River crossings are one of the leading causes of death among hikers. Knowing how to cross rivers safely is an essential outdoor skill, on par with first aid and navigation. I faced some hairy river crossings on the John Muir Trail in the record now year of 2017. Also, the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand is famous for its constant crossings, sometimes you’ll cross the same river more than 30 times per day! This post is a comprehensive guide to the dos and don’ts of river crossings. Hopefully it will make you more confident on your next outdoor adventure!

When does crossing become dangerous?

Check speed: Throw a decent size stick in the water. How fast does it flow away? If you can keep up with it at a brisk walk, that’s a good sign. If the stick is swept away and out of sight within seconds, you’re dealing with something less great.

Check depth: Avoid crossing anything that’s fast-flowing and deeper than your mid-thigh. Stick a trekking pole in to test depth.

Check bottom: Many small ripples indicated a shallow, evenly rocky bottom. This is better than larger waves that “stand up” out of the water, there are bigger rocks or uneven ground underneath them (look behind Patrick there).

Also, always face upstream when you cross. Walk diagonally downstream facing the current. Keep your eyes on the far bank, don’t look down into the water.

Check the forecast

Heavy rain = bigger rivers. Some places, like New Zealand, see a ridiculously fast rise in rivers whenever it rains. If you have some serious river crossings ahead and a storm is forecasted, it’s best to wait for the water levels to sink somewhere off trail. Flash floods can be difficult to forecast, make sure you do research on your route if you are heading into flood-prone areas. A typical sign of increased water levels is discoloured water with debris floating in it. Of course, clear rivers can also be fast-flowing, but the pictures of the Greenstone rivers below show a typical difference between normal water levels and post-storm levels.

More generally, be careful to avoid shoulder seasons. Perhaps the most common dilemma in the thru-hiking world is when Pacific Crest Trail hikers must navigate the snow levels in the Sierra Nevada mountains. PCT hikers typically hit the Sierra in June when the snowmelt from the high mountains is at its worst, and there are tragic deaths pretty much every year. In higher snow years you might want to postpone your hike to mid-season when the snowmelt has run off. If you know you have a day of river crossings ahead, try crossing as many as you can in the early morning before that day’s melting has started properly.

Scout alternative crossings

While the river may be high and fast-flowing where it meets the trail, what does it look like upstream or downstream? Rivers are best crossed in a wide section where the water mass has ample space to flow through. The narrower the river, the more forceful the flow. Do not cross rivers in bends, as the water accelerates through the turn and the bottom may shift. Also, make sure you have an easy exit point on the opposite bank, you don’t want to reach it after an arduous crossing only to find that it’s too high for you to clamber up.

Is the river braided at any point? Smaller braids with islands between may be easier to cross. Does the river flow into a lake/the sea nearby? The water will flow much slower there. Also, always check out what the river looks like downstream. If sh*t hits the fan and you get swept away, what awaits you? Boulders, fallen logs, or (yikes!) a waterfall? Never cross a river only a short distance from either of these.

Use trekking poles & unfasten your pack

Trekking poles are absolute gold when it comes to river crossings (if you read this and are thinking “but I don’t hike with poles”, what are you even doing in the wilderness??!). If the river is small with rocks in it, you can aid yourself across without even getting your feet wet. They also become an extra pair of legs on wider crossings. Jam them as steadily as you can down to the bottom and take one step at a time. Don’t take a step with your pole arm and foot at the same time, that way you always have at least 2-3 point of contact on the ground (think of how a camera tripod is balanced).  

Unclip all straps tying you to your pack. If you fall in, your life is more important than your fancy ultralight gear. Your pack will drag you down and make swimming almost impossible, best to wriggle out quickly and save your stuff later if you can.

Band together

Groups of hikers can make crossings safer by linking together (the strongest person being upstream). Link your arms or shoulders and cross parallel to the banks (aka in a string of pearls-type formation downwards, not sideward). The more hikers, the stronger the string!

Solo hikers should take extra care to not risk a dangerous crossing. Most well-known trails will see hiker traffic each day, so wait on the bank for someone else to come along.

Keep your footwear on

Avoiding wet feet is one of the foremost reasons why many hikers choose to wear trail runners instead of boots, as they dry out faster. But no matter your choice of footwear, you should keep it on for any substantial river crossings. If the water is only ankle-deep or very slow flowing you can risk a barefoot crossing - but take extreme care as rocks can be slippery or sharp. The last thing you want is to fall in and get your gear wet anyway… A couple of my hiker friends who wore boots actually kept a separate pair of town/river crossing shoes like light trainers. Sandals are a bad option because their soles offer little to no traction, and the straps can be torn right through the sole if the water flows fast enough.

Wait it out if necessary

This one can be tough. Camping next to a river hoping it will sink can feel like watching snow melt. However, in areas where rivers rise fast, they typically also sink fast. Sometimes all you need is a few extra hours for the water masses to sink back to a doable level. Be patient and always prioritise safety!