White Water Rafting Colorado

White Water River Rafting in Colorado is a great spring summer and fall activity to take part of in Summit County. There are many different rivers and courses to enjoy and all range in different levels of experience; everything from beginner to expert. The average rafts will seat anywhere from 4-10 people and it is up to the whole raft to paddle, listen to your guide and keep things smooth. White Water Rafting is a great family activity (especially for families that have older children), reservations are always required and do not forget to tip your guide (about 15-20%) and keep in mind that you will get wet!

A few things to keep in mind when going river rafting are your clothing, food, and equipment. River rafting season usually opens towards the end of May and is open till September. In Colorado, the snow begins to melt in May and June and that is when the rapids are the greatest, however, the water is much colder. Always bring a swimsuit (no matter the weather) and for May, June and colder September trips I would recommend you get the wetsuit, splash jacket, and the never, ever forget the booties (you’ll be glad you got them). Remember to never wear wool or cotton, as it shrinks and takes forever to dry. I personally just wore my swimsuits and then the wetsuit and splash jacket and I was cozy, a bit cold, but not bad and it doesn’t matter when you’re hurling down the river dodging boulders and trying not to tip over if you are just a little cold. If you are doing a full day trip, lunch is usually provided, but I would still recommend eating before you go, also remember not to drink too much water because you are on the raft for hours at a time and there aren’t many places to relieve yourself. Also, don’t forget to wear sunscreen! I learned the hard way.

White Water Rafting Colorado

Prices vary depending on the course, company, length of excursion and equipment.  The river tours range from $45 to $159 for single or partial day trips. There is multiple day and overnight excursions and those typically run about $200 per day. Be sure to book in advance and do some homework on the river and the difficulty. I started on a Class III course, which was fun, but a little difficult at times. For families with small children I would recommend doing a Class I or possibly a Class II rapid and then for zealous beginners (like myself) I would recommend Class III. If you have a bit of experience go for a Class IV rapid, but only experts and experienced rafters should attempt Class V difficulties. Just for reference the difficulty is rated Class I-VI, where class one is mild and relaxing and Class VI is you would lucky if there are no serious injuries.

Summit County contains five different rivers, all with multiple courses and difficulties. The five rivers are Arkansas, Colorado, Clear Creek, Blue, and the Eagle; all of these rivers have different difficulties, lengths of excursions and are all a short drive away. I personally have done the Intermediate courses on the Clear Creek and the Colorado rivers and it was a blast, the minimum age on these is usually 14, but it was a great experience and I heavily recommend entertaining this adventure. Many of the rafting companies offer similar packages on similar rivers, so the deciding factor is usually, location, food and customer service.

In addition to river rafting, many companies incorporate other activities into their multi-day excursions or make those activities available, such as rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding and more. If you need to supplement you vacation a bit, many of these river rafting companies will be able to get you all settled. So when it comes to choosing a company, be sure to pick the proper course, length, activities and sometimes what they offer for lunch can be the deciding factor!