Get Ready For Whitewater
There's nothing more thrilling than whitewater rafting on one of America's great rivers. Many people dream of such a trip, considering it to be the adventure of a lifetime. With the rafting season rapidly approaching, now's the time to make those dreams come true.
This short video clip gives an overview showing what rafting trips can be like. Professional river guides can customize trips to match their clients' interests. Many river trips descend the mighty Colorado, through classic canyons like Westwater (moderate rapids), Cataract and Grand (both intense rapids). Lesser-known rivers are also good options. High water creates rapids on the Yampa that are as thrilling as any you will encounter anywhere on a commercially guided trip, in a deep canyon with beautiful tiger-striped walls. On the Green River in Lodore Canyon, Disaster Falls and Hells Half Mile provide plenty of excitement for even the most daring enthusiasts.
The San Juan River provides a completely different experience. The water flows over shifting sand that produces unique rolling waves - giving rafters an amusement park-like ride. In those spots the fun comes at a rapid pace. Overall, though, the San Juan is relaxing and well suited for families. (See info on other family trips. The San Juan's warm water is inviting and most people spend considerable time swimming or soaking in it. Side canyons offer excellent hiking opportunities, into scenic grottos with hanging gardens and clear, cool swimming holes.
Our rafting season starts in May and runs into October. Thrill seekers like to ride the high spring runoff because it produces the most exciting trips on many rivers. Only a limited number of slots are available for those prime trips and they usually fill up months in advance. Trips over summer holidays also fill up quickly. You need to book immediately to be sure you can work a rafting adventure into your schedule. Let us help you book your trip. Check our events calendar for other activities. SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE / UPDATE
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Our rivers offer a variety of rafting experiences, with options that will satisfy virtually any appetite for adventure. Some of our rapids are intense, ranking among the most challenging in the world, but there are plenty of trips available where the rapids are moderate. You can also take excursions on relaxing flatwater (no rapids at all), in very scenic canyons.
It is easy to imagine such a trip. You hear the thunderous roar of the rapids-you hear it even before you see the whitewater. You approach cautiously, scouting, planning your approach. You paddle ferociously, aiming for a tongue of relatively calm water extending into the tempest. Suddenly the river grabs your raft and shoves it eight feet into the air. You hang there, momentarily suspended, and then take a roller coaster ride down into the caldron.
The cliffs along this river shelter dozens of Anasazi Indian cultural sites, and they add a mysterious quality to the trip. The Anasazi were excellent stone masons and they built homes that have endured for 1,000 years. You can see some from the river, clinging precariously to the sheer canyon walls. To see others you must hike trails blazed by these ancient people, into remarkable side canyons like lower 