The Best Whitewater Rafting in Colorado

There are several opportunities for rafting close to Denver. The most popular river systems are the South Platte and Clear Creek. The South Platte offers several different grades of rapids, from easy class II to gnarly class IV. Clear Creek, which runs parallel to highway I-70 for much of its length, has some Class V stretches. Class V is considered the hardest navigable whitewater, and provides opportunities for trips that drop 1,300 feet and include up to 30 rapids.

The Arkansas River is the most popular stretch of whitewater in Colorado, and possibly in the country--it is the destination for up to 250,000 rafters every year. The Arkansas has many options for exciting trips, including Brown's Canyon, an 18-mile stretch of Class III-IV whitewater near Buena Vista in the center of the state. For those seeking more extreme conditions, take an amazing trip through the Royal Gorge, a stretch of Class IV-V whitewater with sheer cliffs rising on either side. You can raft under the Royal Gorge Bridge, which rises more than 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River and is the highest suspension bridge in the world.

Colorado's namesake river, which carved the stunning walls of the Grand Canyon, originates in Rocky Mountain Park. Just east of Glenwood Springs, the river runs through the stunning vistas of Glenwood Canyon, and offers plenty of opportunity for moderate and difficult whitewater trips up to Class IV.