Top Colorado Float Trips

If you love outdoor adventure, whitewater rafting in Colorado is a must. On this whitewater tour from Buena Vista, raft down the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon, which provides the perfect combination of alpine scenery, rapids, calm stretches and family-friendly fun. With an experienced guide, you’ll navigate boulders and rapids known as Toilet Bowl and Big Drop.

Spend a morning on Colorado's San Miguel River with this half-day rafting tour near Telluride. With an experienced river guide, you'll paddle through consistent Class II and intermittent Class III rapids, taking in the scenery of red rock walls and pine trees along the narrow river.

Float with the whole family down the fantastic Arkansas River against the backdrop of the remarkable Rocky Mountains this gentle whitewater rafting excursion. Get a gentle taste of the classic rafting experience, with easy Class II - III rapids. All gear and comprehensive safety briefings are provided, ensuring an exhilarating and unforgettable experience for families.

Experience the adrenaline-pumping excitement of a rafting adventure on this professionally guided, 3-hour excursion. Ride along the clear, crisp waters of the Animas River in Durango. Crash through the Class I, II and III rapids, which are less technical but no less exciting for an introductory river experience. It’s a perfect balance for kids and adults wanting to share a fun day on the river. All boating equipment, plus transportation.

Buena Vista—or BV, as the locals say—sits right in the Collegiate Peaks, Colorado’s highest concentration of 14ers. The Arkansas River flows through it all, and on this tour, you’ll get to take in the views from the water, no experience required. Let your guide paddle your raft over bouncy wave trains and calmer sections of this wild river as you and your crew float through the beauty of central Colorado.

Traverse the thrilling rapids of Brown’s Canyon National Monument on a half-day whitewater rafting tour. With one morning and two afternoon tours offered, you can easily find a departure time to fit with your schedule. In addition to an included helmet and life vest, you also enjoy instruction from your guide before the adventure begins.  Once everyone is ready, paddle down Devil’s Punchbowl, Pinball, Big Drop, and more.

Though Clear Creek is known for some of its big rapids, this family-friendly white-water rafting trip is curated for a day of kid-approved fun. Tackle 10 rapids that give you a thrill but aren’t too scary—kids five and up are welcome on board. Along the way, pass right by historic sights such as the Argo Gold Mine as well as wildlife like big horn sheep.

Spend half a day shooting the Class IV and Class V rapids of Royal Gorge on this whitewater tour from Buena Vista. With an adventure guide at the helm, you'll feel safe and comfortable conquering these rapids, winding down the river and under the world's highest suspension bridge. All equipment and instruction is included; tour is best suited to those in good physical condition.

Experience the full beauty of the Lower Animas with this 4.5-hour trip door to door, about 2.5 hours on the water, and an unforgettable adventure with expert local guides in Durango. Suited for the whole family, you will also have the option to purchase a photo package to preserve your memories when the trip is done. See historical Old West landmarks and hear stories about the early days of Durango. Our guides are more than just river guides – they are your guide to the history and lore of the region. All our Durango rafting trips include the famous whitewater park and smelter rapids.

The Lower Animas River is one of the nation's most accessible rafting trips—a must-do in Durango for a day of family-friendly fun. Your guides can provide a range of options for all comfort levels, from a mild trip for ages 4+ to a Class III trip for an adrenaline-filled ride. No matter your route, you'll get your fair share of beautiful scenery, thrills, and splashes.

Colorado's most popular whitewater rafting trip trough Brown's Canyon National Monument. Enjoy spectacular scenery and thrilling whitewater on this professionally guided river trip.

Fly down Class III to IV rapids on this challenging whitewater rafting course in the Royal Gorge. Take in views of the 1,000-foot (300-meter) tall canyon walls from the waters of the Arkansas River as a guide helps you navigate your way down the course. This tour includes all equipment and a morning and afternoon departure time.

Experience the excitement of a Colorado whitewater rafting adventure safely on a guided river excursion. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure time, then ride along the Arkansas River in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, home to herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The driver/guidetakes photos along the way, which will be available for purchase at the end of the trip.

Leave civilization behind for a few hours on a half-day rafting tour through Royal Gorge. The thrilling 3-hour excursion is the perfect opportunity to combine your love of nature and adventure sports. The class III, IV, and V rapids take you through Sunshine Falls, the Narrows, Sledgehammer, and more. You can leave your camera on dry land, as a professional photographer takes pictures that are available for purchase.

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.

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!

Paddle 'The Numbers,' a challenging section of the Arkansas River, on a thrilling white-water rafting trip from Buena Vista. You'll shoot through a series of rapids, drops, and tight channels, with continuous white water that makes for a high-adrenaline experience from beginning to end. After a morning on the water, this Arkansas River rafting trip includes a barbecue lunch, a great way to refuel and relax after a classic Colorado adventure.

Explore Browns Canyon National Monument on a white-water rafting adventure. Spend a few hours shooting the Class III rapids, perfect for beginner or intermediate paddlers, in the company of a guide—perfect for families who want to raft together. Keep a lookout for local wildlife such as big horn sheep and blue heron as you paddle, learning about the area through your guide's commentary.

Spend the full day whitewater rafting in the Royal Gorge in Colorado. With an adventure guide in the lead and all equipment provided, conquering unfamiliar terrain is easy and safe. Paddle through the 1,100-foot (335-meter) deep gorge and raft under the highest suspension bridge in the world, learning about the area's ecosystem and history through guided commentary.

Consistent class III rapids keep things exciting as you paddle downriver on this Clear Creek white-water rafting trip. Along with your guide and your raft-mates, come up against rapids for 90 minutes—and even give whitewater surfing a try. This challenging course is suitable for those ages 14 and older.

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!