All You Need to Know About Using a Toilet on a White Water Rafting Trip
If this is your first time white water rafting or embarking on a rafted multi-day fishing trip , you’re probably excited. You should be! Rafting trips are often even more fun than our customers expect. It’s a trip you’ll be talking about for the rest of your life.
Key Takeaways
- A rafting groover is a must-have for multi-day white water rafting trips, serving as a clean, portable toilet system required by law on protected rivers like the Snake, Salmon, and Grande Ronde.
- Using a groover helps preserve the pristine wilderness by ensuring human waste is properly contained and disposed of—protecting the environment and keeping river campsites sanitary.
- Modern rafting toilets are hygienic and convenient, equipped with toilet seats, hand-washing stations, and sanitation supplies, offering comfort even deep in the wilderness.
- Guides handle all setup, cleaning, and transportation of the groover, so guests can simply enjoy the river and relax knowing everything is taken care of.
- Following proper groover etiquette ensures a smooth and respectful group experience, keeping the river trip comfortable, sustainable, and enjoyable for everyone.
- Choosing an outfitter like Winding Waters River Expeditions guarantees a safe, eco-conscious, and well-organized rafting adventure, complete with expert guides, quality gear, and unforgettable scenery.
One thing many of our clients don’t necessarily think of when planning their trip, however, is where they will go to the bathroom.
While you may have experience going #1 out in nature without much worry, fewer have experience with going #2.
Enter the rafting groover, a piece of equipment as necessary as the raft itself for a successful
multi-day rafting trip.
In this post, we’ll go over just what a groover is, why it’s important we use one, and what you can expect from the experience when out on the beautiful rivers of eastern Oregon.
What exactly is a groover?
A rafting groover is a portable toilet. It’s illegal to raft certain rivers without one, including the rivers we raft here at Winding Waters River Expeditions — the
Snake,
Salmon , and Grande Ronde rivers.
Groovers are an outstanding piece of equipment, as they are designed to be as clean and secure as possible. There’s even a comfortable
toilet seat for buckets on the groover. You’ll have all the conveniences of your home’s
camp washroom even out on the river: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, trash can, and full hand washing station, plus a beautiful view of a wild and scenic Pacific Northwest river.
When not set up for use, groovers lock securely, keeping everything where it needs to be. When emptied at the end of the trip, a secure hose is used to empty the groover, meaning the outside of the groover stays clean throughout the process.
Fortunately for you, this will not be a worry for you on your trip. Your guides will handle setup, packing, transportation, and cleaning of the groover.
Fun fact: Why is it called a groover?
Back in the day, instead of stable, lockable vault boxes that prevented leaks, army surplus ammo cans were used to hold waste. Ammo cans or Rocket boxes are rectangular in shape, and when sat on to do “business” would leave grooves on the users’ backsides. These left grooves on users' backsides—hence, "groover definition" and "groover meaning" were born. Today’s groover box and camping groover are far more sophisticated and clean.
While similar cans are used today to hold all sorts of items on the river, groover toilet systems have come a long way in recent years. We can all be thankful we have access to high-tech, vault toilets over the ammo cans of years past. You won’t be balancing on a bucket of poo or dealing with poop on the road. And you’ll never have to worry about get pooped on stories or any fun with feces tales—unless you want to swap some around the fire.
Why is the groover necessary?
As mentioned above, it is actually illegal to not have a portable toilet when on the river. Even if it weren’t, there would be no other place to go. The places we float at Winding Waters River Expeditions are in the wild. The camp sites are un developed and bathrooms are simply not available where we spend our days and evenings.
We’ve had brave souls tell us in the past they’d rather just “go in the woods” to avoid using the groover, one fella even dared us to find his cat hole. (We found it.) Due to many of these rivers’ protection by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and their conservation management, it’s bad practice to go anywhere but the toilet. The camps that we use feel wild and untrammeled, but the truth is they are used almost every night of the summer.
We want to make sure the rivers stay clean so rafters from the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the world can enjoy them for generations to come. The groover is an important part of this effort, and a necessary piece of equipment for our ability to sustainably raft these rivers. That means no poop in a bucket, no poopon, and certainly no dookie in toilet without proper containment. Our Whitewater Raftings prioritize environmental responsibility, so whether you’ve got road trip bathroom needs or just i gotta go to the bathroom, we’re ready.
How will the groover be used on our rafting and fishing trips?
When out on the river, we try to make going to the bathroom as easy and comfortable as possible for everyone. This is your trip and we want to make sure you’re able to relax at the end of a full day rafting.
To ensure this, we have a protocol for using the groover that goes as follows:
- The first thing your guides do upon arriving at camp is set up the groover. The groover is always set up in a private space (often with a beautiful view) that will give you peace and quiet.
- We will also set up other facilities to add comfort to the experience. This includes a hand wash station to wash your hands, toilet paper, hand disinfectant, trash can etc.
- An important part of the system includes the bathroom key. This key is not a literal key, but an object you will take with you to the bathroom to signify the facilities are occupied. This is often located around the hand washing station.
- Once you arrive at the groover, you will notice there are actually 2 groovers. The Hot Pink one is for going #1 only. No TP or anything other than pee should ever go in the hot pink groover! Solid waste and toilet paper go in the other groover. There will also be a trash can there for any feminine hygiene products and baby wipes if you brought some of those.
- In the morning before heading out for the day, there will be a last call before securing the groover for that day’s adventure.
- If nature calls during the day, let your guide know and they can set up the “day groover” for you.
Like everything else included in Winding Waters River Expedition trips, the entire experience is designed for your enjoyment. We want you to have all the comforts of home while on the river so you can focus on enjoying the solitude and beauty of eastern Oregon. The groover and our camp system are designed to give you the best possible experience.
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
At Winding Waters River Expeditions, we offer a number of trips on three of the Pacific Northwest’s premier rivers: the Snake , Salmon , and Grande Ronde rivers. These rivers are all wild and scenic rivers, and give you the feeling as if you and your expedition group are the only ones in the world. Our longer expeditions, like the 6-Day Snake River in Hells Canyon adventure, let you truly experience the region’s wild beauty.
Trips are all inclusive and include:
- • Gourmet meals
- • All necessary camping and fishing/rafting gear
- • Transportation to and from the river
- • Full service guides with decades of experience in the very river where your expedition is taking place
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s everything you need to know about using the toilet, or “groover,” during a white water rafting or multi-day fishing trip with Winding Waters River Expeditions.
What is a groover on a rafting trip?
A groover is a portable toilet system used on rafting and camping trips. It’s designed to be clean, private, and environmentally friendly, complete with a seat, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a hand-washing station. Groovers ensure everyone can use the bathroom comfortably while keeping rivers pristine.
Why is using a groover required on rafting trips?
It’s required by law to carry and use a groover on certain protected rivers like the Snake, Salmon, and Grande Ronde. This regulation helps preserve the wilderness by preventing human waste from contaminating water sources and camp areas, ensuring future rafters can enjoy clean, natural river environments.
How does the groover work?
Your guides set up the groover in a private, scenic location at camp. There are two groovers: one for liquid waste and one for solid waste and toilet paper. Everything is securely contained, and the groover is emptied and cleaned by your guides to maintain hygiene throughout the trip.
Who sets up and cleans the groover?
You don’t have to worry about setup or cleanup — your guides handle everything. They’ll transport, assemble, and sanitize the groover, ensuring it stays secure and odor-free. At the end of the trip, waste is safely emptied using a sealed system that keeps the outside of the groover clean.
Why is it called a “groover”?
The name “groover” comes from the early days of rafting when people used army ammo cans as makeshift toilets. Sitting directly on the metal edges left “grooves” on users’ backsides — hence the nickname. Today’s groovers are far more comfortable, sanitary, and advanced.
Can I go to the bathroom in the woods instead?
No — it’s both illegal and harmful to the environment. The rivers and campsites used for rafting are protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Using the groover ensures the ecosystem stays clean and healthy for future visitors and wildlife.
What should I do if I need to go during the day?
If nature calls while you’re on the river, just let your guide know. They’ll set up a “day groover” in a private spot so you can use the restroom comfortably. Guides make sure it’s discreet, sanitary, and properly managed at all times.
What’s the bathroom key used for?
The bathroom “key” isn’t an actual key — it’s a token that signals when the groover is occupied. You’ll take it with you when it’s your turn, and return it when you’re done so others know it’s free. It’s a simple way to maintain privacy and order at camp.
Is the groover clean and safe to use?
Yes, groovers are designed for cleanliness and comfort. They’re sealed tightly to prevent leaks and odors, and guides disinfect them regularly. Each setup includes hand-washing stations, sanitizer, and trash cans to keep hygiene standards high.
What should I not put in the groover?
Only human waste and toilet paper go in the groover. Feminine hygiene products, wipes, and trash should go in the provided waste bin. This keeps the system functioning properly and avoids blockages or contamination when the groover is emptied.
What makes the groover environmentally important?
Using a groover helps protect rivers from pollution and prevents damage to fragile riparian ecosystems. It ensures that every rafting group “leaves no trace,” maintaining the natural beauty and health of the Pacific Northwest’s wild and scenic waterways.
Want a relaxed pace through Oregon’s forests? Explore our Grande Ronde River Rafting Adventure to see what’s waiting.
Questions about the groover or anything else with our expeditions? Let us know! We’re happy to answer any questions you have or explain what you should expect when on one of our expeditions.
Hear it straight from the river! Read what other rafters had to say about Winding Waters in our
Google Business Profile Reviews—your next adventure awaits.
