at fish flows: allow the last boat in the group ahead of you to get beyond the top section of the rapid before your group enters the rapid.
- Fowler's Rock - the last boat of the group ahead should be out of sight before your enter the tongue along the gravel bar at the top of the rapid.
- Satan's Cesspool - the last boat of the group ahead should be beyond lost hat before you leave the calm water of the pool.

Never water fight in the quiet zone. If people try to start a water fight, move your rafts far enough apart to discourage the water fight.
Noise while surfing blue house eddy or playing games in Coloma lake must be kept at conversational levels.

Know and use the five basic hand signals (stop, OK, eddy out, swimmer, point positive)
Set upstream safety whenever lines are in the water.
Except in emergencies, get close enough so you do not have to yell.

Think about positive communication, consideration of others, and consequences of what you are doing.