All Idaho Springs Tours & Excursions in 2026 - page 2

This is a special trip with only 1 launch per day and we are the only outfitter offering it as a 1/2 day trip! You will start at 8200 ft in the Rocky Mountains, putting on in the natural surroundings of the free flowing snowmelt on Clear Creek in the mining town of Lawson. After warming up in the first mile, you will find yourself in the steep and narrow rapids of Meat and Bones followed by Lumpy's, each is close to a ½ mile long class IV+. Follow that up with our most popular stretch of river, Upper Clear Creek Canyon, filled with continuous class III and IV rapids that include Nomad, Phoenix (named after the Phoenix Gold Mine), and your final rapid, Outer Limits, which is sure to get your attention as you return to Idaho Springs. This is a great way to start your day rafting near Denver!

Starting outside of Idaho Springs, near the historic biker bar Kermit’s, made famous by writer Hunter S Thompson, this is the “Classic” Advanced Canyon, following US Route 6 through Clear Creek Canyon Park to Golden. Plunging over Upper and Lower Beaver falls will get your attention but they are just the start. You will go through the steepest section of rapids commercially available in Colorado! Guide Ejector, Double Knife, Hells ½ mile (Hell's Corner and Deep Hell) followed immediately by the Terminators will drop you over 150 vertical feet in less than a mile. This steep, continuous and technical section of Clear Creek boasts an average gradient of over 100 ’ per mile and is the most extreme ½ day whitewater rafting near Denver! If you’re physically fit, know how to swim, have an aggressive attitude, and 15 years old, this is the Colorado rafting trip for you!

Enjoy a full‑day advanced whitewater experience covering every stretch of Clear Creek. Start high in the Rocky Mountains at 8,200 ft, navigating Class IV+ rapids like Meat & Bones and Lumpy’s before powering through continuous Class III–IV rapids in Upper Clear Creek Canyon. Break for a relaxing riverside lunch in Idaho Springs, then continue through fun Class II–III waves in Middle Clear Creek Canyon. Finish strong in Lower Clear Creek Canyon, home to the steepest and most intense whitewater on the river, featuring dramatic drops and Class IV–V rapids such as Guide Ejector, Double Knife, and Hell’s Half Mile. This 18‑mile adventure is designed for fit, confident swimmers ages 15+ seeking the most complete and challenging rafting experience near Denver.

Embark on an exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure on Clear Creek, just 30 minutes from Denver. This intermediate trip offers over 3 hours on the water, navigating continuous Class III–IV rapids that challenge and thrill. You'll tackle notable rapids such as “Nomad,” “Fall River,” “Deliverance,” and the formidable “Outer Limits,” all set against the stunning backdrop of Clear Creek Canyon. Midway through the journey, enjoy a well-deserved, deli-style riverside lunch, providing a moment to relax and take in the surrounding natural beauty. Our guides average 5 years of experience and all necessary personal equipment is included: personal flotation devices, helmets, and wetsuits. This trip is perfect for adventure seekers aged 15 and up, seeking a memorable rafting experience close to Denver.

Clear Creek is one of the best whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado, and for great reasons. The canyon offers all levels of whitewater challenge, and easy access. The setting includes scenic flats, mining ruins, wildlife, and, of course, exciting whitewater flowing over rocks. This trip is your chance to participate in an unusually challenging raft trip close to Denver, Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Winter Park. Canyon scenery is dramatic, and adrenaline will be high! Nearby is Idaho Springs, where the gold rush began. Founded in 1859, this quaint town is nestled in the foothills of some of Colorado’s best mountains and holds a unique place in the state’s history. As the place where the Colorado Gold Rush started, this little town holds a lot of secrets, including one of the best river rafting areas in the state! The season for advanced rafting on Clear Creek is normally June and July, but is dependent on water flows.