Colorado’s Warm Winter – What to Expect for Your Rafting Trip
A Colorado rafting trip is a popular and fulfilling outdoor activity. Each summer hundreds of thousands of commercial rafting guests rely on professional outfitters to help them enjoy the thrill and beauty of our rivers.
Every summer, our rivers swell with gradual melt off of, typically, abundant snow that has accumulated at high elevations throughout the winter. The season begins in May, with normally low flows, prior to the benefit of the snow melt run off. Then in June, the rivers peak as the snow is rapidly melting. In July, rivers moderate and become medium to low. In August, the season typically ends with a return to lower flows. So, each summer, rafting companies are used to operating on a variety of water levels and always adjust to these natural fluctuations.
This past winter, Colorado has experienced significantly below average snowfall. This means that we may end up spending much of the summer at lower flows, without the stress of handling high water. For some, the greater power and soaking splashes of high flows can be exciting, and that may not be available. However, the vast majority of our guests find that the appeal of rafting in Colorado is NOT mostly dependent on having high water. In fact, it seems to discourage equally as many guests as it may encourage.
At The Adventure Company on Colorado’s Arkansas River, our rafting guests enjoy the following:
- An opportunity to closely share the excitement with friends and family, as a team, within the same raft
- All ages and abilities can enjoy the experience equally from grandparents to youngsters
- A convenient photography service that captures impressive action shots and offers digital photos to our guests following each trip to help preserve the memories
- An entertaining and busy river with enough action to avoid boredom
- Impressive scenery that includes rugged canyons and awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain views
- Protected ecology and the appeal of a clean, clear, refreshing river
- Opportunities to spot Colorado’s majestic wildlife in their natural environment
- The beauty and remote feeling of protected land that preserves the natural landscape
- A comfortable climate – typically warm, dry weather, with very little rain, and temperatures that reach highs in the upper 70s or low 80s
- A full-service outfitter that conveniently provides all needed equipment, transportation to and from the river, and other amenities like our guest lodge and café/ coffee shop, all from the perfect location of our 6 acre riverside outpost in Buena Vista
- Great guides that help keep our guests laughing and safe
- Options for additional ways to have fun on the river like overnight rafting trips, fishing trips, and inflatable kayaking excursions
- An impressive Gold Medal fishing status where anglers can test their fly or spin fishing skill from shore or while floating downstream
All of these features still exist regardless of the water level. This summer, we expect to operate at lower flows and can still expect to get wet in our rafts, but from smaller splashes. These are the same lower flows that we are used to operating on each year, just without the rise to higher water. This summer, rafting can become slightly more challenging because channels become tighter and rapids become more technical, with more rocks to avoid. Without the power of high water, those that want even more excitement can choose an inflatable kayak trip.
As always, on the Arkansas River, we still expect to get some benefit from trans-basin water movement and supplemented native flows. We just don’t know how much or when. Municipalities still need to move water downstream from reservoir storage up high, helping to ensure a full summer.
Finally, the most important feature offered at The Adventure Company is our experienced and skilled, professional guides. As Colorado’s only rafting outfitter with a policy to exclusively hire experienced guides (no rookies), we prioritize your safety and enjoyment. Regardless of the water level we always have a great time, and being in good hands means everything.
