Colorado Whitewater Rafting Guide

For the past few years, Colorado and its river outfitters have felt the wrath of mother nature and the drought that she has brought upon us. Last season, most outfitters took a beating and business was way down, but this year things are looking up nicely.

Snow has been falling late this year and more is on the way, so hopefully the Spring run-off will offer a business boom for rafting companies. Our local economy could definitely use the boost and river outfitter owners might be able to sigh a little relief. We hope!

Some of the rafting companies have already sent boats down some of Colorado's beautiful rivers. They are getting a good jump on the season, probably the earliest start in 4-5 years. Let's hope for a fun and long rafting season.

Colorado offers some of the best and most fun rafting and has rivers for all skill levels. Throughout the state, there are mild to wild rafting trips waiting for you.

Right outside of Fort Collins, up Poudre Canyon, runs the Cache La Poudre river. This fun river has class II on up to class IV rapids. A Wanderlust Adventure has rafting trips for beginners to advanced. With rapids called Pinball, Headless Bridge, Liquid Thunder, Big Drop and Roller Coaster they have enough action for rafters of all everyone 7 yrs and up.

• 970-482-1995 or 800-745-7238 for details

Another very popular river run is Brown's Canyon of the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, CO. This trip is perfect for families and groups or for the beginner, but the advanced rafter will still get a kick out of this mostly class III rapid run.

Brown's Canyon Rafting, owned and operated by Byron Brown and Shaun Davis is one of the smaller river outfitters, but offer tons of fun on the river with a personal touch. They also offer zip lines, paddle boards, fishing, ATV tours, horseback riding and more.

For the more advanced rafter, The Numbers is the way to go. Offering class IV and V rapids even the bravest of paddlers would cringe at. And even more intense than that is Pine Creek with almost all class V rapids, only 18 yrs and older need apply.

One of the most exciting and beautiful river runs in Colorado is in Canon City and goes underneath a bridge that is almost a 1000 feet above the river, the Royal Gorge. This trip has class III to V rapids and is exhilarating for brave beginners and hearty pros alike. On this run you must be 100% prepared for anything and everything. Good physical condition is a must, as hard paddling is required by everyone in the boat. As you come underneath the Royal Gorge Bridge, the rapids are boat crushers and your guide will insist that stay in the boat!

River Runners, is like your one stop shop for all your rafting needs. They offer a lot of runs around Colorado. Visit their website to see what they deals or specials they may have.

There are many great places in Colorado to enjoy whitewater rafting, but there are some things you should know before heading out on your adventure. Safety is the number one concern and it is very important to any river outfitter and should be to you too.

Keeping that in mind here are some quick tips:

• No matter which outfitter you go with, do your research and find one that has a proven safety record and has many satisfied customers.
• Always choose a river that fits you or your group's skill level, don't ever underestimate the river or over estimate your skill!
• Be well prepared- stay hydrated, sunscreen, camera, extra warm clothing(don't wear cotton), food. Talk to your outfitter prior to find out what you will need.
• Be prepared for anything, and be a team player. You are part of a paddling team on the boat.
• LISTEN to your guide, have a lot of fun, but take the river very seriously! Remember, even in small rapids boats can flip and you may be in the water, be calm and think about what the guide taught you.