The best Colorado rafting trips on the Front Range
With 158 named rivers, over 100,000 river miles, and ecosystems ranging from alpine forests to pine forests to sandy deserts, Colorado has plenty to offer rafters. Whether you're looking for a gentle, family-friendly float or an adrenaline-filled whitewater adventure, you don't have to go far to have fun. Some of Colorado's best rafting trips are within just a few hours of Denver. No matter what type of rafting launches your boat, the Centennial State offers opportunities to take advantage of its long stretches of river to match.
Multi-day rafting trip in Colorado
1) Yampa River flowing through Dinosaur National Monument
Nearest town: Elk Springs, Colorado
Best for: Famous rapids, great campsites
The Yampa River holds the distinction of being Colorado's largest free-flowing (undammed) tributary and perhaps the closest you can get to time travel to the era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. This trip combines comfortably flat water with spectacular wave trains and rapids (all easily scouted) and the incredibly cozy-sounding Warm Springs, one of the largest whitewater drops in the country. There were no rapids. Until the great flood of 1965, the power of nature was on full display here as huge boulders were scattered across the river. The region's human history leaves a lasting impression. OARS founder George Wendt witnessed the formation of the Warm Springs rapids and survived to create one epic adventure. The canyon also has a long history, from outlaw cabins to evidence of indigenous people and fossil remains dating back millions of years. Below its confluence with the Green River, the trip shares a 26-mile section from Echo Park to Split Mountain with the Gates of Lodore course.
2) Rhodor's Gate | green river
Nearest town: Bernal, Utah*
Best for: Extended wilderness experiences; Amazing scenery and hiking
There's nothing better than waking up to the song of a canyon wren and sipping a cup of coffee as the sun begins to warm the towering canyon walls. And it's pretty much on the list for things to do on the Gates of Lodore section of the Green River that runs through Dinosaur National Monument. And there are some exciting rapids made famous by Major John Wesley Powell's harrowing experience on his 1869 expedition. You'll want to extend your stay as much as possible to take full advantage of the incredibly scenic campsites (often with side canyon hikes available), cattle rustling camps, and even the occasional petroglyph or fossil. To minimize impact and keep the canyon feeling like a wilderness experience, only 300 permits will be issued for both Green and Yampa's course through Dinosaur on launch days between May 8 and September 8. Befriend or sign a lucky person. When traveling commercially, leave the permits to the professionals.
*Vernal is the closest actual town, but this trip begins just across the border in a remote area of western Colorado.
3) Ruby Horsethief & Westwater Canyon | colorado river
Nearest town: Fruita, Colorado
Ruby Horsethief and Westwater often run together as part of long distance journeys, but make no mistake, they do. Each of these runs has its own unique characteristics.
Best for: family friendly float
Ruby Horsethief is mostly flat water except for very high water levels where large hydraulic devices form in the Black Rocks area. The float covers two canyons. The name Ruby comes from the red walls, and the name Horsethief comes from a former resident who purchased stolen horses from the safety of a remote canyon. With rapidly rising water levels, you can complete the hike in one day, but it's more fun to spend a long weekend along the scenic route. Camping requires a permit only at designated campsites. There are 33 spacious lots between the drop-in point at Loma and the take-out point at Westwater. This trip is ideal for families. It's gentle enough for frequent runs on a stand-up paddleboard, and many campgrounds offer additional benefits like hiking in the Mee Canyon area or rock climbing at Black Rocks. The Utah-Colorado border is marked on a river bluff near the end of the run. Entering a new state on the river is much more fun than taking a car.
Best for: Challenge rapids in a remote environment
Starting with the takeaway for the Ruby Horsethief run, Westwater is a completely different beast. The 11 rapids range from Class II to IV. This section offers a unique challenge at all water levels and is best run during the warmest time of the year (usually April to June), but the ancient Vishnu Schist can only be seen from the ground here in the Black Rocks section of Ruby Horsethief. Several miles downstream of the Grand Canyon offer shaded respite from the heat.
Colorado Rafting Day Trip
4) Browns Canyon | arkansas river
Nearest town: Buena Vista, Colorado
Best for: A classic Colorado rafting experience; Shortest drive from the Denver area
Designated a national monument in 2015, Browns Canyon is a breathtaking stretch between Buena Vista. BYOO VIST (because it sounds local) and Salida, widely regarded as the best Class III operation in the state. Quick names like Pinball and Zoom Flume sum it up nicely. This is a very fun and family friendly run. The relatively high altitude (from 7,300 feet above sea level to about 10,000 feet above sea level) and towering granite walls mean it is home to wildlife unique to the mountain ecosystem. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, bobcats, and pine marten. Brown's itself makes for a perfect half-day trip, and its National Monument designation means that the Arkansas River that flows through the canyon is quiet and roadless. The only modern trace is the railway that runs along the river on the left.
5) Royal Gorge | arkansas river
Nearest town: Canyon City, Colorado
Best for: Big water in a classic setting.
If you're looking for a thrilling experience paddling the Arkansas River, check out Royal Gorge, considered one of the best whitewater spots in North America. It's hard to believe that being so close to the bustling city of Colorado Springs can feel so far away. But Class IV and V rapids can take center stage, sometimes with walls as high as 1,200 feet that taper to less than 30 feet. , don’t get sick too. Elk and bighorn sheep are frequently spotted in the river. Bald eagles sometimes soar overhead, with the iconic Royal Gorge Bridge spanning a dizzying 956 feet across the gorge above the river bed. For those looking to skip the biggest chunk of water, a half-day run up Bighorn Sheep Canyon (just upstream) means spectacular Class III rapids and plenty of spectacular scenery.
6) From Pump Station to State Bridge | headwaters of the colorado river
Nearest town: Kremmling, Colorado
Best for: Easy logistics; A little something for everyone in the group.
Abundant wildlife, towering Rocky Mountain views, easy-to-access hot springs, and a few Class II and III rapids: the “Upper C,” as it is affectionately known, has a lot to offer. Access the set-up area for your run at the Pumphouse, which has a developed campsite. This is also the route to Gore Canyon, one of the wildest and most continuous Class IV and V rapids in the West. But it's smooth sailing from here to the State Bridge. Shortly after getting on the water you enter a deep canyon, followed by the Eye of the Needle, one of the two significant rapids on the course (much more forgiving at most water levels than its name suggests). The flat water is great for swimming on a hot day. Don't miss Radium Hot Springs, an unmaintained swimming pool about 3 miles downstream from the Pumphouse on the left side of the river. It offers a perfect view of the popular cliff jumping site across the river.
7) Canyon Run | clear creek
Nearest town: Idaho Springs, Colorado
Best for: Noisy rapids less than an hour from Denver
Let's set the obvious aside: Clear Creek is anything but a wilderness experience. The headwaters start at Lawson and parallel Interstate 70. “Canyon Run” or “Kermits,” as it is often referred to as the most developed section, is just a stone's throw from U.S. Highway 6. But if you're looking for adrenaline-pumping rapids and a classic “stream” experience, the roar of the rapids will overpower most traffic noise anyway. Known for its fast currents, technical rapids, and incredibly narrow channels, this section of the creek is full of non-stop activity. Most of the six-mile run loops Class IV rapids (often with ominous names like Double Knife and Hell's Half-Mile). The advantage of the frontcountry environment is that it is very convenient to get to the stores and shop in Idaho Springs. Don't think that just because it's close to the road, you're not having an adventure.
8) Kashi La Poudre River
Nearest town: Fort Collins, Colorado
Best for: It is natural, scenic, and very convenient.
Colorado's only Nationally Designated Wild & Scenic River is a hop, skip, and jump away from Fort Collins, a quirky college town just north of Denver. Cache La Poudre, also known as Poudre (pronounced “CASH-ay la POOD-er” by locals), boasts seasonal rapids ranging from gentle Class II to thrilling Class IV+. Fast, clear currents, narrow channels, and far fewer boaters than many Colorado rivers make this a wilderness experience, with lush ponderosa forests a far cry from the desert landscapes found in the western part of the state. It feels like experiencing the wild. Very classic Colorado. If you want to go wild, sign up for a trip to Mishawaka. If you're looking for a quieter experience, Lower Canyon is the place.