Float Trips

New to the river or floating with kids? Our River Conditions & Safety page walks through what to expect on the day, what to pack, and kid-friendly river rules.

• • No coolers over 50 quarts — a kayak hull holds a cooler up to 30 quarts.
• • No private floating equipment on the property. Life jackets, paddles, the shuttle, taxes and day parking are all included in your float price.
• • Weekend float reservations are held 8–10am. After 10am we release the vessels to waiting guests.
• • Be off the river at the War Eagle take-out by 6pm. A late pull-out, or pulling out anywhere else, carries a retrieval fee.
• • Never tie anything to the side of a raft or kayak, and never tie boats together.
• • No glass, no styrofoam, and no jello shots anywhere on the river or the gravel bars — ever. Please pack out everything you bring in.
• • Wear a life jacket. By law, children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket the entire time while floating, and every floater must have a properly fitting life jacket within quick reach. Coast Guard–approved jackets are provided for every guest.
• • It is illegal to tie vessels together. Tying rafts, kayaks, tubes, or other vessels together is prohibited on Oklahoma's scenic rivers and is dangerous if the group is caught in downed trees or river debris.
• • Alcohol: beer and wine are allowed in non-glass containers for guests 21 and older. Distilled spirits (whiskey, brandy, rum, gin, vodka, etc.) and jello shots are illegal on the river.
• • Float permits are included in your float rental cost. GRDA requires a permit for every vessel on an Oklahoma Scenic River, and War Eagle Resort handles all GRDA permitting for our guests — the permit is already covered in your float total, so there is nothing to buy from GRDA yourself.
• • The Illinois River is one of Oklahoma's six designated scenic rivers, protected under the Scenic Rivers Act. Leave the river and gravel bars cleaner than you found them.
• • Never operate a raft or kayak while impaired. Boating under the influence is illegal in Oklahoma and grounds for removal from the river.
• • Must be at least 16 years old to operate a kayak.
• • Watch for changing weather, strong currents, submerged rocks, and low-head hazards. Check the Tahlequah or Watts river gage readings before you float, and get off the water if the river rises or storms move in.
• • Tell someone your float plan and keep children within arm's reach at all times.
• • Float season is weather-dependent. All float trip times are subject to change based on river conditions — we adjust schedules for the safety of all our guests. Call ahead at (918) 456-6272 or check River Conditions for the latest.

These rules come from the Grand River Dam Authority, the governing body for Oklahoma's scenic rivers. For the full Illinois River guide, gage readings, float permits, and scenic river statutes, see GRDA's Illinois River resources and their boat safety page. GRDA Scenic River Operations: (918) 456-3251.

Waivers & Deposits

• • Every guest 18 and older must read and electronically sign our liability waiver before floating. A parent or guardian signs for each guest under 18.
• • Waiver links are emailed to each adult on the reservation, which is why we collect the name, age, and email of every adult in your party.
• • Float deposit (charged with lodging): $50 for Motel & Cabin stays · $100 for Bunk Houses, Lodges & Houses.
• • All deposits are non-refundable and due at the time of reservation.