Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Upper Colorado River
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Vail, USA
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore the untouched wilderness of the Upper Colorado River from the water with this easy whitewater rafting adventure. Set off with your expert rafting guide south of the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the river offers gentle class I and II rapids—ideal for first-time and beginner paddlers and families with kids—to hone your skills while you spot native wildlife along the banks and take in spectacular canyon views.
- A gentle stretch of the Colorado River for fun but easy whitewater rafting
- Learn paddling basics with an expert rafting guide before you set off
- Class I and II rapids (and occasional Class III at higher flows), ideal for families
- Admire the views, spot native wildlife, and visit a riverside hot springs
What's Included
- All safety equipment, guides, and rafting equipment included.
- Splash jacket
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Rancho Del Rio4199 Trough Rd, Bond, CO 80423, USA
**IMPORTANT MEETING LOCATION NOTE** DON'T GO TO SILVERTHORNE.** Check in at the Colorado Rafting Company boathouse at Rancho Del Rio, 4199 Trough Road, Bond, CO 80423. Call a day before for detailed meetup instructions.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Kevin_F
This time of year the river is cool and not too rough, maybe rated high 2/low 3 rapids, which is perfect for me. Our guide, Tanner, was excellent. My family and I felt safe with him, and he was very personable and knowledgeable. The other guide, Dustin, was also excellent. There seemed to be high regard for safety from both of them. I highly recommend a half-day rafting trip.
Reviews
5.0
based on 121 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Suzy_M, Jul 2026
The scenery was beautiful, but the rafting trip itself was very slow-paced and better suited for young children or older adults looking for a very gentle float. Unfortunately, our guide barely interacted with the group, so the experience felt quiet and lacked the fun, informative atmosphere we were hoping for
Response from Host, Jul 2026
This trip is not an action-packed whitewater rafting trip except during early season, but I'm glad to hear that it was as scenic as promised. It is unusual that your guide was quiet; usually they pepper guests with dad jokes and information about the history of the canyon, and for this I apologize. We hope you'll let us take you out again another time.
Nick_B, Jul 2026
Chase did an amazing job making everyone feel comfortable, from little kids to adults. We had a lot of fun and are ready for our next rafting adventure.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks for coming out with us and our guide Chase through this beautiful canyon! Happy to learn we'll be seeing you again! Enjoy the rest of summer.
Laine_D, Jul 2026
We had a great time with Tanner because he had clear instructions, and funny dad jokes! We felt safe and had a blast cruising down the river.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Glad you enjoyed the Upper Colorado rafting trip, and our guide, Tanner. Hope you come back another time!
Deborah_S, Jun 2026
Fun ride! Tanner is an experienced and knowledgeable guide. I recommend the Colorado Rafting Co for all ages. Great group activity. Saw a lot of wildlife and beautiful scenery.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
This river is highly recommended for the scenery and camaraderie with bigger groups. Our guides do love to show it off! Thanks for the review.
Kate_V, Jun 2026
The scenery and water were beautiful, we he’d the upper Colorado. The rapids were pretty tame, Tanner our wonderful guide was the life of the expedition 😊 I highly recommend this for beginners. My family had a great time
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Yes, this is a great float with dependable flow through a magnificent canyon, suitable for all ages to enjoy. Hope to see you again!
Thomas_A, Jun 2026
Ethan was a great guide ensuring our safety as well as keeping us focused and pointing out various historical landmarks and fun facts along the journey.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
There's lots to see in this beautiful canyon: mining ruins, attempts at building dams, wildlife, ranches and steep canyons...a wonderful place to enjoy with friends and family. Thanks for giving kudos to Ethan!
Laura_K, Jun 2026
Our guides Brandi and Julia were fantastic! I would highly recommend this tour. Brandi was a blast and I wish I could do it again!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
So glad you had fun! Please do come back.
Melly_M, Jun 2026
What a splendid experience! The water flow was low but both guides brought great energy to compensate. Tanner and Jason were fun, engaging, humorous, and clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about all the things - safety, water fun, environmental impacts and historical values. Even with the low water flow, the experience still provided for a beautiful day to enjoy the views of nature, watch for wildlife (lots of birding to be had), chill and enjoy the sunshine, laugh it up with the guides, and appreciate what the water provides. Please take it from me, speaking as a local that lives in Vail, that Colorado Adventure Guides is definitely a fantastic guiding company!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks so much for calling out our guides! They love sharing their knowledge about wildlife and the history of our rivers. At this water level, this is a great year to float through the gorgeous valley with the whole family and enjoy seeing the geese families and eagles. Since you're a Vail local, we'll hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing us!
Kera_L, Sep 2025
Getting there was truly an adventure, but once we found where we were going everything was great! Our guide Tanner was simply the best, he was top notch and very knowledgeable of the area and what he was doing. He made it a worthwhile tour.
Curry and Kera
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Glad to read this! Thanks for joining us downriver.
Bernard_B, Sep 2025
Joe was our guide and he is awesome. Very informative and was fun to be with. His dog Nomad is beautiful and great too.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Nomad stars in our video at our Colorado Rafting Company website landing page! Glad you enjoyed the trip, and we hope to see you again next year.
Lynn_W, Aug 2025
Tanner and Dustin were our guides and did a fantastic job! We had a wonderful rafting trip and it was very safe.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Terrific! Thanks for the review.
Christina_D, Aug 2025
Tanner did an amazing job taking us down the river. He was funny, informative, but most importantly focused on safety. 100% recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Great to hear! Thanks for going out with us.
Kevin_F, Aug 2025
This time of year the river is cool and not too rough, maybe rated high 2/low 3 rapids, which is perfect for me. Our guide, Tanner, was excellent. My family and I felt safe with him, and he was very personable and knowledgeable. The other guide, Dustin, was also excellent. There seemed to be high regard for safety from both of them. I highly recommend a half-day rafting trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Wonderful to hear you had a good trip. Hope to see you again soon!
Kerry_G, Aug 2025
Tanner, Boyd and Brandy are running a 5 star experience on the Colorado River. They consider safety before all else, and still find a way to inject their fun personalities and humor into everything. The River was low so a very calm experience, still made lively with fun turns and great commentary.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Great to hear - our guides are the best! Hope to see you again soon.
Gary_S, Aug 2025
Was such a fun, beautiful and stress free experience! Our guide Tanner was amazing! Icing on the cake was that we saw bald eagles!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Wonderful to know! This is our family favorite trip - relaxing and gorgeous. Nice to see the baldies have returned in force in this last decade. Thanks for going out with us!
Kym_P, Jul 2025
It was the most amazing trip. Tanner led the security briefing with good humour but obviously takes security very seriously. Dustin drove us to the river from where we started our journey in the raft with our guide Boyd. He pointed out areas of interest with a great knowledge of the history of the river. He also pointed out wildlife, including a golden eagle on its nest. It was our first time and it was such good fun that we would love to do it again, especially with these guys!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Wonderful to hear that you got to see an eagle. The valley feels so remote, but it is totally accessible. Thanks for the review and we hope to see you again!
Cliff_K, Jul 2025
Very laid back and a trip anybody can enjoy. Tanner was very knowledgeable making the trip more enjoyable
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks!
Richard_B, Jul 2025
Great experience with fun and knowledgeable guides. Tanner, Dustin and pretty boy where awesome . Carry water for the trip and don't wear crocs.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Yes - you need shoes that stay on your feet! Water sandals with straps, old tennis shoes, but no flip flops or Crocs. If you should fall in, or want to jump off the boulders into the river to cool off, you need shoes that will stay on. Thanks for the reminder!
Karen_T, Jul 2025
Our guide Boyd was the perfect guide for our beginning rafting family. Tanner led the crew and was outstanding as well.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for the review!
Elizabeth_E, Jul 2025
The rapids are graded mainly a1 with some level 2 rapids. It is great for beginners and kids and if you want a fun leisurely ride down the river. Very scenic. Tanner our main guide was exceptional. Very entertaining and improved the quality of the trip. Our raft guide Jason was also very good.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
The mighty Colorado River river passes through a deep canyon it has carved out over eons. It feels remote, more like a national park, but it's within an hour or two of almost all of central Colorado. Thanks for joining us!
Hershel_G, Jul 2025
Amazing family rafting on the Upper Colorado! Our guide, Tanner, was fantastic—engaging, fun, and interactive. The scenery was stunning, rapids exciting but safe, and the experience unforgettable for everyone. Highly recommend for a fun, safe, and memorable outdoor adventure with kids!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
This trip is our favorite way to create family memories that will last for years. Thank you for the review and we hope to see you all again soon!
Jeri_W, Jul 2025
Lots of fun! Low rapids. Very good for younger kids! Our kids are older and would have preferred a little more excitement. That was my fault as I just booked a trip that said “family friendly.” Tanner did a great job adding some more excitement to our trip and we were really thankful!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Natural flows are hard to predict year on year, however, this river is one of the few that always does flow all summer long. Its waters are needed downstream in other states. Flows do vary greatly year on year, though. Another benefit to controlled flow is that we can raft this river (and few others) all the way through September, when you can enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Glad you and your family had fun. We are fortunate to work on 3 different rivers, each with different flows and rapids classes. Hope to have you back on one of our other rivers.
Terence_K, Jun 2025
Very chill 1/2 day excursion led by a great guide named Tanner. Couple of small rapids, nice scenery and very entertaining yet professional and safety conscious guide. Fun afternoon.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
So glad you enjoyed the beauty and remote feel of the Colorado River and its valley. This is our favorite group and all-ages activity of the summer. Hope to see you again soon!
Jeff_p, Jun 2025
Tanner was an excellent guide! We hoped for a few more rapids but he did the best for what we had to work with. Knowledgable, funny, experienced. Would definitely recommend
Response from Host, Jun 2025
This spring flow has been lower than in most years, but the Upper Colorado rafting trip is always chill and family-oriented. But what a beautiful backdrop! Thanks for giving kudos to Tanner, and we're glad you enjoyed the (mostly) float. Hope to see you on Clear Creek for some cold, splashy, rock-filled fun. It's peaking now in mid-June.
Adam_D, May 2025
Amazing experience ! Absolutely loved the whole experience. Tanner was our guide and was exceptional. Extremely friendly , professional, enthusiastic and knowledgable . Kept us feeling safe throughout . Can not thank him enough. Highly recommended
Response from Host, May 2025
Thanks for joining us near the beginning of the season, and for giving Tanner a great review. We appreciate it, and hope to have you back.
TERESA_M, Sep 2024
My husband and I had a wonderful time on the rafting trip with our guide, Tanner. The river was lower and slower than in Spring time but still exciting and fun. We didn't get drenched but we did get very wet so I would recommend wearing fabric that dries quickly. Also water shoes or water ready sandals. Tanner was informative and extremely knowledgeable on everything ranging from safety to enjoying all aspects of rafting. We will definitely return for another trip with him.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Great advice on what to wear: quick dry clothes and shoes that stay on your feet. Hope to see you again soon!
Damien_W, Sep 2024
Tanner, our guide was amazing!! He was fun, knowledgeable, and generally engaging. Thank for a great adventure. We are already looking at booking the overnight adventure. Thank you!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Wow, great to hear! We're one of only a few outfitters doing overnights on the Upper Colorado River. Hope to see you soon.
Cindy_B, Sep 2024
Absolutely loved the experience. So much fun. Even for active seniors. Our tour guide, Nathan, was the best. Such a beautiful ride down the Colorado River. Worth every penny.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for going with us, and for the review! We love the river when it glows with fall foliage! Such a treat.
JAMIE_J, Sep 2024
Our guide was enjoyable and the scenery was amazing! We loved the whole trip start to finish. Colin was fun and knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
This Upper Colorado trip is a great, scenic float at this time late in the year when river flows are low. Sit back, chat with friends, paddle a few rapids, and enjoy the magnificent canyons and wide open grasslands while the fall colors are exceptionally vivid. Glad you enjoyed it! Hope to see you again.
Nancy_D, Sep 2024
It was my first time rafting and Tanner was great. You can tell he loves what he does. Would recommend him and this trip without reservation!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Awesome! Thanks for the great review!
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