Vail Whitewater Rafting
One of the the largest ski areas in North America, Vail is one of Colorado’s top ski resorts and a prime winter destination for people from all over the world. But the Vail Valley is just as beautiful and desirable during the other seasons of the year when visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fly fishing and amazing white water rafting. Colorado visitors will discover Vail’s famed restaurants, spas, hotels and shopping.
Plan For Excitement With A Vail, Colorado Rafting Trip
Within a few short miles of Vail lies some of the best white water river rafting in Colorado. Don’t miss out on experiencing an outstanding Colorado rafting trip, the memories from which will last a lifetime!
From Vail, rafting trip options include full, half-day and multi-day trips for beginner and intermediate rafters as well as Colorado rafting trip options for hardcore, expert-level whitewater enthusiasts. Highside Adventure Tours’ Colorado rafting trips are appropriate for all ages and skill levels. White water river rafting near Vail can be an ideal family activity or the perfect team building and leadership training activity for business meeting and convention attendees. Most of all, a Vail, Colorado rafting trip is great fun!
Our Vail rafting options include:
Colorado River in Glenwood Springs — This trip on a popular river stretch called Shoshone Rapids offers fun for everyone in your group. Our basecamp at Glenwood Canyon Resort is just an hour from Vail with easy access on I-70. Consider adding a zipline adventure to your day by booking a Raft & Zip combo trip.
Clear Creek — Our Clear Creek rafting trips meet at our offices in the historic Argo Mine building in Idaho Springs, Colorado, about a 1.25-hour drive from Vail. Clear Creek offers 1/2-day, 1/3-day or full-day river trips for everyone from first-timers and beginners to intermediate and advanced whitewater adventurers. The Clear Creek Beginner trip is perfect for families and large groups with varying abilities; everyone will have fun, and you’ll also enjoy exploring the historic mining town of Idaho Springs and Mount Evans, — a 14,000-foot mountain that features a paved road all the way to the top and almost certain wildlife viewings on the way.
Blue River — This Vail rafting trip meets at our Breckenridge basecamp, about 45 minutes ea st of Vail. The Blue River is Summit County’s only whitewater river and one of the few opportunities for high country river rafting in the state. Exquisitely scenic, the Blue River boasts gorgeous views of some of the highest peaks in Colorado, including the mountains of the stunning Gore Range. This is a great trip for a half-day adventure. Visit the Blue River page to learn more.
Upper Colorado River — This rafting trip meets in Breckenridge, approximately 45 minutes from Vail. Together, we drive roughly an hour to our river put-in at the head of a scenic, remote canyon. The Colorado River is one of the classic rivers in the United States. Starting high in the Colorado Rockies, and eventually flowing through the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River is the setting for great mountain and canyon scenery, natural hot springs, old pioneer cabins and more. For great family white water rafting, Colorado River excursions are perfect for beginners.
Arkansas River — This Vail rafting trip starts with a drive of about 1.5 hours to the mountain town of Buena Vista. Buena Vista means “beautiful view” in Spanish, and they’re not kidding! The 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River valley are simply breathtaki n g. Along with the thrill of rafting the most popular river in the U.S., the surroundings help make the trip even more worthwhile. Buena Vista is a town worth visiting — and don’t miss the two fabulous hot springs just outside of town. From our Buena Vista basecamp on the Arkansas River, we offer a full and half day Colora do rafting trips suitable for all levels and all ages, including an expert whitewater trip through the world-famous Royal Gorge.
Bike and Raft Combination
When in Vail, rafting isn’t your only opportunity for an unforgettable mountain adventure. Highside Adventure Tours offers fabulous bike trips as well as biking and rafting combinations.
- Our popular Vail Pass Shuttle drops you off at the top of Vail Pass, at an elevation of 10,666 feet. You’ll cruise 14 miles downhill, through Officer’s Gulch along Tenmile Creek (a high alpine, snowmelt river) and enjoy the beautiful scenery, glimpses of wildlife and abundant wildflowers. The ride takes you through Copper Mountain Resort, past the Copper Mountain stables and ends in the quaint town of Frisco. Marvel at the beauty of the golden aspen in fall and the abundant wildflowers in spring. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, moose, mule deer, redtail hawk, eagle and marmots in the lynx habitat of the White River National Forest. This is a biking adventure you won’t want to miss.
Pedal and Paddle — Biking and Rafting Combo
From Vail, rafting and biking can be combined in one day with a Highside Adventure Tours’ bike and raft combination. Enjoy the Vail Pass Shuttle Trip in the morning, and then spend the afternoon river rafting for a complete high alpine adventure! Your Vail rafting choices for these combination packages include:
- Morning Vail Pass Bike Ride and Half day Clear Creek Rafting Trip.
- Morning Vail Pass Bike Ride and Half day Arkansas River Intermediate Rafting Trip.
Contact us today for pricing and details. 800-997-3448
Highside Adventure Tours, Inc. (DBA Good Times Rafting, Colorado Adventure Center) operates under special use permits with the White River National Forest, Colorado State Parks (Arkansas River Headwaters Area), Bureau of Land Management (BLM Kremmling office), Clear Creek County and is an equal opportunity service provider.
All Lower Colorado River (Shoshone Rapids) and Roaring Fork trips offered through Rock Gardens Rafting a fully licensed and permitted outfitter.
