Ok. So we at this Colorado rafting company are guilty. Yep, Highside Adventure Tours regularly posts info on travel deals. We like to share the goods we find when it comes to cheap travel in and around Colorado, but we recently stumbled upon an article that brings us back into reality.

Like Mom always said … if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In this time of hotel deals, cheap car rentals, free flights and insane offers, don’t forget to read the fine print.

When we post deals we find online, we’ll be sure to read the fine print for you, and of course we won’t send you to a page that requires your soul or a first-born child. We will, however, continue to publish the things we like, the deals we’ll be taking advantage of and the discounts on our favorite places to play.

As it applies to rafting, beware river fees, user fees and miscellaneous taxes. Of the rivers we run, only the Colorado River and the Arkansas River have user fees. Some of these fees go to the BLM, others go to the owner of the private land where raft companies take their boats out of the water. Don’t be afraid to ask what the user fees and taxes are and where they go. Don’t be afraid to ask for a straight answer.

For more info on the fine print, check out The Seattle Times’ article on the fine print of travel deals.

Most people who fly into Colorado arrive in Denver. And though we don’t necessarily think of our state capitol as the land of the frugal, one writer thinks we’ve got it pretty darned good. And she’s right. From free tours in town to the best deals on Rockies tickets, the Mile-High City is covered in the Detroit Free Press article Keep Your Budget Down in Denver.

Even better? It doesn’t cost much to enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s camping and cooking chili over an open fire or going for hike to investigate the best of Colorado’s spring wildflowers. This season in Colorado, take advantage of the outdoors and join us on some of our favorite cheap activities.

Go for a bike ride. From Denver and the entire Front Range to many mountain communities, Colorado’s towns boast hundreds and thousands of miles of paved bike paths.

• Spend a night in the wilderness. Camping is much cheaper than hotels, and what better way to bring the family together?
• Ok, a little advertising here. Go on a Clear Creek raft trip; it’s just 45 minutes west of Denver and trips start at $39.
• Take a hike! From climbing major 14′ers (Colorado’s 14,000-foot-plus peaks) to bringing the little ones along for a day trip, the options are endless. You’ll find waterfalls, flowers, wildlife and more. View a National Forest Service map of Colorado’s forests, and don’t forget to research county open space trails and Colorado state Parks.

With all the snow falling throughout Colorado, whitewater is the last thing on the brain. But let us change that. (After all, it’s the white stuff falling now that makes Colorado’s legendary whitewater.)

One of our past guests recently asked if we offer rafting gift certificates; the answer is, “Yes!” And they make great holiday gifts.

Call us (800-997-3448) before you get behind the curve of holiday shopping. Or after the holidays … or for your kids’ birthdays … or your parents’ wedding anniversary … Valentine’s Day … Mardi Gras, the winning soccer team, graduation, you name it.

The point is, we do offer gift certificates and they do make great gifts. Scope out the rivers on www.raftingcolorado.com and when you call, we’ll show you how far your gift certificate will go when friends and family are ready to use it.

In Colorado, rafters like to throw around numbers. “The Arkansas’s running over three grand.” “The Colorado’s at 2400.” And when vacationers show up for their summer rafting trips, they often see a blackboard with river names and numbers. Arkansas River rangers post daily info on the water level at some put-ins. So what do the numbers mean for rafting? Let’s start with cfs. It’s the abbreviation for cubic foot per second, the standard unit used to measure river flow. A cubic foot is roughly the size of a basketball, so if you draw a line straight across a river, from bank to bank, and imagine how many basketballs pass by in one second, you’ve got cfs. Rangers, of course, don’t use basketballs to measure cfs, but they do read river gauges and post real-time flows for Colorado rivers online at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/rt/. Cfs varies greatly on the rivers and creeks throughout Colorado. 1000 cfs on a wide river such as the Colorado is fairly low. But 1000 cfs on Idaho Springs’ narrow Clear Creek is extremely high water. Passing beneath bridges on Clear Creek at levels above 900 cfs becomes difficult or impossible.  On the Arkansas River, rafters paddle many different sections. Cfs may be higher through the Royal Gorge than through Brown’s Canyon, which is much further upstream than the Royal Gorge. As small streams and runoff feed into the main rivers, cfs increases. The cfs reading on any river is generally lower upstream and higher downstream.Rafters visiting Colorado from out-of-state may hear of river cutoffs in the springtime. Since the Arkansas is one of the most commercially rafted rivers in the country, the Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area (ARHA) issues safety advisements during high water. Sections such as the Royal Gorge, near Canon City, and the Numbers, near Buena Vista, are cut off to commercial rafting if the cfs reading is too high.  Visit http://parks.state.co.us/Parks/arkansasheadwaters for current conditions and advisories.

On June 20, summer officially descended on Colorado. And with families gearing up to go rafting in the Centennial State, they’re finding loads of information on rivers, rapids, trips, water levels and difficulty ratings. So what’s the difference between beginner and intermediate? Class II and Class IV?

Rapids are traditionally rated on a subjective class system from Class I to Class VI. Depending on the class of rapids along a section of river, raft companies label that section beginner, intermediate or advanced. A river such as Idaho Springs’ Clear Creek offers beginner, intermediate and advanced paddling. Beginners run Class I-III rapids and intermediate trips run a different section of river with Class III-IV rapids.

To make things more confusing, rapids can change class as water levels rise and fall. What’s suitable for five-year-olds during low water may be too rough for them during higher water. Often, rafting companies change the minimum age depending on river flows.

So if you’re planning a summer vacation in the middle of ski season, how do you know when Colorado’s rivers will be running? Traditionally, flows peak in spring and begin falling by mid-summer. But Summit County’s Blue River is too low for rafts by mid-June. Your best bet when you have questions: call the rafting company. Outfitters are a great resource for information on Colorado’s rivers and they’ll be able to help answer specific questions. As for the cost of airfare to Colorado, you’re on your own.

__________________________________________________ 

Class I – Easy. Moving water with small riffles and no significant obstacles or waves.  

Class II – Novice. Clear rapids with waves, small drops and wide channels. Occasional maneuvering may be required. 

Class III – Intermediate. Moderately difficult rapids with larger irregular waves and often, narrow channels. Complex maneuvering to avoid obstacles required.

Class IV – Advanced. Powerful rapids requiring precise maneuvering in fast, turbulent water. Complex channels with many significant obstacles to be avoided.

Class V – Expert. Extremely long, violent or obstructed rapids, often following each other almost without interruption. Drops may have large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with difficult routes. Steep gradient.

Class VI – Unrunnable.

The recent snowmelt in Summit County has caused the whitewater levels to rise to an exciting new level. The sun is out and the scenic views from the rivers are astonishing. Just yesterday I had the opputunity to take pictures of a family rafting on the Blue River. The family was all smiles and the pictures were beautiful with rushing river water and snow-capped mountains in the background.

The weather is finally starting to warm up in the Colroado high country, making whitewater rafting adventures ideal for anybody. There’s nothing like paddling through rapids while looking at the mountains on a beautiful sunny day. It’s an amazing time here in Summit County Colorado, and on the rivers of the Rocky Mountains. The best way to experiance the rising whitewater in Colorado is by calling a professional outfitter like Good Times rafting located in Frisco Colorado. The Colroado Rafting Assoiciation is another wonderful resorse for Colroado rafting information you can find the on the web at www.Colroadoraftingassociation.com.

Colorado whitewater rafting on Clear CreekThe record snowpack this winter has left Colorado in great shape for whitewater rafting. Even though it is still snowing in some parts of Colorado and mother nature is determined to keep the water frozen in her grips, it looks like not even she can prevent the inevitable snow melt and run off.  In preperation for heavy snow melt, most of the reservoirs are releasing water to make room for what could be the highest run off season in memory. This has dranages such as the Arkansas River, Colorado River and the Blue River  running at wonderful flows for this time of year.  Early starts to these rivers are making rafting in early May a pleasent surprise.  The heavy snow melt should also result in a longer than normal whitewater rafting season with good water flows lasting throughout August and into mid September.   So get the troops ready and plan to take advantage of an epic rafting season. �

Winter snow pack has expectations high for summer run-off into Colorado rivers. This 2008  season is shaping up to be one of the biggest snow run-off years in recent memory.  The Colorado snowpack should lead to an exciting, highwater rafting season. Rivers such as the Arkansas River, Clear Creek and Colorado Rivers should reach high water flows that rival the big waters years of 1984 and 1995.  These were some of the best water years Colorado rivers have ever seen with sustainable water flows all summer long making them the best years for whitewater rafting since the industry started in the early 80’s.  In recent years, Colorado rivers have struggled to maintain good, raftable waterflows through early August.  But this year we should see high to medium water flows throughout August and maybe even into September.  If ever there was a season to get out there and experience Colorado’s rivers; it’s this year.  Colorado whitewater rafting will be exciting all summer long.  There will be plenty of rafting for all abilities, it’s just a matter of picking the right section and river that fits your ability level. One of the best ways to do this is by calling a professional outfitter or association such as Highside Adventure Tours, (800.997.3448 – www.raftingcolorado.com ), Good Times Rafting (800.808.0357 - www.goodtimesrafting.com ), or the Colorado Rafting Assoiciation (www.coloradoraftingassociation.com).  A professional outfitter is a great way to experience Colorado rivers and still be prepared for exciting high water. Remember, as the sun shines and the water rises; take out your spirit of adventure, dust it off and get ready for some great whitewater rafting.

The Clear Creek River is on the cutting edge of Colorado rafting. . .

Starting high in the Rockies, Clear Creek comes roaring out of the winter snows on the continental divide to thrill beginners and experts alike. When the water levels rise in spring and summer, it creates a huge variety of incredible whitewater – and the action is non-stop.

Clear Creek White Water rafting trips can suit any taste. Beginner trips are fun and affordable for everyone, including families and large groups with members of varying abilities.

Clear Creek river rafting trips also include a variety of intermediate trips and Class V advanced rafting adventures for advanced and expert rafters. Clear Creek has full and half-day trips that are perfect for the experienced whitewater enthusiast and offer nonstop paddling through aggressive, fast moving whitewater that gets the adrenaline pumping for even the most experienced paddlers. Clear Creek white water rafting trips offer Class 4-5 whitewater that is fast and wild. The thrill and enjoyment of running any section of Clear Creek can hardly be overstated.

Clear Creek flows through a rugged valley and through many small historic mining areas, including the former gold mining boomtown of Idaho Springs. Conveniently located, it is easily accessible from Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and the rest of the Front Range Metro Area, and is only 45 minutes from Denver.

Clear Creek is the closest and most convinent whitewater rafting to Denver, Boulder, Golden and many other front range locations. Idaho Springs is a fun and interesting old mining town and the staging area for most whitewater rafting trips on Clear Creek. Idaho Springs is itself worth a visit, with its charming main street, shops, restaurants, lots of history, mine tours, a mining museum (one of largest collection of mining memorabilia in the state), 14,000 foot Mount Evans, wildlife viewings, and the famous Indian Springs hot springs resort, which is just perfect for a relaxing soak after your river rafting adventure.

Close to Denver with exciting whitewater – it’s easy to see why Clear Creek is the fastest growing rafting desination in Colorado.

Take a rafting trip on the Arkansas River this summer and you won’t be disappointed. The Arkansas River is located near the towns of Buena Vista, Salida, and Canon City, Colorado within easy driving distance from Denver, Colorado Springs, Vail, Aspen and Summit County.

The Arkansas River offers many different rafting experiences for white water rafting trips, There are half day trips for those with limited time and/or beginners who are whitewater rafting for the first time. The Arkansas River also offers white water rafting for those looking for full-day and multi-day experiences that include riverside camping for those interested in an extended river vacation.

The Arkansas River is the most popular, commercially run river in the United States — and for good reason! From Browns Canyon (class II-IV rapids), to the Royal Gorge and the Numbers (class IV-V), there is something for everyone.

The Arkansas Rivers white water rafting season begins in Early May and runs through early September. Peak water for maximum whitewater thrills and challenges are usually during June. The most family-friendly time of year for Arkansas River rafting is after the water starts to calm down, from July through September. Since most of the water in the Arkansas is snowmelt, the water temperature can be cold most of the summer. Be prepared to rent wetsuits/ booties/ splash jackets if you go to the Arkansas river before August.

From beginner/intermediate to expert, the Arkansas River has adventures for everyone. The most popular full-day trip is Brown’s Canyon, which is good for first-timers and experienced rafters alike. The trip is fun and safe with amazing scenery. At the other end of the spectrum is the “Numbers” trip which offers an extreme and continuous stretch of Class 4-5 water and is for experienced and aggressive rafters. Before challenging yourself in the numbers section, it is a good idea to have previous rafting experience, good physical conditioning and strong swimming skills.

The Royal Gorge section is another famous section of whitewater on the Arkansas River. With a 1100 foot deep canyon and the highest suspension Bridge in the world, the Royal Gorge offers not only wonderful scenary but some of the most exciting class 3-4 whitewater in Colorado.

There are a lot of Arkansas River white water rafting adventure options. For details about our Arkansas River white water rafting adventures, you can go to Colorado State Parks, the Colorado Rafting Assoiciation (coloradoraftingassociation.com) or any other reputable outfitters such as Good Times Rafting (goodtimesrafting.com) or Highside Adventure Tours (raftingcolorado.com)

The Arkansas River is one of the oldest and most famous whitewater rafting rivers in the world and well worth the effort to explore it.