COLORADO RIVER RAFTING 1-DAY OR HALF-DAY TRIPS TO GET ON YOUR RADAR
Take it from your favorite paddle junkies: we’ve had the opportunity to explore rivers all over our home state. Colorado rafting adventures are unlike any other. If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore many of them, let us fill you in on how great a Colorado whitewater rafting trip can be.
Here are the Colorado whitewater river rafting trips that must be on your radar!
Northwest Colorado
We can’t talk about rafting trips in Colorado without getting into our state’s namesake river. Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River takes place on a number of great stretches that can all be done in one day. From the mouth of Gore Canyon, all the way down into Glenwood Canyon, there are a number of day-trip sections suitable for a wide range of abilities.
The Eagle River also offers some outstanding day-trip stretches. Check out the upper Eagle from Minturn to Edwards and the lower Eagle River from Wolcott to the town of Eagle.
Another Norwest Colorado favorite of ours is the Roaring Fork, particularly the Slaughterhouse section.
The Yampa River offers visitors the chance to experience a 5-day wilderness trip. The scenery will leave you dumbfounded, and then you add in the class III and IV whitewater, and this one is a winner.
The Northwest area undoubtedly offers some of the best options for both expert and beginner white water rafting in Colorado. We specialize in white water rafting near Vail.
Southwest Colorado
The Animas River is a great one near Durango that offers excellent day trips, and is probably one of the best family rafting trips in Colorado. The Animas has everything from kid-friendly excursions to difficult whitewater.
The San Juan River is unique in that visitors can experience an extended, 7-day wilderness adventure. With no difficult rapids, it’s great for families with young children. You will feel like you are the first person to ever be there.
The Dolores River also offers overnighters, from 3-day to 7-day wilderness trips. The Dolores travels through different micro-climates, starting in the mountains with tall ponderosa pines, and then turning into a classic desert canyon trip near the Utah border.
Southeast Colorado
The Arkansas River is the undisputed Jewel of southeast Colorado and perhaps some of the most famous whitewater in the state. Well-known adventures include Arkansas river with Browns Canyon rafting trips along with the Numbers, Pine Creek, Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and the Royal Gorge.
With great day trips that are easy to reach from the front range, it’s easy to see why rafting trips on the Ark are so popular. Perfect if you’re looking for difficult or beginner white water rafting in Colorado. Browns Canyon white water rafting trips in particular can be great for a wide range of skill levels.
Northeast Colorado
The Poudre Canyon is a Front Range favorite for a Colorado whitewater rafting trip. This wild and scenic River is home to day trips just outside Fort Collins, Colorado on class III sections of the lower Poudre.
The North Platte River is a hidden gem in Colorado. But don’t let its sleepy status fool you. The Wild & Scenic North Platte offers some awesome multi-day wilderness trips that cross from Colorado up into Wyoming.
Clear Creek is a popular paddling playground that’s close to Denver and the Front Range metro area. Visitors here can enjoy day trips on several different sections of Clear Creek for a different levels of Clear Creek Colorado rafting.
If you’d like to learn more about the awesome Colorado river rafting 1-day or half-day trips that we offer here at Sage Outdoor Adventures, please check out our Rafting Page. You can also contact us online or simply give us a call at 970-476-3700. Come enjoy white water rafting near Vail, CO with us!