White Water Rafting near Breckenridge
Arkansas River
Buena Vista hosts a number of commercial outfitters who run mild float trips for those with children and elderly/less active persons in their party, up to class IV trips for those feeling more adventurous. The most popular whitewater section in North America, Browns Canyon, offers spectacular views in the midst of the 14,000’ collegiate peaks along with class III whitewater, making this trip suitable for beginners to seasoned rafters. Just upstream from Brown’s Canyon, The Narrows section can provide rafters with an alternative class III section passing by the town of Buena Vista. Further upstream The Numbers section provides rafters with a more challenging class IV experience for those in good physical condition. Many outfitters around Buena Vista also offer milder class I/II trips through scenic stretches of the river. Visitors to the area may also enjoy stopping by Mount Princeton or Cottonwood hot springs, as well as a number of cafes, restaurants and bars in the vibrant small towns of Buena Vista or nearby Salida. (From Breckenridge, Buena Vista is approximately 45 miles South on HWY 9/HWY 285. Season runs May-September).
Cañon City offers access to the infamous Royal Gorge section of class IV/V whitewater, with stunning scenery as you are enclosed on both sides with 1200’ cliffs. Bighorn Sheep Canyon upstream of the Royal Gorge is a class III section of whitewater and plays host to Colorado’s largest herd of Bighorn sheep. (From Breckenridge, Cañon City is approximately 100 miles South on HWY 9/HWY 50. Season runs May-September).
Many outfitters on the Arkansas river will offer half-day trips, full-day (including on-river lunch) and overnight/multi-day trips (with meals and camping on-river).
Blue River
From Lake Dillon, the Blue river flows North through Silverthorne, where a 7-mile stretch of class III whitewater, just beyond the town, allows rafting for a short Season in May-June. There are 3 outfitters in Frisco who run trips on this stretch of river.
Clear Creek
Idaho Springs on the i70 corridor between Denver and Frisco hosts several outfitters who offer class II-IV whitewater trips. Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs allows travellers to soak after a thrilling day on Clear Creek’s rapids. (From Breckenridge, Idaho Springs is approximately 33 miles, going North on HWY 9 then East on i70. Short season generally runs May-June).
Colorado River
Rafters can enjoy beautiful scenery on the class I/II stretch of the Upper Colorado just North of Kremmling. (From Breckenridge, Kremmling is approximately 51 miles North on HWY 9 via Silverthorne. Season runs April-September).
Glenwood Springs offers a couple of outfitters who run class III/IV whitewater on the Colorado river through Glenwood Canyon’s Shoshone and South Canyon Rapids. For those travelling through to the more Western end of Colorado they can book trips in this area and visit any of several hot springs in and around the town. (From Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs is approximately 97 miles, going North on HWY 9 then West on i70. Season runs May-September).