Current River Conditions
Conditions & Age Minimums
Current as of 2/8/2024
Aerial adventures are open beginning March 1st at our Idaho Springs outpost! View our Zipline and Via Ferrata trips and start planning your spring adventure. As the snowpack continues to build this winter, we look forward to adrenaline-pumping adventures on Colorado’s best rivers. All 2024 trips are open for booking. Reserve your group’s spot today to secure a spot on your favorite Colorado adventure trip! Early booking also ensures your group gets the best deal possible. Read about all of our favorite Colorado rivers, and start dreaming of your 2024 whitewater adventure.
Check back here during the season for updates on on the best rafting trips for your crew based on CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) and flow rates. These tips can help you learn more about Colorado’s rivers, rafting conditions, and when to plan your Rocky Mountain whitewater trip.
Key: LOW | RUNNING | HIGH
Water Conditions & Trip Age Restrictions
Clear Creek
CFS
28.3 CFS
Clear Creek is a fast moving narrow “creek” along Highway 70. However, during most of your trip you won’t know that you are right off the highway because in the river valley you are surrounded by the beautiful national forest. Gold Rush is a class III rafting trip that lasts about 1/3 of a day. This is a great trip for families and those looking to enjoy whitewater and paddling but don’t want to take on large challenging waves. Upper Clear Creek is the class IV section of river that is great for those groups who want to work together and paddle hard through some large splashy waves. Lower Canyon is the class V section of clear creek that moves very fast through large waves. We recommend this trip for those looking to paddle long and hard.
Gold Rush Clear Creek Rafting Adventure
Splash down the Clear Creek mining valley on our 1/3 day Gold Rush trip. Just a short half-hour trip from Denver, this family-friendly rafting [...]
Clear Creek Gold Rush + Zipline Package
Join us on one of our best family trips, and experience Colorado fun on the river and in the air. From our Idaho Springs [...]
Upper Clear Creek Half Day Rafting Trip
Our Upper Clear Creek adventure will keep your paddle moving and your heart pounding as you crash through class IV rapids. Enjoy the beautiful [...]
Age Restrictions
Gold Rush 1/3 Day (Class III) – 6+ years: CLOSED
Upper Clear Creek 1/2 Day (Class IV) – 15+ years: CLOSED
Lower Canyon 1/2 Day (Class V) – 15+ years: CLOSED
Already looking forward to next year’s Clear Creek trip? Get stoked for your next rafting adventure
Water Conditions & Trip Age Restrictions
Arkansas River
CFS
349 CFS in Browns Canyon
144 CFS in Pine Creek / Numbers
Looking forward to next year’s whitewater adventure? Read more about our Arkansas River trips below!
There is a reason that the Arkansas River near Buena Vista is the most commercially rafting river in the United States. Our Browns Canyon 1/2 day trip offers whitewater rafting through the majestic granite walls of Browns Canyon National Monument on a family-friendly class III section of the river. The Numbers 1/2 day elevates the intensity as you rush through class IV rapids and paddle hard throughout your time on the river. With panoramic views of the 14,000+ Collegiate Peaks Mountain Range and the Arkansas River valley, these trips provide plenty of opportunities to experience some of Colorado’s most beautiful scenery. Keep your eyes peeled, as you may even spot wildlife!
Our Buena Vista outpost even provides opportunities to package your rafting experience with an exciting Zipline or Via Ferrata trip and make the most of your final summer adventure before school starts up! These trips will run through fall along with our Off-Road UTV Rentals, Fly Fishing, Bike Rentals, and Horseback Riding trips.
Browns Canyon 1/2 Day
Get ready to experience the best of Colorado on our Brown’s Canyon half-day trip. This family-friendly adventure rushes you down the Arkansas River and [...]
Browns Canyon Sizzler Full Day
The full-day Browns Canyon Sizzler represents the ultimate Colorado rafting experience! This trip offers a full day of classic white water rafting through class [...]
Age Restrictions
- Browns Canyon 1/2 Day and Full Day Sizzler (Class III) – 7+ years: CLOSED
- Numbers 1/2 Day (Class IV) – 15+ years: CLOSED
- The Gauntlet (Class IV & V) Full Day – 15+ years: CLOSED
Water Conditions & Trip Age Restrictions
Colorado River
CFS
447 CFS
Looking forward to next year’s rafting adventure? Read more about our Colorado River trips below!
From our Kremmling, Colorado outpost, our Upper Colorado River Scenic Float Trips provide a chance to cool down and relax amidst the beautiful scenery of the Colorado River. These are the best trips to tailor to your specific group, with younger kids, adults, and grandparents enjoying their day out on the river. On the Upper Colorado River, you’ll have the opportunity to sunbathe, swim, and even leap from jump rock if water levels permit. For those looking for a unique experience or to elevate the adventure, try paddling one of our Inflatable Kayaks or Stand Up Paddleboards!
Fall is also the perfect time to try out a Fly- Fishing trip! Our Walk & Wade trip on the Upper Colorado River offers the opportunity to learn fly-fishing tips and tricks from one of our experienced guides, with current water levels and temperatures making for great catches.
Colorado Float Trips – Scenic Half Day
This wonderful Colorado River float trip is a gently flowing section that is inviting to all ages. You’ll encounter a few small rapids as [...]
Scenic Float Full Day
Experience the natural beauty of the Colorado River on our Full Day Upper Colorado Full Day Scenic Float trip! You’ll paddle a gently flowing [...]
24 Hours on the Upper Colorado
This trip offers something for everyone! Enjoy wildlife, serenity, and natural beauty that only the Colorado River can offer. You’ll have plenty of time [...]
Age Restrictions
- Half & Full Day Scenic Float (Class II) – 2+ years old and least 30 lbs: CLOSED
- SUPs & Inflatable Kayaks – 10+ years: CLOSED
- Colorado River Fly-Fishing trips (Walk & Wade and Overnight): CLOSED
Water Conditions & Trip Age Restrictions
Blue River
CFS
90.5 CFS
Discover the magic of our Blue River trip!
The Blue River is a beautiful river that runs north of Breckenridge and offers great whitewater in the heart of Summit County. This river offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and gore range. The Blue River Express is a great trip for those looking to get a little wet and paddle through some class III rapids. This is a quick trip that lasts about 1/3 of a day, so you will have plenty of time to pair it with another activity.
If you’re looking for an alternate Class III option, be sure to check out Scenic Float trips on the Colorado River, available through the fall.
BLUE RIVER & NEARBY TRIPS
Blue River Express White Water Rafting Trip
Join AVA on the Blue River on this 1/3-day family-friendly rafting trip! Splash through class III rapids and marvel at the scenery around you [...]
Inflatable Kayaks Half Day
Looking to take charge of the river? On AVA’s Upper Colorado Inflatable Kayak ½ Day trip you can do just that! Whether you want [...]
Walk & Wade Fly Fishing Trip
Explore the incredible waters of the Upper Colorado River with a knowledgeable fishing guide. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first-time fishing or you’re [...]
Age Restrictions
- Blue River Express 1/3 Day (Class III) – 5+ years: CLOSED
What an AVA Adventure looks like
Arkansas River
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit.
Is Whitewater Rafting Safe?
Glossary of Terms
The calculation for CFS is river width x depth x speed (flow and gradient). Each river has a number of sections where readings for the CFS are taken, and 1 section of a river may have a different CFS than another section of the same river. Every river is different, so what may be a high CFS on one river might be completely normal on another. Check out the latest CFS for Colorado’s Rivers, as well as a whether it’s running low, high or runnable, on Mountain Buzz.
Snowpack is the measurement of snow that is compared over previous years. Many of Colorado’s rivers rely on the winter’s snow for water, which is why we talk about snowpack pretty often when we are talking about water levels. Check out Colorado’s snowpack on from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The steepness of the river bed. Expressed in feet/mile.
Water that is circulating over top of itself. Can often result in holes and breaking waves.
Water flowing over a rock or other obstruction that creates a void that circulates water rather than allowing it to flow downstream.
Water that is flowing over an obstruction that leads to breaking waves. Rapids are typically formed by rocks below the surface of the water.
Sections of still water next to shore that are used by raft guides to pull over and take breaks.
A pile of sticks, branches and debris that have created an obstruction that only allows small items and limited amounts of water to pass through.
