THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Based on the reviews of our customers, we have been rated Newfoundland & Labrador’s #1 specialty lodging destination on TripAdvisor.com!

If you are not familiar with TripAdvisor, they are the most trusted source for accommodation and restaurant reviews on the internet. It is quite an honour for us to rank so highly on such a trusted website.

If you haven’t done so, please take the time to write a review about your Riverfront Chalets or Rafting Newfoundland vacation by visiting our page on TripAdvisor .

We always strive to exceed our customers’ expectations in everything we do, and with your feedback we will continue to get better and better.

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that voted for us!  We promise to continue to deliver top-notch service!

Check out the latest edition of Sledworthy Magazine online: http://t.co/AEbkjYrN.  There is an excellent write up on sledding in Central!

Nothing beats having the magazine in hand though, and a Sledworthy subscription is a great deal: 2yrs, 10 editions for under $20!  You can get your subscription at Sledworthy.com

See you on the trails!

Last weekend we were honoured to receive the Sustainable Tourism Award presented by Parks Canada at the Hospitality Newfoundland convention in Gander

The Sustainable Tourism Award recognizes that the long term sustainability of tourism depends on the delivery of a high quality product and a welcoming spirit among our employees and our host communities. It also depends on the wise use and conservation of our natural resources; the protection and enhancement of our environment; and the preservation of our cultural, historic and aesthetic resources.

Riverfront Chalets and Rafting started with a main product of rafting and has since expanding to offer canoeing, sea kayaking and white water kayaking courses along with packages that include instruction, rentals, and guided day and multiday tours.

Riverfront Chalets also features four and a half star fully equipped chalets with landscaping that showcases character in the huge rock walls, the outdoor river-front saltwater hot-tub and the interlocked wooded decks that connect it all together. Carved into the natural landscape with as little disturbance to nature as possible, extreme care was taken in constructing the chalets to ensure no unnecessary trees were harmed, and whenever possible only local building materials were used.

Over the last 15 years Riverfront Chalets and Rafting has been involved with many initiatives to protect the Exploits River from further industrial harm and to enshrine it as a model of sustainable adventure tourism.  With beliefs that are all about fostering appreciation and enjoyment of natural and cultural heritage resources, every single service provided leads Riverfront back to this objective.

This award was presented at the Tourism Professional Development Luncheon by Carol Sheedy, Parks Canada.

Hello all.  My apologies for the belated update but its been a busy fall with upgrades to the chalets and land as well as the house.  The good news is that the riding on the Trans-Canada trail and backcountry roads is excellent!  We have snowmobilers in last weekend who put over 300KM on and we rode 200KM yesterday and had a blast.  If you want powder the Gaff is the place to go.  There are long sections of 8 foot drifts along the tracks.  You can ride on the open country but you have to be careful of rocks and take your time.  As you can see from the picture there are lots of caribou on the Gaff.  This was one herd of the three we saw as well as a couple loners.  Cornfield road and all around Badger Lake is awesome although you still click the road here and there.  We are headed into the backcountry chalet on Monica today to see what it is like in that way.   The large rock resting on three small rocks you see accompanied by Janice Goudie (who no doubt has a big smile on her face) is one of the many interesting glacial deposits on the Gaff.

As for the chalets we have now have a roof over the hot-tub…skylights and all.  I think you are going to love it and less snow shoveling for me too LOL!  We have new outdoor lighting installed in the chalet driveways and parking lot.  Much of Feb is booked although we have one chalet left for the weekends of the 17th and 24th.  The weekdays of the second and last week have openings as well.  There is still lots of space during Jan and March.  Don’t forget that we have great riding until late April!  Last year we went until May 5th on the Gaff and the riding was excellent with loads of the white stuff.  Looking forward to riding with you this winter.  If you don’t have machines or you want to introduce a friend to the best pastime in Newfoundland don’t forget we have sleds for rent.   Anyway time for me to scoot and burn some gas!

As most of you already know from our Facebook page, we are in the process of testing a new exciting rafting adventure to offer in conjunction with our hugely successful Badger Run Rafting Adventure.  We are looking for energetic thrill seekers that are ready to take white water rafting to the next level!

The Canyon Run rafting trip is a completely intense experience that takes all the most thrilling elements of the Badger Run, makes them bigger, and packs them into a very short stretch of the river. We start the trip across from the old mill in Grand Falls, and immediately plunge into the incredible Class Three Mill Bridge rapid. This one rapid is bigger than anything we run on the Badger Run, and it’s only the beginning! We’ll often paddle back and run the rapid a few times; each time we re-enter the rapid we run at least a 50/50 chance of flipping the boat and taking a good swim. Like all white-water, the key is not to panic, we’ll have at least two safely kayaks following the raft closely (besides, flipping the raft is part of the experience on this run!).

After we’ve had our fill of the bridge rapid, we turn the corner and play on some class one and two surfing holes. Keeping the surf on these waves requires precision and a lot of paddle power, so we don’t always make it (but regardless it’s a HUGE splash).

We have a very short breather before heading into the largest rapid of the trip, the CLASS FOUR Canyon Rapid (that’s right, Class 4!). The Canyon Rapid is formed by a dramatic narrowing of the river creating MASSIVE waves coming from seemingly every direction all at once. This is truly the thrill of a lifetime, and not for the faint of heart! (check out this video of the Canyon!)

Once we’ve cleared the Canyon we paddle hard to plough into another Class 2 surf hole, guaranteed for another big splash, and take a quick break to discuss our plan to hit our final rapid, the legendary Virgin Wave.

The Virgin Wave is a giant Class Three surf hole. If you enjoyed the class one surf hole at Rose’s Roost (riding the bull), you will LOVE the Virgin Wave! Hitting the Virgin requires precision and power, and absolutely requires everyone to work as a team, but when we hit the surf it is like nothing you’ve ever experienced! The best part is that when we get washed out (or flip, as is often the case) we can walk the raft up the shore and hit it again… and again!  Here is a video of us surfing the Virgin for a heart-stopping 22 seconds!

We’re unofficially running select thrill seekers down the Canyon on a few nights this week. It’s an informal trip that starts about 6:30pm and finishes usually around 9pm. You will be part of the team of paddlers that is helping us perfect this run to hopefully launch next summer!  There are a few important qualifications for rafters hoping to come out for our trial runs:

• - Must be 18 years or older
• - Must have completed our Badger Run rafting tour, and have tried the Badger Chute swim and “Riding the Bull” (this helps show us you’re ready to take it to the next level)
• - Must be reasonably fit, and have no medical conditions that prevent paddling
• - Must be ready to get really, really wet!  The raft *will* flip and/or dump everyone out, it’s not a matter of “if”, just a matter of how many times!
• - Must complete a disclaimer and allow us permission to use any photos or videos taken on the tour to be used for training and marketing purposes
• - Must be ready for the thrill of a lifetime!

If you are interested, please email us at info@riverfrontchalets.ca or call us at 709-486-0892 for more information. 

Cheers,

Jason Nault
Administration, Marketing & Web Design
Riverfront Chalets & Rafting Newfoundland
Office: 709-486-0892

Take full advantage of the network of trails and back roads that spread out from the chalets to locations all over Central Newfoundland. Take a quick ride up the TransCanada Trail to Badger, travel the Aspen Brook Resource Road to Aspen Pond or down to beautiful Cornfield lake, or make a day of it and bike to the summit of Hodges Hill! The options are endless!

We have maps available for all imaginable locations on the island, and would be happy to provide tips on how to make the most of your day riding.

A helmet will be supplied with all bike rentals, and it is required to be worn at all times while riding.

4-hour rental: $25                      Full day rental: $45
(prices include applicable taxes)

Geocaching is a world-wide, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location with the help of a few basic clues. Geocaching is an excellent activity for people of all ages; everyone loves a good treasure hunt!

We have a full Geocaching Kit available to rent, which includes a GPS unit with a huge assortment of caches (treasures) pre-programmed, as well as print outs of all 41 geocaches hidden in the area and helpful maps. We’ll teach you how to use the GPS unit, and what to do when you find your first geocache. We’ll also help you set up your own free geocaching account so you can log your finds and continue the treasure hunt when you return home from your vacation. There are geocaches all over the world, and there is even one aboard the International Space Station!

The local Geocaches are organized into five areas:

Corduroy Brook Pond Nature Reserve
Corduroy Brook Pond Nature Reserve is perfect for a family getaway any time of year. This pristine reserve is located in Grand Falls-Windsor just 20km east of the chalets, and is home to 15 separate geocaches!

TransCanada Highway/Trail Caches
If you’re looking for something to do on your way to or from town, why not try the TransCanada Highway/Trail caches? There are 6 caches hidden along the highway in some very unique and beautiful locations!

Exploits River Water Caches
If you’re looking to combine a great day on the river with a fun day of treasure hunting, you should consider trying the Exploits River water caches! There are 7 caches hidden on the remote shoreline or on the ruggedly beautiful islands along our self-guided canoe/kayak tour

Badger Caches
In the little community of Badger just 10km west of us you can find 6 geocaches scattered throughout town and along the Exploits River. You could drive to Badger, take your quad/ATV, or rent one of our mountain bikes and make an adventure out of it!

Geocaching: FREE!                           Optional Kit Rental: $20
(prices include applicable taxes)