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Find: Colorado White Water Rafting


©Photo Ed Preston

Colorado boasts some of the most beautiful and challenging rivers in the world. In the spring and early summer peak runoff of snow melt from the Rocky Mountains provides world class whitewater fun.  With so many great rivers to choose from, many visitors to Colorado build their entire vacation around whitewater rafting.  The companies listed below offer guided raft trips.

Aspen Raft Trips

Blazing Adventures Rafting Company
PO Box 5068, Snowmass Village, CO 970-923-4544
Offers raft trips on the Roaring Fork River, Colorado River, and Arkansas River.

Breckenridge Raft Trips

Rafting companies in Summit County can run several rivers, including The Blue River, Clear Creek River, Arkansas River and Colorado River.

Good Times Rafting
183 Meadow Dr, Dillon, CO

Performance Tours Whitewater Rafting
P.O. Box 7305 Breckenridge, CO

Buena Vista - Arkansas River Raft Trips

A 100-mile stretch of the Arkansas River is open for rafting from May though September. The  water is used by more than 400,000 rafters, kayakers, fishermen, and campers year. The Arkansas River has an average gradient of 38 feet per mile.

River Runners Ltd.
24070 County Road 301, Buena Vista, CO

Wilderness Aware Rafting
PO Box 1550 WS, Buena Vista, CO, 719-395-2112

Colorado Springs - Arkansas River Trips

Companies listed below can take you on Class III - Class V whitewater trips through Royal Gorge depending on current flows. The Royal Gorge section of the river features giant waves, steep technical drops and almost continuous whitewater through the narrow canyon of the Royal Gorge. To traverse this section, you must be in good physical condition.

Arkansas River Tours
P.O. Box 337 Cotopaxi, CO, 719-942-4362

Buffalo Joe's Whitewater Rafting
Fort Gorge RV Park, 7 mi west of Cañon City, CO 719-395-8757

Dvorak Raft & Kayak Expeditions
17921 U.S. Hwy 285, Nathrop, CO

Echo Canyon River Expeditions
45000 US Hwy. 50 West, Cañon City, CO

Raft Masters
2315 E. Main Street, Cañon City, CO

Durango - Animas River Raft Trips

The upper Animas offers 28 miles of Class IV - Class V whitewater depending on current flows, and is considered by many to be the most difficult commercially run river in Colorado.  The Animas River through Durango is family-friendly Class II with one Class III depending on current flow.

Durango River Trippers
455 E 8th Ave Durango, CO

Flexible Flyers Durango Rafting
Roosa Ave and 9th St. Durango, CO

Mild to Wild Rafting
1111 Camino del Rio, Durango

Mountain Waters Durango Rafting
643 Camino del Rio, Durango, CO

Outlaw Tours - Durango Rafting
555 Main Ave, Durango, CO

Denver - Clear Creek River Raft Trips

Clear Creek is the closest "raftable" river to downtown Denver.  This steep, narrow and technical river has an average gradient of 67 feet per mile and contains more rapids than most commercially rafted rivers in the state. The river is open for rafting from May through July.  Class III to Class V depending on which stretch is run.  

Clear Creek Rafting Co.
350 Whitewater Rd., Idaho Springs, CO 303-567-1000

GEO Tours Whitewater Rafting
229 Colorado Hwy 8, Morrison, CO 303-756-6070

Pagosa Springs - San Juan & Piedra River Raft Trips

The San Juan river through Pagosa offers exciting Class III at peak flows while the Piedra River offers Class IV with one badly obstructed section of the river best left undone.  The lower sections of the San Juan are Class II through beautiful canyon and ranch country.

Pagosa Rafting Outfitters
Fairfield Activities Center, Pagosa Springs, CO 970-731-4081

Pagosa Outside Raft Trips
350 Pagosa St., Pagosa Springs, CO 970-264-4202

Salida - Arkansas River Raft Trips

A 100-mile stretch of the Arkansas River is open for rafting from May though September. The  water is used by more than 400,000 rafters, kayakers, fishermen, and campers year. The Arkansas River has an average gradient of 38 feet per mile.

American Adventure Expeditions
128 North F Street, Salida, CO, 719-539-4506

Independent Whitewater
10830 CR 165, Salida, CO, 719-539-7737

Whitewater Encounters
14825 Hwy 285, Salida, CO, 719-530-0937

Grand Junction - Green & Yampa River Raft Trips

The Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument has action, history, and excitement, plus it's the last major tributary of the Colorado River System that's free flowing.   Each spring, May through June, the Yampa offers thrilling whitewater, Warm Springs Rapids, which is considered one of the ten toughest rapids in the country.

Adventure Bound River Expeditions
2392 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 970-245-5428

Hatch River Expeditions
PO Box 1150, Vernal, UT 

This page last updated:
05/07/2006

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