That’s a really great question and one we get a lot. We don’t actually have a tipping policy for our guides but let’s just say this. Our rafting guides are the best in the business. They are highly trained professional who are passionate about what they do. This is not just a job for them; it’s a way of life. Our guides do much more than guide your raft down the river; they are storytellers, history buffs, amateur geologists, animal and plant identifiers, comedians and protectors.

If you feel your guide has done a great job and made your experience a memorable one, then you can certainly show your appreciation by giving a tip. The amount is totally up to you. Many people believe that anyone in a service type of job (like restaurant and hotel employees, hair dressers and dog groomers, etc.) should get between 10-20% of the total cost of the service. That is not to say that’s what we suggest, but that’s what most people tip when they do tip. So, for instance, if your trip was $200.00, and your guide made your experience a memorable one, a $20-$40 tip would be generous and greatly appreciated!

If your guide was so exceptional that you want him or her to be your guide on all future trips, simply request him at the time you make your reservation. While we cannot promise he/she will be available that day, we will do everything in our power to accommodate your request.

The earlier you contact AVA to schedule your rafting trip, the better your chances of getting the guide want.

1/2 Off Rafting at AVA Right Now!

August is here, and the whitewater rapids summer fun is flowing at Arkansas Valley Adventures! If you have been too busy to enjoy the exhilarating experience AVA has to offer, the time has come to treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure at the most amazing price around!

Our Why Wait? special (why wait in traffic on I-70 when you can be rafting down whitewater rapids instead??) is going on now. Simply buy one, get one ½ off on our Clear Creek Sunday afternoon 2:00 or later trips. Use these links to book a Clear Creek Beginner or Clear Creek Intermediate right now and enter the promo code “WHY WAIT.”

AVA is also offering 10% off all trips booked for dates August 15-September 30. This includes rafting/zipline packages, Arkansas River rafting trips, Clear Creek rafting trips and Upper Colorado River rafting trips. Valid on AVA-run trips.

You have waited long enough for the thrilling outdoor adventure only AVA can offer! With our Why Wait special and other generous AVA deals, why are you waiting?

Just how adventurous are you? Have you been whitewater rafting for quite some time now and want to try something new at Arkansas Valley Adventures? If so, have we got the exhilarating experience for you!  Zip line adventures are becoming extremely popular with people of all ages. Zip lining is one of the most exciting and popular activities you can do in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The experience is safe and even the not-so-adventurous will be excited about trying this daring feat for the very first time.

AVA’s zip line course is in a breathtaking woody area of our 43-acre Gold Camp property where you can see the beautiful snow-capped Rocky Mountains and the rolling Arkansas River as you zip through the woods surrounded by pine and aspen trees. Our zip line is a hands-free system so you can fully enjoy every aspect of the thrilling ride. You will travel at speeds up to thirty miles per hour and can choose from a half-day zip line adventure or a rafting/zip line package deal. You will be in the very competent hands of our highly trained, friendly, and knowledgeable guides.

As you can see on our zip line page (linked above), we have a variety of packages to choose from, and we’re sure you’ll find one that fits what everyone in your group is looking for. Simply contact AVA today to schedule your zip line adventure and enjoy the ride!!

We sure do! A gift certificate from Arkansas Valley Adventures is a fantastic idea for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, and a great thing about gift certificates from AVA is they can be used for a variety of adventures. When you buy a gift certificate from Arkansas Valley Adventures, the lucky recipient can use it for whitewater rafting trips from the Buena Vista, Idaho Springs, Kremming, Breckenridge and Keystone offices. And the gift certificate can also be used for our exciting rock climbing excursions, zip line trips (now that’s fun!), lodging and even to buy items in our retail store.

You can buy AVA gift certificates online, at any one of our locations, or can even call us and order over the phone. The gift certificates are sold in $50 increments, and when you purchase the gift certificates, you don’t have to know exactly which trip the certificate is for. The recipient must call AVA and make a reservation. Gift certificates are valid at any time during our season, and when you order, you will receive one email confirmation that shows your credit card charges, and a second email will be the actual gift certificate attached as a PDF file, which you can print or leave in electronic format.

That’s all there is to it! There is nothing better than getting a gift certificate for the experience of a lifetime! Contact AVA today to get the water enthusiast in your life the best gift ever!

AVA is proud to have the only zipline tour in the Upper Arkansas Valley. Located on our 44-acre outpost between Buena Vista and Leadville, the course allows you to blast among the treetops with some of the most amazing views you can imagine.

You’ll come to our Granite Outpost for your zipline tour. To get to the first zip requires a hike of approximately 10 minutes. And then it’s all downhill! Travel over 3,000 feet through the pine and aspens of our mountain property. Look down upon the Arkansas River and surrounding peaks as you get one of the thrills of a lifetime!

Follow (or start) your zipline tour with one of our amazing Arkansas River rafting trips. The  Colorado white water rafting trips on the Arkansas River are known as some of the very best in the world! We have fantastic rafting/zipline packages to save you money and help you cram the most adventure possible into a day!

• Zipliners flying across the home page, yelling “Yahoo!”
• A simplified navigation in the “GPS”
• Links to our guest stories and testimonials at whyilove.coloradorafting.net
• Zipline tours page and tons of zipline/rafting packages to help maximize on your dollar and your adventure
• Links to Trip Advisor, Yelp and Facebook so you can follow what’s going on in the AVA community

Check it out today for a FUN white water rafting web experience! Let us share the adventure with you!

The best part? If you submit a story, we’ll send you an AVA t-shirt!

To share your own story, click the “Share Your Story” button on the right side or CLICK HERE.

Check out whyilove.coloradorafting.net today!

We know the choices can be overwhelming, which is why we’re doing a series of blog posts to help you figure it out! We want to start with explaining how our whitewater rafting trips are rated. If you do much research on rafting trips, you’ll find that almost all rafting trips in Colorado are rated from Class I to Class V.

What does that mean?

The International Scale of River Difficulty was created a few decades ago by American Whitewater. That’s the scale we use at AVA too. Here’s an abridged version of that scale:

• Class I: This is generally what we call “flat water,” moving water with riffles, small waves and few obstructions. We recommend: The Colorado River Scenic Float.

• Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Many of our Class III trips also have some Class II water in between the rapids. We recommend: –Our Colorado River Scenic Float. The Brown’s Canyon rafting trips or the Clear Creek Beginner trip also have some Class II water in between the rapids.

• Class III: Beginner-Intermediate. These are what we often call our family whitewater trips. They’re fun for both beginner and experienced rafters and generally have a minimum age of 6-7 years and minimum 50 lbs. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. We recommend: Classic intermediate trips like Brown’s Canyon full day trip, the 24 Hours in Brown’s Canyon Overnight Trip, the Clear Creek Beginner, or the Blue River.

• Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. The rapids on these trips tend to be both more continuous and larger than on Class III trips.  These trips are appropriate for first-time rafters that are in very good physical shape and are strong swimmers. We recommend: The Numbers rafting full day or half day, the Clear Creek Intermediate Rafting Trip or the Royal Gorge.

• Class V: Advanced Plus. The most advanced level of commercial rafting. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. While we prefer that you have rafting experience when you go on a Class V trip, our trips that include Class V rapids can be appropriate for first-time rafters in excellent physical condition with very strong swimming skills and an understanding that you are entering into a first-class serious adventure! We recommend: The Gauntlet trip, which includes the Pine Creek rafting trip and The Numbers rafting in one trip, the Clear Creek Advanced, or the ultimate Class V: our Gore Canyon rafting trip.

• Class VI: Although attempted by private boaters, these rapids are not run on commercial raft trips! TOO EXTREME!

Give us a call at 800-370-0581 and we’ll narrow down all of the choices to find the perfect trip for you!

It’s also not too late to take advantage of our 25% rafting discount! Expires Dec 31.

These days there are so many places to let your opinion be known.

We’ll make it easy on you. Here are our company pages where you can read what others had to say and post your own! It’s best if you post your review based on the location where you rafted, but if you can’t remember, just pick one!

Trip Advisor:

Granite Outpost: (Buena Vista, Arkansas River rafting trips, rock climbing)

Idaho Springs Outpost: (Clear Creek rafting trips)

Kremmling Outpost: (Upper Colorado River/Gore Canyon rafting trips)

Breckenridge Outpost: (Summit pick-up trips, or maybe you just walked into our office…)

Yelp:

Granite Rafting Outpost (Buena Vista, Arkansas River trips, rock climbing)

Idaho Springs Rafting Outpost: (Clear Creek rafting trips)

Kremmling Rafting Outpost: (Upper Colorado River rafting / Gore Canyon Rafting trips)

Breckenridge Rafting Outpost

THANKS FOR YOUR REVIEW!