7Cahaba River Helena, AL

From roughly mid-May to mid-June, this is one of the most picturesque floats in the U.S. thanks in part to the lilies that bloom on the banks and little islands in the river. It’s the state’s longest free-flowing river. It’s also the home of more different species of fish than in all of California.

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46 COMMENTS

  1. I’m from Tennessee and we have some decent “tubing” rivers here, but I’m even more disappointed I didn’t see The Clark-Fork River, Montana, on here. That was one of my all time favorite, as they say in the north, “floats.” We stopped at Big Sky Micro Brewery and purchased a couple growlers. We proceeded to float down the same river Lewis and Clark traveled down while mapping those north western territories. The entire time I felt a connection and honor as to be making the same trip these frontiersman made. It was a very surreal experience. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

  2. Hi!
    Thanks for your comment and don’t worry! If the article would have been longer that spot in Montana and some place in Tennessee would have been included! Thanks for reading my stuff!

  4. Hi Ed!
    Thanks for your comment! In truth, we could probably do one more article to flesh out the top 25, in fact. Thanks for reading my stuff!

  5. Don’t overlook Salt River Tubing Recreation in Mesa, Arizona. BEAUTIFUL scenery! Its hot out there with cold water, perfect!

  6. Hi! Yes, I think I have actually been there. As I noted earlier, there are probably enough other cool places to do another article. Some just did not make the first cut. Thanks for your comment and mas always thanks for reading my stuff!

  8. Yes, no doubt but I had a limited word count and this focused on rivers for tubing AND drinking. Keep an eye out though because I might get the OK to do a sequel someday. Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading my stuff!

  10. Hi! Some of us have been to Texas but I don’t recall having been to that river. I’ll keep it in mind though! Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading my stuff!

  14. Hi!
    If I remember correctly, I was on that river with the scouts but, unfortunately, we were not old enough for tubing and drinking there. Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading my stuff!

  16. Hi!
    Thanks for your comment. I will keep it I mind if they have me do a sequel. As always, thanks for reading my stuff!

  17. Wild ammonousic river in New Hampshire. Saco River in Maine. Go get your beers at Saco River Brewery and then hit the riv.

  18. Hi!
    Yes, I have had a few other suggestions since writing this article. I would be happy to do a second list but that decision is generally not up to me. I have heard of that brewery somewhere for sure! Thanks for your comment and for reading my stuff!

  19. The New River in West Virginia
    Also Rivers in Florida have tons of gators in them. Boating is fine but tubing?

  20. Hi!
    Yes, the all specific locations listed here are apparently safe or certainly were back when the article was written anyway lol
    Thanks for reading my stuff!

  21. How did the Frio River not make the list especially for Texas?!? Even George Strait learned to swim there lol. It’s the cleanest and prettiest of all TEXAS rivers to tube/float. Even the Nueces down the road from there is better than those TEXAS ones that were listed.

  22. Hi!
    It probably did make the longer list but I was working with a word count limit and was only instructed to include the top 16. Plus sometimes the final decisionmakers have other guidelines. I have (as previously noted) gone on record as saying I would be happy to write a sequel so who knows? If it is used a lot for tubing AND drinking it would probably make it sooner or later. Thanks for reading my stuff!

  23. So glad to see that the Guadalupe River and Comal made your list, but like some of the other Texans on here, surprised that Frio didn’t make it. When I was in high school, the drinking age was 18 and we’d try to head out on a late Friday afternoon to New Braunfels and the Guadalupe for a weekend of tubing and partying! We’d tube all day and camp in somebody’s field (for a small fee) at night. Back then we didn’t care about the hassle of tents, we’d just bring along our lawn lounge folding chairs, instant bed! Uncomfortable, sure but we were kids and we didn’t care!

  24. Hi!
    Thanks a lot for sharing that memory! (I have some stories of my own of drinking at 18 in fact!) To be honest, I did not have much of a say on the “winners” here. The name is familiar though and I would not be surprised if it made the Top 20 but not the Top 16. Most of the time, I am only charged with the writing of the articles.
    Thanks for reading my stuff!

  26. Hi!
    Thanks for the input! More importantly, thanks for reading my stuff! We can use the support . . . especially now!

  28. Hi!
    Thanks for your comment and your support! Who knows? Maybe someday we will do a sequel and include your choice too!

  29. Hey Will!
    I just wanted to tell you, that I really enjoy reading your articles. Keep ‘em coming! If you get an opportunity to write a sequel, I would love to read & learn about places in, and close to
    Alabama.

  30. Hi!
    Wow. You flatter me. Thank you for the kind words.
    Money certainly pays the bills but writers love being read and appreciated too. I’ll do my best. (To be fair though, while I am perhaps the main writer here I am not the only one.)
    As for Alabama, I’ve written about it elsewhere but don’t think I have ever done a piece dedicated to the state. I will suggest it to the bosses and see what they say!
    Thanks again!

  31. Snoqualmie river!? I lived next to it for my entire life surprised it made the list.

    Number 1 should be the Salt River near Phoenix Arizona, but it didn’t even make the list. Google it.

  32. Hi!
    Yes, we tend to take things in our own backyard for granted. All I can tell you is that the people who created the actual list focused on the top 16 tubing AND drinking rivers. Sometimes that makes a difference lol I have already offered to write up a sequel so maybe if that happens your choice will make the list. Thanks for reading my stuff!

  36. Hi Amanda,
    The entire Truckee River flows through both Nevada and California However, we chose to focus on the portion in Nevada because our experts prefer a part that runs through Nevada The river and the famous Truckee River Walk pass through two of Reno, Nevada’s best parks. Sorry if you thought was not clear.
    Thank you for your comment and thanks for reading my stuff!

  38. Hi!
    My guess is they are fed up with all the people and have moved to a less rowdy area. I hear ya though lol
    Thanks for your support

  39. I live less than a mile from Ichetucknee river and drinking is not allowed and strictly enforced. You are not allowed to bring any glass whatsoever. Tubing is fantastic but if you want to drink stick to Ginnie Springs

  40. Hi!
    Thanks for your comment. As you might thave noticed this is not a new article. OUr sources never said anyting about not being discrete, of course! Assuming your claim about current policies to be true, it is good to know that if you choose to go against the rules, you had best be clever and if not there are other options.
    Thanks for reading my stuff!

  41. Hi Will. Enjoying all your posts and travel ideas and feedback. As a retired American Airlines employee I gotta admit how lucky my husband and I were to experience alot of awesome experiences and destinations in our lifetime. I must share some with you. AS for the young lady worried about gators in Florida rivers and springs…..most generally alot of them are spring fed which makes the water butt fricking cold. Gators are not made to function in cold water. Thank the Lord lol Keep the great tips and destinations coming! Thank you

  42. Hi!
    Thank you for your kind words! It is also good to hear from readers who have visited/lived in specific places. Thanks for your support! We enjoy knowing that people enjoy our website!

  43. It’s wonderful that you are getting ideas from this paragraph
    as well as from our argument made here.

  45. Hi,
    Yes, we all have our favorites. Come to think of it, I am pretty sure I have written about Helen elsewhere. Check it out! Thanks for your comment and your support!

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