Whitewater Rafting With AVA Review – Upper Clear Creek Canyon

ByChristine Updated on

There are a lot of options for going whitewater rafting in Colorado. The whitewater here is great and the scenery is even better.

We decided we wanted to stay closer to the Denver area so we could keep enjoying the area without a long day trip or weekend away. Going with a guide service out in Idaho Springs seemed like a good location. We then chose AVA Rafting & Zipline, formerly Arkansas Valley Adventures.

Kevin and I had each been whitewater rafting when we were younger, before we knew each other. So we were excited to give it a try together. Our friends had also been before and loved it so it was the perfect outing of it for all of us.

Here is our trip report and review of AVA so you can see if whitewater rafting with AVA in Upper Clear Creek Canyon is right for you too!

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Red and green white water rafts on the Arkansas River in Royal Gorge.
Whitewater rafters on the Arkansas River through Royal Gorge

Our Trip Review

We selected an Intermediate+-Advanced Trip on Upper Clear Creek considered a 1/2 day trip. Counting our orientation, heading to the river, and the raft trip, it probably took about 3.5 hours.

Basically, we showed up, got an introduction, geared up in wet suits (this river is from melt-off and is very cold), spray jackets, and helmets, got a run-down on what to expect, safety, and practiced a bit on land, and then we were off!

We got lucky and it was just the four of us with our guide in one raft. There was a second raft of some other folks. Even better, since we had some experience already, the guide made sure to make our trip more exciting.

Our guide chose more challenging routes through the rapids and let us do things like “surfing.” This is where we faced ourselves back upriver, paddled hard to get close to the bottom of a rapid.

At that point it pulls you in and starts flooding into the raft! You’d think that would be disastrous, but it works out perfectly because you just sit there and surf the wave flowing over and around the raft.

Our trip whitewater rafting with AVA went up to Class IV rapids. We had a great time and thought we’d even try something harder next time!

The Basics

Check with guide services if there are any age or other restrictions and to figure out what type of trip (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) is most appropriate for you.

You won’t just be along for the ride. You’ll definitely be getting a workout rafting down the river. Be prepared to row hard! And be prepared to get really wet. No one escapes!

We liked our guide service, AVA, and our trip out of Idaho Springs on the Upper Clear Creek. They also have outposts in Buena Vista and Kremmling, and they have whitewater rafting options in many other places around Colorado!

There are any number of guide services you can find by searching online. Decide what level of trip you’d like, how long, and in what area and then book a trip!

AVA’s site says their rafting season is April through October. Check with guide services as this can vary by river and is all dependent on river conditions.

If you want a little (or a lot) of adventure you will definitely get it by whitewater rafting with AVA!

Christine is the co-founder of Never Stop Adventuring, and an avid traveler who started traveling the world as a child growing up in a military family. She even lived in Germany for numerous years. Since then she has been to 48 U.S. states, 17 countries, and traveled the U.S. in an RV for over 7 years.

With her 3 kids, the adventures continued family travel style. She has planned and coordinated travel with kids for the last 10 years and shares family travel tips and tricks, destinations, costs and even the mistakes so you can be empowered to take your own family trips with confidence!