Colorado Vacation: Whitewater Rafting Rivers

If you are planning a Colorado vacation this summer, and if you enjoy, or think you might enjoy, whitewater rafting, here is some information about five of the premier whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado.

The Arkansas River

The headwaters of the Arkansas River are located in the Colorado Rockies, not far from the Continental Divide, and the river drops 5,000 ft. as it runs from that location to the end of its "raftable" section near Cañon City, Colorado. There are areas of the river that are suitable for family whitewater raft trips with small children, such as the section known as the "Upper Bighorn Sheep Canyon", which is located near Salida, Colorado. There are also sections for experts only, and a Colorado vacation is not complete for many expert whitewater rafting enthusiasts without rafting the extreme whitewater rafting section known as the "Numbers", which includes steep and very technical drop, radical maneuvers, powerful hydraulics and lateral raft moves as you "thread the needle" in boulder filled whitewaters. The Arkansas River is raftable from early May to early September.

Gunnison River

This whitewater rafting experience is a world renown Colorado vacation spot for whitewater rafters. You will traverse the river at the bottom of the towering black granite cliffs known as the "Black Canyon of the Gunnison." To raft this river requires that you hike a mile down an easy trail. You will need to carry in your own gear, but boats and group gear is brought into the canyon by horseback the day before the trip. You will be guaranteed a unique Colorado vacation wilderness experience because only two groups of twelve people are permitted to raft the gorge per day.

The Gunnison River is just south of Grand Junction, near the towns of Delta and Montrose in Western Colorado

Dolores River

Located about 30 miles northwest of Cortez, Colorado, home of Mesa Verde National Park, and west of Telluride and Durango, this river is an exceptional whitewater rafting "wilderness" river, particularly during May and June. The river flows through five major western "life zones", from alpine at its headwaters to desert terrain along much of its lower sections. The landscape is filled with sandstone cliffs and Ponderosa pines. One of the most popular whitewater rafting areas of the Dolores is the Ponderosa Gulch.

Colorado River

Your Colorado vacation on the Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountain National Park and flows down to the town of Kremmling, where it becomes a gently flowing river that invites all levels of whitewater rafters to float its waters. You will see all types of landscapes as you float the Colorado, from ranch meadows to valleys, craggy cliffs and steep slopes. There are willows and cottonwoods, pines, pinions and junipers. This gentle river is the perfect introduction to whatewater rafting for all vacationers to Colorado.

North Platte River
Beginning in the mountains near Walden, Colorado and flowing 618 miles before joining the South Platte River in Nebraska, the North Platte River is one of Colorado's only remaining free-flowing rivers. One of Colorado's best kept whitewater rafting secrets, the river canyon begins near the board of Colorado and Wyoming, west of Fort Collins and east of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It holds some of Colorado's finest rapids, guaranteed to provide an outstanding early season Colorado vacation adventure.

Whether expert or novice, you will find the ideal whitewater rafting experience on your Colorado vacation by checking out one of these Colorado whitewater rafting rivers!