Blue River
The Blue River, a tributary of the mighty Colorado River, is a lesser-known Colorado gem. Beginning its journey in the mountains near Breckenridge and Frisco, it courses through high alpine scenery, rich green forests, and expansive ranchlands before merging with the Colorado River.
THE BEST OF THE BLUE
The Blue River’s flow also powers recreational activities such as whitewater rafting and kayaking, offering thrilling ways to appreciate its beauty. Its stretch near Silverthorne, Colorado offers the closest Rafting to Breckenridge, Keystone and Frisco with incredible scenery of the Gore Range mountains. If you are visiting central Colorado, consider a Blue River rafting trip for an exciting whitewater excursion perfect for families, first-timers and those looking for a shorter adventure.
Explore Blue River
Top Trips
The Blue River is home to incredible views of the Gore Range, family-friendly whitewater rafting and world-class fly fishing. Whether you are looking for a trip for the kids or a classic Colorado thrill, the Blue River offers a unique rafting experience amidst beautiful scenery!
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 [...]
Mount Blue Sky, Colorado Via Ferrata
Get your heart up on one of our most daring adventure trips! On our Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course, you will traverse the [...]
1/2 Day Bike Rental
Spending some time in the sun with two wheels under you can really help slow time, and give you a chance to enjoy your [...]
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 [...]
Explore Blue River Adventures
The Lower Canyon 1/2 Day Rafting + Via Ferrata
This exciting full-day adventure experience combines rafting on the Lower Canyon portion of the Clear Creek with our thrilling Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata [...]
The Lower Canyon on Clear Creek
Adrenaline seekers will love the Lower Canyon portion of Clear Creek, with opportunities to raft class IV and V rapids. This is a unique [...]
Zipline Half Day + Rock Climb Half Day
Immerse yourself in the great outdoors of the Arkansas River Valley with a rock climb + zipline package! This multi-adventure package offers the opportunity [...]
Rappel into the Gauntlet
On this full-day whitewater rafting adventure, we’ll get your adrenaline flowing beginning with a rappel into the Granite Gorge! You’ll meet your raft for [...]
Campsites
Spend an evening under the Arkansas Valley stars at AVA’s Buena Vista campground. Located at the base of several 14,000-foot peaks, access to the [...]
Cabins
Our rental cabins at our Buena Vista outpost offer unparalleled access to outdoor activities! Stay with us before or after your adventure and wake [...]
Raft Rentals & Packages
Do you have experience rafting the Colorado River? That’s perfect because we have all the rafts and gear you need to build a righteous [...]
Dowd Chute
The Eagle River, just minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek, is the home of Dowd Chute, which offers some of the most thrilling and [...]
What an AVA BLUE RIVER Trip Looks Like
Blue River Trips
The Blue River Express 1/3 day rafting trip includes intermediate class III whitewater rapids perfect for families or first-timers. Because this whitewater river trip is short, it is also great for those on a tight schedule or just wanting a taste of Whitewater Rafting in Colorado. This river trip takes places north of Silverthorne, not far from Breckenridge and Frisco. Be sure to bring your waterproof camera to capture the area’s startling scenery!
Blue River Rafting Timing
This trip is highly dependent on water flows as the river is released from Lake Dillon, and it takes the perfect combination of water levels, river conditions, and luck to be able to run this trip. Last year, we were excited to offer this trip for the first time in 3 years! The Blue River was finally high enough to be runnable, reaching adequate water levels.
Other Rafting Experiences
A little over an hour away in Buena Vista, we additionally offer a wide variety of Rafting experiences on the Arkansas River. Our 1/2 day Browns Canyon trip takes you on an exciting ride on class III rapids through Browns Canyon National Monument, while our Numbers 1/2 day trip amps up the excitement with 6 miles of class III-V rapids. Check out all of our Buena Vista activities here!
AVA's Blue River Location
Our Blue River Express trip meets just 10 miles north of Silverthorne on CO-9 between mile markers 111 and 112. You will meet your guide and get geared up right next to the Blue River. The Blue River rafting trip is just about 24 miles from Breckenridge and 77 miles from Denver.
The Beautiful Blue
The Blue River is a tributary of the Colorado River, springing from the peaks near Breckenridge and weaving its way through a tapestry of stunning alpine landscapes, forests, and ranchland. Renowned for its crystal-clear waters teeming with trout, it serves as an angler’s paradise and a hotspot for whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, and biking. Beyond its banks, the Blue River Trail welcomes hikers and bikers to experience the surrounding beauty up close.
Other Outdoor Opportunities
South of the Blue River, in Breckenridge, AVA offers opportunities to rent bikes, including E-bikes, leisure and gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and juniors bikes. Our Buena Vista and Idaho Springs outposts also host a multitude of rafting trips for all levels and thrill seekers, alongside exciting aerial adventures, including zipline and Via Ferrata courses!
Family-Friendly Rafting
Our Blue River Express rafting trip is a great option for families. This trip starts out of Silverthorne, CO right off of I-70 near Breckenridge and is a 1/3 day trip, so your group will have plenty of time before and after your trip for hiking, biking, fishing, and all the other great outdoor adventures that Colorado has to offer.
For Thrill Seekers
Both our Buena Vista and Idaho Springs outposts offer several blood0pmping trips on class IV and V rapids to charge your sense of adventure! At these locations, you can additionally conquer a Via Ferrata course or try out a zipline trip to experience the rush of a cliffside adventure.
Featured Blue River Trip
THE BLUE RIVER EXPRESS
The Blue River’s flow also powers recreational activities such as whitewater rafting and kayaking, offering thrilling ways to appreciate its beauty. Its stretch near Silverthorne, Colorado offers the closest Rafting to Breckenridge, Keystone and Frisco with incredible scenery of the Gore Range mountains.
FAQs
The Blue River is fed mostly by snowmelt, which means the season can vary based on amount of snow and when the snow fell. Typically, the Blue River runs best for rafting from May through July.
The put-in for our Blue River rafting trips is located about 1.5 hours from Denver, just a few minutes north of the town of Silverthorne. It is about a half hour north from Breckenridge and 25 minutes from Frisco.
While you can raft on the Blue typically between May and July, the best time for rafting would be in June. The flows on the Blue River can change rapidly, so it best to check about 1 week before your trip.
For your Blue River trip, be sure to wear clothes of quick drying material – it is best to avoid cotton altogether. Wear shoes that can get wet, but that also remain secure to your feet. Crocs and flip flops are not permitted. The water is snowmelt, so no matter how hot it is outside, the water will be cold. Many people prefer to bring or wear wool or waterproof socks.
You’ll be spending time under the Colorado sun, so be sure to bring some sunscreen and sunglasses. Many people also bring a hat to wear under their helmet to protect their face from the sun. Once your Blue River rafting trip is over, you’ll want to change into some dry clothes.
