Colorado River Rafting in Colorado
The Colorado River runs more than 200 commercially-rafted miles through its home state — from high alpine headwaters near Rocky Mountain National Park, through the wide-open Upper Colorado to Glenwood Canyon's limestone walls, and out across the red-rock desert toward Utah. It covers every trip type: half-day family floats, full-day big-water runs, and multi-day wilderness expeditions. Whitewatr lists 83 outfitters running Colorado River trips, with prices starting around $223 on average. Prices shown are representative — always confirm current pricing directly with the outfitter.
Why the Colorado River
No other river in Colorado packs this range of experience. Within a 3-hour drive you can find a Class II float for a 5-year-old, a Class III big-water day trip in a 1,300-foot canyon, and a 3-day wilderness multi-day through red-rock desert with Class I-II rapids. The river's dam-released flows also give it one of the most reliable season windows of any Colorado run — Upper Colorado sections often raft into September when snowmelt-fed rivers like the Arkansas are running thin.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Upper Colorado — Pumphouse to State Bridge (Class II-III)
Kremmling area — 14-25 miles
The default family and scenic Colorado River run. Open-valley Class II floats through Red Gorge and Little Gore Canyon with occasional Class III waves at high water. Popular as full-day or one-night floats, and one of the most reliable summer trips in the state thanks to dam releases. Outfitters stage from Kremmling or State Bridge.
Class: II-III
Typical age minimum: 5-8
Best for: Families, overnight floats, scenic trips
Shoshone (Class III-IV)
Glenwood Canyon — 2 miles of whitewater
The most commercially popular whitewater run on the Colorado — a short, punchy Class III-IV drop through the narrowest section of Glenwood Canyon. Rapids include Superstition, Tombstone, and The Wall. Most outfitters pair Shoshone with the calmer Glenwood Canyon float for a half-day trip. Best water is typically May through mid-July.
Class: III-IV (up to IV+ at high water)
Typical age minimum: 12-14
Best for: Step-up from Browns Canyon, Glenwood day trips
Glenwood Canyon Float (Class II-III)
Glenwood Springs area — 6-10 miles
A scenic family float through Glenwood Canyon's vertical limestone walls, passing hot springs and the bike path. Gentle Class II wave trains with a few Class III sections, most suitable for first-timers and young kids. Great entry point for guests staying at Glenwood Springs hotels or combining with the hot pools.
Class: II-III
Typical age minimum: 6-8
Best for: Families, first-timers, Glenwood Springs vacationers
Ruby-Horsethief Canyon (Class I-II)
Loma, CO to Westwater takeout — 25 miles, typically 2-3 days
A 25-mile multi-day scenic float through red-rock desert, just west of Grand Junction and straddling the Utah border. Mostly flat water with Class I-II riffles, camping at permitted BLM sites, and iconic desert canyon walls. Private floaters need Recreation.gov permits; outfitted trips handle all permits and logistics. This is Colorado's premier beginner multi-day.
Class: I-II
Typical age minimum: 5-8
Best for: First multi-day, families, scenic desert trips
Gore Canyon (Class V)
Kremmling area — 4 miles
Expert-only. Gore Canyon is Class V big water with huge holes and continuous rapids — commercially run by only a handful of outfitters during a short high-flow window in August (typically Gore Canyon Race weekend). Not a beginner trip, not a family trip, and explicitly gated behind experience requirements.
Class: V
Typical age minimum: 18+
Best for: Expert rafters only
Season & Best Time to Go
Season: May through September — the longest Colorado river season thanks to dam-released flows on the Upper Colorado.
Peak water: Late May through June, when Shoshone and Glenwood run at their biggest.
Peak demand: July 4th through mid-August. Book 1-2 weeks out for weekends.
Best for multi-day / Ruby-Horsethief: May, September, October — cooler desert temps, fewer crowds.
Gore Canyon: Typically only runs during the short peak-flow window in August.
Colorado River Outfitters on Whitewatr
83 outfitters run trips on the Colorado River, with prices from $54 to $7299.
| Outfitter | Location | Class | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Expeditions (GCE) | Kanab, UT | III-V | — |
| Canyon Explorations | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | — |
| Arizona Raft Adventures | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | — |
| Hatch River Expeditions | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | — |
| Tour West Rafting | Orem, UT | III-V | — |
| Grand Canyon Whitewater | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | — |
| Arizona River Runners | Phoenix, AZ | III-V | — |
| Outdoors Unlimited | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | — |
| Western River Expeditions | Salt Lake City, UT | III-V | $920 |
| Wilderness River Adventures | Page, AZ | III-V | — |
| Liquid Descent | Idaho Springs, CO | II-V | $80 |
| Canyoneers | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | $1700 |
| OARS | Angels Camp, CA | III-V | $121 |
| Rapid Transit Rafting | Estes Park, CO | III-IV | — |
| ARTA | Flagstaff, AZ | III-V | $165 |
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Browse Rafting TripsData based on 544 verified outfitters on Whitewatr. Last updated April 2026.