Observe: Some tour suppliers on this record might have restricted or ceased operations resulting from COVID-19. Verify together with your tour operator about availability earlier than you guide.
Whether or not you are a novice or an skilled whitewater rafter, these excursions have gotten you lined. U.S. Information, after contemplating professional enter and client sentiment, decided the next rafting journeys are the very best in Colorado. Whereas they’re supplied in numerous components of the state and promise various ranges of issue, all characteristic educated guides that will help you navigate the rapids.
Rapids are rated on a six-level scale, starting from Class I (the best) to Class VI (thought-about harmful and unnavigable). Corporations sometimes determine the kind of rapids you will encounter on the journey inside their tour descriptions. Know that you just’re not prone to expertise something greater than Class IV. Moreover, it is necessary to know that rafting expeditions have age and weight necessities. You may even be charged land and water entry charges, which profit state and/or nationwide parks associations.
Colorado Journey Heart – Clear Creek Newbie Rafting Journey
These with no earlier whitewater rafting expertise can get pleasure from each thrilling rapids and peaceable paddling on this outing. Sights alongside the course embody historic mining areas, together with the city of Idaho Springs, in addition to a water wheel. Previous patrons constantly name the guides skillful, personable and fascinating. Excursions, which final roughly one-third of a day, are supplied twice day by day from late Could by early September beginning at 10 a.m. and a pair of p.m. Tickets begin at $56 for adults and $51 for kids 7 to 12. Journeys depart from Dumont, Colorado, which is positioned about 35 miles west of Denver. Along with half-day journeys for extra superior rafters, Colorado Journey Heart presents different actions, resembling zip strains, in addition to mixture packages.
Whitewater Rafting LLC – Full Day Rafting Journey
Navigate intermediate to extra intense rapids (Class III and IV) on this expedition by the Colorado River’s Shoshone Rapids in Glenwood Canyon. The roughly six-hour outing additionally consists of time on calmer waters, during which rafters might swim or change to inflatable kayaks, in addition to a sizzling catered lunch. In all, the journey covers 14 to 25 river miles, relying on situations. Guides not solely skillfully negotiate the waters; additionally they present historic details about the area, which contributors usually recognize. Charges begin at $104 for adults and $82 for kids 5 to 12. Journeys happen from Could by mid-September, departing at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day weekend to mid-August and at 10 a.m. earlier and later within the season. Journeys depart from Glenwood Springs, about 65 miles west of Vail. Whitewater Rafting LLC additionally presents shorter journeys in addition to personal excursions.
Royal Gorge Rafting and Zip Line Excursions – The World Well-known Royal Gorge
Experience the Arkansas River by the 1,200-foot deep Royal Gorge on intermediate- and advanced-level rapids (Class III and IV and, relying on the time of 12 months, V) together with the Sledgehammer and Sunshine Falls. Guides earn plaudits for his or her useful instruction and professionalism. This rafting journey is obtainable in half-day (three-hour) and full-day (six-hour) iterations. Tickets begin at round $89 for the previous and $149 for the latter. The worth of the longer outing consists of lunch. From April by September, excursions start at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with extra 10 a.m. and a pair of:30 p.m. departures on in style days. Full-day excursions begin at 10 a.m. from April by September. Journeys depart from Cañon Metropolis, which is about 45 miles southwest of Colorado Springs. Packages combining rafting with zip strains are additionally obtainable.
Aspen Whitewater Rafting – Slaughterhouse Falls
Deal with advanced-level (Class IV) rapids like Hell’s Half Mile, Slaughterhouse Falls and Entrance Examination on the Roaring Fork River throughout this half-day outing. Rafters usually describe the guides as adept and pleasant. In addition they say the journey is exhilarating. Journeys are supplied day by day from mid-Could to mid-August with begin occasions at 9:30 a.m. and a pair of p.m. Tickets begin at $103, which incorporates round-trip shuttle service to close by Aspen in addition to snacks and use of security gear. For water sport fans with much less whitewater rafting expertise, Aspen Whitewater Rafting additionally presents beginner- and intermediate-level excursions in addition to kayak journeys and personal excursions.
Misplaced Paddle Rafting – Bighorn Sheep Canyon Half-Day Rafting
Households with kids or novice rafters would possibly need to guide this expedition supposed to be an introduction to the game. Along with rafting by Bighorn Sheep Canyon, this three-hour tour consists of time for splashing in a swimming gap in addition to loads of wildlife watching. Previous patrons discover the guides exceptionally useful, educated and pleasant. Excursions happen two occasions day by day from late April by mid-September, departing from Cañon Metropolis at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets value round $65 for adults and $55 for kids 6 to 12. Full-day and in a single day rafting journeys in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, in addition to journeys in Royal Gorge can be found, as are mountain biking excursions.
Wilderness Conscious Rafting – Browns Canyon Half Day Journey
Journey roughly 10 miles of the Arkansas River, by Class III and IV rapids often called Zoom Flume and Seven Stairs (amongst different colourful names), on this half-day rafting journey. Reviewers are impressed with the guides’ skillful navigation and entertaining commentary. Journeys are supplied day by day, starting at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., from Could 1 by early September. Tickets value round $85, which incorporates post-rafting snacks on the drive again to the corporate’s base in Buena Vista; the price additionally features a gentle breakfast for morning excursions. Buena Vista is positioned about 55 miles south of Breckenridge. A full-day Browns Canyon rafting journey, amongst different choices, can be obtainable.
Colorado’s rapids are finest navigated with the assistance of an area information.Getty Photographs
Noah’s Ark Colorado Rafting – Browns Canyon Full Day
Spend 4 to 5 hours rafting by the Rocky Mountain surroundings of Browns Canyon Nationwide Monument on this 16-mile journey, which additionally features a deli-style lunch. No prior expertise is required to journey the intermediate- to advanced-level (Class III and IV) rapids encountered on this stretch of the Arkansas River. Rafters recognize the guides’ professionalism and dedication to security. In Could and August, journeys being at 8 a.m.; in June and July, they begin at 8:45 a.m. It prices about $115 for adults and $105 for kids 6 to 12 to take part, and costs cowl gear use and meals. Along with a half-day model of the Browns Canyon rafting journey, Buena Vista-based Noah’s Ark presents backpacking and mountain climbing actions, in addition to mixture packages.
Mountain Whitewater – Poudre Splash Half Day
Discover reasonable to pretty highly effective rapids (Courses II, III and IV) on the Cache La Poudre River throughout this 8-mile journey. Guides constantly win excessive marks for his or her experience and entertaining banter. Excursions happen twice day by day from mid-June by August, with assembly occasions at 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets value roughly $70 and embody round-trip transportation by way of a scenic byway to the corporate’s base of operations in Fort Collins. (Outings final roughly 4 hours, with about two hours on the water.) Half-day rafting journeys with rapids of better depth, in addition to full-day and two-day outings are additionally obtainable.
Gentle to Wild Rafting & Jeep Excursions – 1 Day Telluride Rafting Journey
Spend a day on Telluride’s San Miguel River splashing by delicate (Class II) and sometimes extra forceful (Class III) rapids. Surroundings alongside the best way consists of pine bushes and pink rock partitions. Rafting journeys are supplied day by day from late Could by July, and the guides who conduct them are lauded for his or her informative commentary concerning the area in addition to their adept dealing with of the raft. Excursions meet at 9:45 a.m. and the day’s actions conclude round 4 p.m. Tickets begin at round $150 for kids 10 and 11 and $170 for contributors 12 and older. The worth features a deli-style lunch. Journeys on different rivers within the state, some with extra vigorous rapids, are additionally obtainable, as are rafting journeys in Arizona and Utah.
Mountain Waters – Higher Piedra River
Paddle by each comparatively tame (Class II) and extra intense (Class III) rapids of the Higher Field of the Piedra River throughout this daylong expedition by a tree-lined canyon. Vacationers usually describe the guides as personable, educated and useful. Journeys are supplied day by day in Could and June. Rafters meet on the firm’s retailer in Durango – a southwest city about 25 miles north of the New Mexico border – at 9 a.m., and return there round 4 p.m. The roughly $200 tour price consists of transportation, lunch and use of apparatus. Mountain Waters additionally presents journeys by the more difficult Decrease Field of the Piedra River and, when water is sufficiently excessive, journeys by each sections in addition to rafting journeys on different rivers.
Efficiency Excursions Rafting – Blue River Half Day
With primarily reasonable (Class II and III) rapids, this journey is appropriate for rafters of all expertise ranges. It winds by Boulder Canyon and options the mountain surroundings of the Gore Vary and the Eagles Nest Wilderness Space – a spotlight for vacationers. Rafters describe the guides as extremely skilled and expert at navigating the rapids. Shuttles depart from the tour firm’s workplace in Frisco at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Count on to spend between 90 minutes and two hours on the water. Tickets begin at $82 for adults and $80 for kids. The season for this outing usually lasts from Could to early July, however can change from 12 months to 12 months relying on the water stage. Name the corporate earlier than you guide to test availability. Efficiency Excursions presents a number of different rafting journeys of various length and issue on programs aside from the Blue River.
Echo Canyon River Expeditions – Household Float
Should you’re searching for a relaxed raft journey on a relatively calm, 5-mile stretch of the Arkansas River, then this is perhaps the proper journey for you. The journey by the higher Bighorn Sheep Canyon presents views of pink rock cliffs and ponderosa pines and, presumably, a few of the canyon’s namesake fauna. Guides are usually deemed skilled, pleasant and accommodating by reviewers. Youngsters as younger as 4 (or 5 when water ranges are excessive) can take part, and previous contributors discover the journey properly fitted to children. Journeys, which final roughly three hours (with 90 minutes on the water), happen day by day from late Could to mid-August. Verify-in is at 12:45 p.m. The roughly $80 per-person price consists of transportation from the tour firm’s workplace in Cañon Metropolis in addition to gentle snacks. Echo Canyon River Expeditions additionally has journeys with quicker rapids as properly packages combining rafting with zip strains.
