River Crossing Safety 101: Know the Signs of an Unsafe River
Every year people get into trouble in the outdoors when trying to cross unsafe rivers, and these incidents are almost always preventable. The most critical skill for staying safe at rivers is knowing how to identify an unsafe river and when not to cross. As part of River Safety Month, NZ Mountain Safety Council shares simple ways trampers, hunters and other outdoor adventurers can easily identify the signs of an unsafe river.
While lots of popular tracks, like the Great Walks, have many bridged rivers bridged, there are thousands of other routes across the motu that involve river crossings. With New Zealand’s unpredictable weather, heavy rain at any time of year and snow melt in spring and early summer, can cause river levels to rise suddenly. A calm river on your way into the mountains, could have become a dangerous torrent on your way out.
Know the Signs of an Unsafe River
We’ve developed a simple four-step guide to help you easily spot the signs of an unsafe river. When faced with a river crossing, stop before you cross and take the time to ask yourself these quick questions and discuss them with your group.
- Too fast? Is the water moving faster than normal walking pace?
- Too murky? Is the water brown and dirty?
- Too messy? Is the water carrying items, like trees or branches?
- Too loud? Are there loud noises, like roaring water or moving rocks?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, don’t cross.
Be Prepared to Wait it Out
If the river is not safe to cross. You’ll need a plan B.
During your trip planning, formulate a contingency plan that everyone is comfortable with. You might decide your best option is to turn back, take a different route or wait it out.
While every situation is different, waiting for a river to drop can be a realistic option. While rivers in New Zealand rise quickly after heavy rain, they can also drop back to a normal flow quite quickly.
Get yourself ready to wait it out. Always pack:
- extra day's worth of food
- emergency shelter
- emergency comms device, like a PLB
- two-way comms device, like inReach or mobile with satellite text.
If you’re physically prepared to be delayed by a river, you’re less likely to feel stranded and frustrated, and be tempted to push ahead and attempt a risky crossing. You can pitch your emergency shelter and wait it out, or pivot to your backup plan. When making this decision, consider the weather. If it’s going to continue raining, the river level is likely to stay high for longer than you can wait. If you’re not sure, turning around is always the safest option.
If in Doubt, Stay Out
Every river crossing should be treated with care and caution, and if you’re in any doubt at all, stay out.
Remember, rivers are hazardous obstacles – they’re powerful and uncontrollable – and no destination is worth the risk. If it looks unsafe, stay put, stay safe and wait for better conditions, or turn around. If you haven’t had river crossing training, stick to tracks with bridges until you do.
Find Out More About River Safety
- River safety skills | Learn the basics
- Know how to cross | Watch our river crossing safety video
- Get the training | Find a river crossing course
PHOTO CREDIT | Nathan Watson | Travers River, Nelson Lakes National Park