Tubing on the Farmington River!
When hot days arrive in the Hartford area, the best way to cool down is to head to Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area, located on Route 44 in New Hartford, Connecticut. While a place named Satan's Kingdom doesn't sound like it'd be cool, Farmington River Tubing has operated from this riverside outpost for years, and anyone who's driven along Route 44 between New Hartford and Canton in the summertime has likely seen the company's distinctive yellow tubes dotting the river.
Here's how it works. Free parking, changing houses and restrooms are available at Satan's Kingdom. When you're ready to go, wait in line to sign waiver papers and rent your tube and life jacket. For 2009, prices are $20 on weekends and holidays, $18 on weekdays. Be prepared to pay with cash. Then, get ready for your river ride.
The 2.5-mile tubing run is more calm than wild, but you will encounter three sets of rapids that will get your heart racing. Keep your feet up, and hold on tight. The second set of rapids is the most likely to toss you off your tube, so lifeguards are stationed here. The rest of the river is unattended, and for much of your ride, you'll drift along lazily, enjoying the sounds of rushing water and the warmth of the sun. Sunscreen is a must.
Tubing the Farmington River isn't for everyone. For starters, you must be at least 10 years old, at least 4'5" tall, and you need to know how to swim. No… dogs can't tube.
The current can be strong in places, especially after a big rainstorm and in the early part of the season. The water is quite cold, and once you start your ride, there's no turning back.
Farmington River Tubing operates daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Call ahead, 860-693-6465, to check river conditions and hours of operation before you make the trip to New Hartford.
If you're ready to go tubing on the Farmington, here are a few additional tips:
- Wear something on your feet. My preferred footwear is an old pair of Keds, but water shoes or strap-on sandals work, too. Don't wear flip-flops or any other footwear that you might lose easily.
- Wear an old T-shirt over your bathing suit. Farmington River Tubing actually suggests a long-sleeve T-shirt to help prevent your arms from chafing as you hang onto your tube, but on most summer days, you'll probably be too hot in long sleeves, and in the unlikely event you wind up having to swim, you want to be as unencumbered as possible.
- Don't wear sunglasses, a hat, jewelry or anything else that you wouldn't want to lose.
- Don't forget to apply sunscreen liberally.
- Use the restrooms before you set out. While the time of your ride can vary based on the current, you're looking at about two hours stuck in a tube, and you may have to wait a bit, wet and cold, at the other end for the Farmington River Tubing blue school buses to pick you up.
- Don't be tempted to snooze in your tube when the current slows. Stay alert. Watch for a tube suspended from a tree. It's the "exit" sign, and you won't want to miss it.
- If you'll be tubing with a group of 10 or more on a weekday, call ahead, 860-693-6465, to make reservations at least 48 hours in advance, and you'll receive a discounted group rate.
- Have fun!
Need a hotel near Farmington River Tubing? The Residence Inn (Book Direct) in Avon, Connecticut, is the closest hotel to the launch site.
