How to choose the best rafting adventure in Colorado

In Colorado there are multiple options for a summer whitewater splash. You can make it a long day trip, stay at affiliated lodging for a cushy overnight, get GoPro video of your thrills, chill out on a float trip, get a geology lesson from a private guide, pack a sleeping bag for an overnight along the river and more. Here are a few suggestions for planning a summer river trip.

Stay overnight

Don’t drive for hours just to spend a few hours on the water — make a weekend of it. Some outfitters can meet all of your needs offering tents, cabins and other accommodations. Echo Canyon River Expeditions near Cañon City, for example, has a variety of options. Basic glamping tent? Check. Luxury glamping tent with air conditioner? Check. Cabin with vaulted ceiling, indoor-outdoor fireplace, kitchen and shower? Check. Getting up early for your rafting trip is easy when you’re a 30-second drive from the gathering spot.

Three Rivers Resort in Almont has lodge-style rooms, rustic cabins and larger vacation homes close to the Taylor River where the rafting trips take place. Make sure to note housekeeping and marijuana use policies when booking. Rancho del Rio near Bond lets you camp close to the Colorado River, stay in a nearby cabin or rent a bunkhouse for up to six people. Lawson Adventure Park & Resort in Dumont has yurts and cabins for rent. You’ve got plenty of options.

Rafting and more!

Consider maxing out your adrenaline rush with a rafting and zipline package, floating to dinner at a local restaurant, going from rafting to the local rails, or other activities. Echo Canyon River Expeditions has partnered with local businesses to offer “raft &” packages such as Royal Gorge Raft & Zipline, Raft-n-Rail and Raft & ATV. Three Rivers Resort offers “Float n’ Dine” which includes a scenic float trip on the Gunnison River to Garlic Mike’s Restaurant.

Arkansas Valley Adventures has an extensive menu of combo activities to choose from, including rafting, rock climbing and ziplining. One option packed with Colorado action offers an afternoon rafting Clear Creek or Browns Canyon and then heading to a via ferrata route. American Adventure Expeditions has raft/hot springs and raft/horse riding packages that feature a ride in Browns Canyon near Buena Vista.

Float on

Not everyone is hip to Class IV-V rapids and potential swims in icy snowmelt. A float trip with mild Class I-II rapids could be plenty of adventure for families with young children. These trips are great later in the season when runoff is lower and the water is less bumpy. Echo Canyon River Expeditions has a float trip designed for visitors age 4 and older through Bighorn Sheep Canyon (yes, you may see sheep). Arkansas Valley Adventures has full-day float trips on the Upper Colorado River for rafters age 5 and older. Three Rivers Resort has a float trip so mild on the Lower Taylor River that you’ll manage “ripples” rather than waves. Even 2-year-olds are welcome.

Get a video or photo

It’s complicated: Your hands are gripping a paddle and your eyes are focused on the whitewater in front of you. How are you going to snap that Instagram-worthy photo of your wild ride?

It’s become pretty standard on commercial rafting trips to have a photographer on the riverbank to snap your expression as you hit the biggest rapid, but it’s not a given. So ask about photos when booking your trip.

Echo Canyon River Expeditions has GoPro cameras mounted on every raft to capture your awesome and possibly hilarious reactions to the rapids on video. You can select a photo and video package as a souvenir of this quintessential Colorado experience. There is also a photographer stationed at the biggest rapid.

Tailor your ride

You don’t have to go rafting with a group of strangers. You’ll pay more, but you can book a guide for your next rafting trip. Whitewater Rafting in Glenwood Springs has private raft trips for up to eight people with Class II-IV rapids on the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers. You can even opt for a catered lunch with beer or wine. Arkansas River Tours out of Cotopaxi offers half-day, full-day, and two-day private raft trips for beginner to intermediate rafters (at least age 4 or 35 pounds). Colorado River Center, affiliated with Rancho del Rio near Bond, rents inflatable kayaks and rafts (along with gear such as helmets, paddles, PFDs) so it’s just you and the water — it doesn’t get more private than that!