Class III Rapids: The Brown’s Canyon section of the Arkansas River near Buena Vista is one of the best beginner-friendly options in Colorado. While it's still thrilling, the rapids are moderate and manageable for those new to rafting.
Class II-III Rapids: The lower section of Clear Creek offers easygoing rapids that are perfect for beginners. The river winds through a beautiful canyon, offering some great views and a fun experience without requiring much previous rafting experience.
Class II Rapids: The Gunnison River offers mellow rapids that are great for those just starting out. This stretch of the river provides a relaxing yet scenic experience, with the chance to spot local wildlife.
Class II-III Rapids: The Town Run section of the Animas River in Durango is perfect for beginners, with gentle rapids and easy-to-navigate water. The beautiful mountain town of Durango adds to the charm of the experience.
Class II-III Rapids: This section of the South Platte River offers a peaceful float with some mild rapids. It’s perfect for beginners who want to get a feel for rafting while enjoying beautiful canyon views.
Class II-III Rapids: The Lower Section of the Poudre River near Fort Collins is great for beginners, offering a mix of calm waters and easy rapids. It’s perfect for those who want to try rafting without encountering difficult or dangerous rapids.
Class III-IV Rapids: The Shoshone section near Glenwood Springs and the Gore Canyon section near Kremmling are both popular with intermediate rafters. Shoshone offers a mix of challenging rapids, while Gore Canyon provides some intense water with steep drops and big waves.
Class III Rapids: The Yampa River offers some exciting rapids that are perfect for those at an intermediate skill level. This section offers consistent, fast-moving water, with plenty of thrilling moments and manageable drops.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Upper Animas is often considered one of the most difficult and challenging whitewater runs in Colorado. This river offers steep drops, technical rapids, and intense water, with some sections requiring precise maneuvering and quick decision-making.
Class IV-V Rapids: Gore Canyon on the Colorado River is one of the most challenging stretches of whitewater in the country. With large waves, steep drops, and powerful rapids, this section is suited for expert-level rafters.
Class III-IV Rapids: The Shoshone Rapids are a step up in difficulty from typical intermediate runs, with challenging water that includes some significant drops and large waves. The run is fairly short but packed with intense rapids.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Upper Poudre features a mix of technical and challenging rapids, including tight channels, big drops, and high water levels. Some sections, such as The Narrows, are particularly intense.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison offers one of the most challenging whitewater experiences in Colorado. The narrow, steep canyon walls create an intense atmosphere, and the river has some tricky rapids, including huge drops and powerful waves.
Class V Rapids: Cherry Creek is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous runs in Colorado, with high-stakes rapids that require precise navigation and expert skill. It’s known for its steep drops and large, powerful waves.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Numbers section of the Arkansas River is known for its challenging, fast-paced rapids that require precise control and teamwork. The river features tight turns, boulders, and steep drops.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Taylor River offers steep drops, big waves, and difficult rapids that make it one of Colorado’s best runs for advanced rafters. It’s a narrow, technical river that requires careful paddling to navigate.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Roaring Fork River is one of Colorado’s most famous advanced runs. The river features powerful rapids, deep gorges, and large waves, all within the gorgeous setting of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Class IV-V Rapids: The Upper Clear Creek section offers advanced rafters some of the toughest rapids in Colorado. The river features narrow, rocky channels, steep drops, and powerful rapids that demand a high level of skill.
