ANGELS CAMP, Calif. —  OARS  kicked off a river trip showdown today to determine which multi-day river trip is second best in the West. Because there can only be one champ, and OARS is giving the Colorado River through Grand Canyon its due. 

When it comes to the best multi-day river trip in the West, Grand Canyon reigns supreme. But for this contest, the OARS team is leaving this famed stretch of the Colorado River out of the line-up and crowning top honors to an unsung runner-up—a whitewater trip that has won over the hearts of river lovers everywhere and deserves to have its moment of glory. 

A riff off the NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament, the contest kicks off March 12 with “Wild Card” matchups that include lesser known waterways like the Owyhee and the Salt rivers, the contest moves swiftly into head-to-head matches and will run through March 29. Will the winner be an unspoiled alpine destination like Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon, or a red rock beauty that only comes to life in the spring and early summer like the Yampa in Colorado and Utah? Or will a Cinderella river trip surprise us all?

“Everyone loves a good runner-up story and we’re leaving it to the whitewater community to decide which trip will be crowned the 2nd Best River Trip in the West,” says Steve Markle, VP of Sales and Marketing at OARS. “As we head into our 2024 season, we just want to get people excited about that sense of adventure, solitude, relaxation and community you can only find on a multi-day river trip. And what better way to do that, than with some healthy and fun competition?” 

To encourage participation and to keep the excitement going for the duration of the campaign, OARS will be giving away a series of river trips for two, along with gear packages valued at more than $1,000 per round provided by partners YETI, Chaco, Rumpl, Chums and NRS. The more participants vote, the better their odds are of winning. One winner will be randomly selected after each round of voting, for a total of five chances to win.

View the bracket, vote and follow along to see how the 2nd Best River Trip in the West Showdown unfolds here: www.oars.com/best-in-the-west/ 

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About OARS

In 1969, OARS became the first exclusively non-motorized rafting outfitter authorized by the National Park Service to run trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Today OARS caters to active travelers of all ages and abilities with more than 75 unique itineraries worldwide, including one-day and weekend escapes. Each year the company contributes to regional conservation organizations around the globe via voluntary donations and annual fundraising events, and in partnership with their guests, OARS has contributed more than $6 million in donations and fees toward the preservation of the environment and to various conservation initiatives since the company’s inception. For more information on OARS’ eco-friendly adventures, visit www.oars.com, email the company at [email protected] or call 1-800-346-6277.