Whitewater rafting and camping in CO

[mikefos]

Hi,

We are planning on taking the travel trailer to Colorado in late July to go camping and whitewater rafting. It will be our first time for whitewater rafting (but we are avid kayakers). Does anybody have any recommendations for whitewater outfitters and campgrounds? Thx.

[Bob Landry]

Do a Google search on Canon City(Royal Gorge area). There are lots of outfitters there. Any area where there is a river in close proximity will probably be good, the exception being most parts of the Animas River between Silverton and Durango.

[Rustic Eagle]

Mike,

Don't know of any outfitter/campground to recommend in Colorado, but my son and I have done a lot of whitewater rafting in West Virgina over the years...... your going to love it !!

If you can, check to see if the outfitter takes videos of your trip down the river.



Bob

[ringneck]

we boondocked outside of Leadville last year, and took a whitewater trip with River Runners in Buena Vista, on the Arkansas River, which was about a 45 min drive away.

The water was cold, very fast, and there was no chance you'd stay even remotely dry. They provided wetsuits at no additional charge for us - but I'm not sure that's normal because it was raining like crazy the day we went.

Careful about booking too far in advance - there's no weather refunds.

Within 5 minutes of being in the raft we were glad we didn't cancel - it was still a great time despite the driving rain, and all 3 kids said it was their favorite memory from the trip.

If you've never been up at that altitude before, my advice is to pack like it's fall even though it's July. (we went in early July) During the day the weather was beautiful & shorts were fine, but it got downright cold at night as soon as the sun went down.

Enjoy!

[Denise]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Mike,

Don't know of any outfitter/campground to recommend in Colorado, but my son and I have done a lot of whitewater rafting in West Virgina over the years...... your going to love it !!

If you can, check to see if the outfitter takes videos of your trip down the river.



Bob

OOooWhoaOOOoh Bob! Now that looks fun!

It's been since the early 90's that I rafted the Arkansas River (somewhere East of Durango but west of the Royal Gorge???). The pic below is what we happily have displayed on the family room 'fun' wall (the one the rafting company took that we bought bought)! The kids got a kick out of the little "ballon speech" that you see in the pic and thought I was kewl adding that (the only time I've done it on a wall pic mind you)! LOL Unfortunately you can't actually see the company name on the raft. I do remember we had crazy fun (all we had to do was hang on; we didn't paddle)! I loved that one so much that a few years later I did a Class IV ride on the Colorado River.... OMG what an amazing rush; sucked that I had to go it alone (daughter couldn't make that trip and Don and DS wanted nothing to do with that 'ride' LOL).

I'm sure the companies are different now, but the more responsible companies will stress that if you are first timer to consider the class I through III river family trips (talk to the company about the least experienced person in your family regarding water activities/comfort/etc.).

Campgrounds along that area? Sorry, it's been too long since we have been there.. but if your family enjoys a safe thrill, definitely do a family water rafting experience!

[drfife]

We took a 1 week white water raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho last summer. It was awesome!

We too are planning a trip to Colorado this summer, and would like to hear outfitter recommendations for Colorado.

[82corvette]

Check out Buena Vista, there are several outfitters there and a great campground called Mt. Princeton RV Park & Cabins 888-995-6206 Tell Cindy & Jeff hello from Kim & Alan in Fairbury. www.mtprincetonrvpark.com

[mikefos]

Great replies all! We've decided to stay at the KOA in Cotopaxi, CO, which puts us right in the middle of all the whitewater action in the Arkansas River area. We will be in the area for 9 days goofing around, after 3 days on the road. We're excited, and we have a new, larger TT to boot.

[drfife]

We are headed to Durango Riverside RV Resort this summer. It is 14 miles north of Durango. We have a site on the Animas river.

Does anyone have white water raft outfitter recommendations for the Durango, Colorado area?