Whitewater Raft On Colorado's Only Official Wild And Scenic River For Unmatched Thrills

The entire state of Colorado is a paradise for nature lovers, with national parks offering tons of outdoor adventures year round. During the winter months, Colorado becomes one of the most popular destinations in the United States for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, and summertime offers endless options when it comes to outdoor adventures. Hiking through the rugged Rocky Mountains, rock climbing, and mountain biking are some of the most popular activities for both locals and tourists, but if you're looking for an extreme thrill, consider booking a whitewater rafting experience immediately.

Colorado's whitewater rafting scene is one of the best in the country. Experienced paddlers start hitting the streams and rivers in late spring when the water levels are at their highest (and most dangerous) due to the snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. By late June, the affect of snowpack is slowing down, offering ideal conditions for all levels of experience from beginners to pros. The Cache la Poudre River, which runs right along the vibrant little college town of Fort Collins, offers an ideal river run with heart-pumping rapids and breathtaking scenery as you twist and turn through national parks, national forests, and more.

The Cache la Poudre River stretches all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, covering about 125 miles. It is Colorado's only designated Wild and Scenic River, and it's a beautiful and thrilling place to go whitewater rafting. It's fed by snow that falls high in the mountains. Along its route, it winds through the expansive Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests as the elevation drops nearly 7,000 feet.

For Fort Collins locals, the river offers ample opportunities for summer fun, including the perfect way to cool off in the dry, hot, Colorado summers. The part of the river that passes through town is quite calm — perfect for paddle boarding, tubing, or simply swimming around. If you head upstream, the beloved Poudre looks like a whole different river with thundering rapids. Surrounded by rugged rocky cliffs and scattered with massive boulders, the narrow stream offers challenging and exciting whitewater paddling opportunities with class II, III, and IV rapids.

Several companies in Fort Collins offer guided whitewater rafting expeditions. After extensive research, I went with Mountain Whitewater — and I'm so glad I did. The company has several different trips, and almost all of them run on continuous stretches of the Poudre, so you won't have to get out to portage around the big rapids. We took our trip in late June, so the water levels were perfect. Our guides told us that a few weeks earlier, the water levels were high and dangerous rapids were challenging even for experienced boaters. There were several drownings this spring, so be sure to pay attention to the safety briefing. The season usually runs through August, when the last of the snow melts and the river becomes too shallow to navigate in whitewater rafts. Water temperatures remain chilly year round.

Trip options range from the Splash, which lasts a half day, to the Mishawaka, which lasts all day and includes a stop for lunch (lunch is included!). We chose the Plunge option, which was around four and a half hours and included several of the big class IV rapids along the way.

We attended a safety briefing before being outfitted with gear including a personal flotation device, a helmet, and a splash guard jacket. Raft booties and wetsuits were available to rent for a small fee. Wearing quick-dry clothing is a must. You'll be instructed to leave anything you don't want to bring whitewater rafting in the car. After the briefing, we hopped on a big school bus with other rafters and the guides and enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive before reaching the river entry point. 

Each raft has its own guide, and they're all well-trained and fun-loving. Trust that you're in great hands. You can feel their passion for the river and their love for the outdoors. Many of them work as guides during the summer, and then head to Colorado's epic ski towns and work as ski instructors in the winter.

Prices for the trips range from around $95 per person for the shortest trip to $200 for a full day on the river. A professional photographer will travel alongside your raft, and you'll have the option of purchasing epic (and often hilarious) photos of your group at the end of your trip. After a few hours on the river, you'll pull off and hop back on board the bus and return to Mountain Whitewater headquarters, which has a cool gear shop and a bar called the Paddler's Pub, serving up local craft beers where you can celebrate your successful day on the gorgeous Cache la Poudre River.

Each raft fits between four and eight people, in addition to the raft guide. Our guide, Maddie, spent some time teaching our group how to paddle in sync and gave us tips on how to better navigate the rapids. She guided us through the intense rapids with confidence and ease. Be ready to paddle hard as soon as you hit the water because moments after putting in, we hit our first class II rapid.

There are a few easier rapids to help you warm up before you hit your first big class III and IV runs. Each rapid has a unique name, like Two Scoops (because of an ice cream cone-shaped boulder) and Crystal Wall (named after a unique rock formation popular among rock climbers). The biggest and most challenging class IV run was called Pine View Falls. Get ready for heart-pumping and joy-inducing thrills all the way through because the rapids never stop. We pulled off into eddies a few times to take a quick breather, drink some water, and link up with other rafts, but otherwise it was whitewater all the way through. On our trip, no one was thrown from the raft, but our guides told us someone usually ends up swimming at least once a day. Even if you don't go overboard, be prepared to get wet! We were all soaked by the end of the trip. 

The funky college town of Fort Collins has plenty of great accommodations to choose from, and is worth spending an extra day or two exploring. It's super walkable and bikeable and close to so many amazing recreational activities, making it one of the best cities for outdoor adventurers. The downtown area is full of craft breweries, hip restaurants, and gourmet food trucks.  If you're looking for somewhere chic, book a room at the Elizabeth Hotel, or for something a bit more eclectic, check out the Armstrong Hotel, which is located in a renovated building from the 1920s.

There are plenty of Airbnbs available in town, as well. If you're looking for the ultimate experience in nature, bring your camping gear and snag a riverfront campsite on the banks of the Poudre. There are several great camping areas managed by the National Forest Service that are perfect for small RVs, camper vans, and tent camping. Some campsites are first come, first served, while others can be reserved online. Costs vary depending on what campground you choose, but they are an average of around $25 per night. Make sure to bring cash in case the campground is cash only. You can fall asleep to the sound of the river flowing and wake up to some of the most beautiful views in Colorado.