If you’re looking for adventure, can you imagine anything better than racing down raging rapids while working as a team to control a raft?

Colorado averages more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and the scenery is second to none. What better place to raft?

Whether you’re a seasoned rafter or a beginner who has never strapped on a lifejacket, there are plenty of options for you!

Best White water Rafting Near Denver, Colorado

Denver is the capital of Colorado, and one of the major cities of the Mountain West. It’s located along the Front Range, but not located in the mountains itself. But don’t worry, that won’t get in the way of a grand adventure!

There are plenty of options for rafting (and other outdoor adventures) within a short drive of the Mile High City, so you can easily stay there and still get your adrenaline fix. But that distance is definitely something you want to take into consideration when looking for the best white water rafting near Denver, Colorado.

When Is The Denver White water Rafting Season?

Colorado is famous for wild weather that changes quickly, but overall the climate is way more moderate than most people expect. The Denver white water rafting season ultimately can run from May to September. But, if you’re looking for the best time to go rafting near Denver, you should aim for:

• June
• July
• August

The creeks and rivers of Colorado are fed by melting snow from the mountain peaks (essentially, recycling the ski season!). That means that if you go too early, the river levels may not have yet hit their highest point. If you go too late, too much has already washed away.

Another note about the melted snow. The water is cold! When going rafting in Colorado, dress adequately to be splashed by water that was recently frozen.

If you’re concerned about the current or upcoming water levels, get in touch with us, and we’ll let you know how it’s all looking.

Choosing A Denver White water Rafting Destination

The next question is exactly where to go white water rafting near Denver, Colorado. In order to choose this, you’ll want to look for a couple of factors:

• Driving Distance
• Accommodations
• Trusted Guides

Driving Distance

The mountain roads of Colorado are likely to beat all but the best commutes around the country, but that doesn’t mean you want to spend too much time on them. After all, you’re trying to run some rapids!

Accommodations

Your next decision is whether you want to drive back and forth to Denver, or stay a night or two in the mountains. Many of the smaller towns have a few hotels, but the summer season is a great time to get a good deal on the luxury hotels in resorts such as Vail and Breckenridge.

Trusted Guides

Another thing you really want to look into before going white water rafting near Denver, CO is the trustworthiness of the guide company you will use. White water rafting can be extremely safe, but only if the appropriate safety measures are followed.

Never go with a company that cuts corners in any way, so do your research with online reviews to make sure everyone else had a good and safe experience.

What is the Best White Water Rafting Near Denver?

We confidently state that the ideal white water rafting near Denver, Colorado is on Clear Creek. The town of Idaho Springs is an ideal home base because it has some great restaurants to visit after a day of physical activity, and the scenery is spectacular. When you add to that the fact that it’s only about 30 miles from the heart of Denver, you won’t have to spend too long behind the wheel! Or if you want to take a few nights at one of the beautiful hotels in Breckenridge or Vail, it’s close to those, too.

Clear Creek has a lot of beautiful scenery, there are tons of animals roaming the shores, and you can see some historical sites from the old days of the West.

Clear Creek White water Rafting Trips

One of the best things about white water rafting on Clear Creek is that it offers different levels of rapids for various skill levels. In case you don’t know, rapids are formed by changes in the flow of the river. This can be a direction change, a steeper gradient, flowing around a boulder, and other things like that.

The difficulty of the rapids are give a number ranging from Class I-VI. Basically, Class I are very slight rapids that are usually manageable even by children, and Class VI are generally too dangerous for even experienced rafters. The rest of the numbers escalate accordingly.

Beginner White water Rafting Near Denver

One of our favorite trips is the one that focuses on beginners, because it gives a lot of people their first experience in the water. It’s a particularly good choice for families with children, or for anyone who has never been rafting before. You’ll have a great time splashing around in the Class II-III rapids, but it’s leisurely enough to take in some of the natural beauty along the shore.

Intermediate White water Rafting Near Denver

Our Intermediate trip is our most popular, and it’s perfect for anyone who already has experience (or a beginner who is ready for a more intense adventure). It gets increasingly more intense as the trip goes on, and finalizes through a Class IV rapid.

Advanced White water Rafting Near Denver

Are you already an experienced rafter? Then our Advanced trip is the one for you! Spend a lot of time rushing through Class IV and Class V rapids, and feel the rage of the water.

Join Us for the Best White water Rafting Near Denver, CO

If you’re looking for great white water rafting near Denver, Colorado, then Colorado Adventure Center covers everything you need. And if rafting itself isn’t adventure enough, also consider one of our combo trips to include a ropes course or a zipline.