Rafting trips
Here’s the forecast for Colorado’s 2019 whitewater-rafting season: Rad, thanks to epic snowfall this winter that will probably mean swift-moving rivers. Colorado’s rivers go from wild to mild as the season progresses. Generally speaking, spring snowmelt translates to fastmoving water in May and June, and the rivers, along with their rapids, become more tame by July or so, making for more leisurely floats later in the summer. Ready to ride the rapids? Here are five rivers weaving throughout Colorado that are great for whitewater rafting.
ARKANSAS RIVER
The Arkansas River is one of Colorado’s most popular rafting spots, and the stretch that carves through the Royal Gorge in Cañon City is an adventurer’s paradise. Echo Canyon River Expeditions, a rafting outfitter, runs a few different trips. For intrepid types, the Royal Gorge trip moves through Class III to Class V rapids. Trips through Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Family Float are calmer alternatives led by the outfitter. Echo Canyon raft guides wear Go-pros attached to their helmets, capturing a personalized highlight reel of your river adventure. Turn the trip into a weekend getaway by staying at the Royal Gorge Cabins — luxe digs across from the river outfitter’s outpost.
Insider tip: Not only can you paddle through rapids in the Arkansas River, you can also soar above them via a zipline or,
superhero-style, while strapped into a harness on a skycoaster ride inside the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Pricing: Half-day prices with Echo Canyon start at $74 per person
Departure city: Cañon City More info: raftecho.com
DOLORES RIVER
In the southwest section of the state, the Dolores River earns extra credit with rafters because of its surrounding scenery and rich history. Class II, III and IV rapids roll past crimsoncolored cliffs that are dotted with pinyon juniper trees and ponderosa pines and rafters pass by Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs. The Dolores River Canyon is the secondlongest Western canyon with a river running through it. The longest is the Grand Canyon.
Whether the river can run raft trips is reliant on snowpack and dam releases from Mcphee Reservoir. Last year was a nogo, but Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours confirmed that it is planning limited multiday Dolores River trips, including a threeday Slickrock trip leaving May 21 and May 24; a twoday Ponderosa trip leaving May 22; a fiveday Slickrock and Ponderosa trip leaving May 22; and a sixday Slickrock and Ponderosa trip leaving May 21. Along the Ponderosa trips, rafters are in for a special thrill: The Snaggletooth cascade is a steep, quartermile drop. Insider tip: Plan your trip, stat! Because of limited dam releases, trips are limited to mid-to-late May. Pricing: Trips start at $295 for youths (minimum ages may vary based on rafting conditions) and $415 for adults Departure city: Cortez More info: Mild2wildrafting.com
CLEAR CREEK RIVER
Looking for a quick day trip? It’s a little more than 30 miles from Denver to Idaho Springs to enjoy a float down the Clear Creek River. Clear Creek Rafting Co. offers several trips for varying ability levels, starting with a beginner trip that includes 10 rapids and going all the way up to an advanced fullday trip packed with 20 big rapids along a 16mile journey.
This outfitter also offers evening runs that depart at 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to give you a new perspective of this nearby river. Trips vary in difficulty level, with rapids ranging from Class II to Class V. Insider tip: Wetsuits and splash jackets are complimentary with Clear Creek Rafting Co. Pricing: Half-day trips start at $52 for adults and $42 for kids ages 7-12 Departure city: Idaho Springs More info: clearcreekrafting.com
POUDRE RIVER
Rafters along Northern Colorado’s Cache la Poudre River can spot rockcliff formations such as “Kissing Gorillas” and navigate rapids such as “Roller Coaster” and “Pinball” (yes, they are as fun as they sound!). During these fun trips, A Wanderlist Adventure will also make a stop, so rafters can enjoy a dip in a favorite swimming hole.
You’ll roll along Class II and III rapids on the “Taste of Whitewater” trip. The “Blast of Whitewater” trip features Class III and IV rapids. Insider tip: Rafters can receive $10 off per person with the code “save10” until June 14 or after Aug. 4. Pricing: Half-day trips start at $60 Departure city: Laporte More info: awanderlustadventure.com
YAMPA RIVER
Rafting along the Yampa River is about as close as you’ll get to time traveling. The Yampa River cuts through the canyon walls of Dinosaur National Monument, where tourists can find walls of dinosaur fossils. (OARS leads multiday trips through the national monument, taking rafters into Utah.) For a shorter excursion, take a quick trip with Bucking Rainbow Outfitters and wind through the heart of historic downtown. The trip departs across from the ski mountain.
The OARS trip comes across Class III and IV rapids, while the Bucking Rainbow Outfitters’ trips traverse over Class II and III rapids. Insider tip: The best time to take this trip is late May and early June. Pricing: Half-day trips start at $50 for adults and $45 for children (minimum ages may vary based on rafting conditions) Departure city: Steamboat Springs More info: buckingrainbow.com/
yampa-river.html International scale of river difficulty Class I: Moving water, riffles, small waves
Class II: Easy rapids, waves, clear channels
Class III: Large waves, obstacles, narrow passages
Class IV: Long rapids, unavoidable waves, many obstacles
Class V: Violent rapids, extremely difficult, unseen hazards
Class VI: Unpredictable, dangerous, nearly impossible to run