It may be hard to wrap your mind around committing the time to an overnight rafting trip, as well as the money. When considering an overnight rafting trip, it’s important to consider the actual value and experience when looking at the cost. While it may seem out of reach initially, when you compare it to the cost of 24 hours in your favorite destination, it’s much more valuable. The important thing to remember about overnight rafting trips in Colorado with AVA is that they are all-inclusive.
Value of an Overnight Rafting Trip
What does all-inclusive mean exactly? On an overnight rafting trip with AVA, all of your food, overnight gear and the adventure itself are included. The only thing you need is an extra pair of clothes and a sleeping bag! Don’t have a sleeping bag? No problem! We have them available for rent.
So how does the value of an overnight rafting trip compare to that of 24 hours in, say, Breckenridge, Colorado? Well, there is no such thing as all-inclusive vacation in Breckenridge, so everything adds up. Start with your lodging; on a good day, a 1-night stay at the Doubletree will run you about $275! Need to park a car? Well, that’s going to be $35 extra. After checking in, you may wish to head to the Peak 8 Fun Park. Swipe your card for 2 adventure passes, and just like that you’re out another $164.
After a full day of adventure on the mountain, you’re going to need to fuel up! Head over to the Blue Stag Saloon for a delicious plate of food that is sure to leave you feeling happy and full. The Sesame Ahi Tuna is a can’t-miss appetizer, and with your appetizers, drinks and desert, your bill might come to around $120. All-in-all, it’s not bad for a meal for 2 in Breckenridge, especially when you consider the high-quality of the food you get from the Blue Stag!
Once you’ve dined to your satisfaction, you should head over to Blue River Bistro for some great martinis, or maybe over to Apres for a couple Moscow Mules, or even over to the Breckenridge Distillery for a few craft cocktails. Drinks, plus tip, will quickly run you about $75 for two people. So, after a busy day of traveling, activities, great food & drink, you head to bed to rest up for day 2.
In the morning, you head over to Columbine Cafe for a delicious, hot breakfast. Breakfast for two, as well as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or 2, runs you about $50. Now, what to do with your day? How about a day on the mountain biking trails! Bike rentals for two as well as Vail passes come to about $120. So, your 24 hours of adventure, fantastic food and drinks and a good nights’ sleep comes to about $804 total. You can’t put a price on great memories, am I right?
So, how does this compare to AVA’s 24 Hours in Browns Canyon trip? Let me break it down for you:
Day 1: You show up to the Buena Vista outpost wearing your river gear and some Teva or Chaco like sandals, with only an extra pair of clothes for day 2 and your overnight needs. You meet your guide, hand over your overnight items, including your extra pair of clothes and other necessities (ie – a toothbrush might be nice! as well as your sleeping bag). Your guide packs everything up in a dry bag, insuring that nothing will have even the slightest bit of water on them when you arrive at camp. Then, you get suited up – your guide will give you a PFD and a helmet for your rafting adventure. A bit too cold to brave the water in just your clothes? No problem; with AVA Rafting, all necessary gear, including wetsuits and splash jackets, are FREE on all trips!
So, after gearing up and packing up, you will load onto the bus and head to the put-in for your adventure! On the 24 Hours in Browns Canyon trip, you will put in at the top of Browns Canyon National Monument around noon, long after the 1/2 day and full day trips put in to provide a wonderful experience of rafting without crowds, as this is the most commercially rafted stretch of river in the United States!
After half a day of rafting, you will pull off at a riverside campsite, where you will be provided with more than enough gear for a comfortable nights’ sleep! Your guides will unload the gear boat to give you a tent, sleeping pad, your overnight gear, chairs, tables and tons of delicious grub. Your guide will also set up the groover – aka the wilderness potty. At AVA, we take pride in our ability to leave no trace! When you take an unguided overnight trip, it would be your responsibility to not only set-up and take-down the groover, but also to dispose of its, ahem, contents after the trip. On overnight trips with AVA, we take care of all the messy details!
After camp is set up, take some free time for a relaxing hike in the canyon, or throw some lines for some world-class fishing in the Arkansas River. Make the most of your free time while your guides get to work on a delicious steak dinner. Once dinner is ready, load up your plate – you earned it! There’s nothing quite like having someone cook your dinner after a long day battling rapids. Now is the time to truly relax and enjoy the scenery. Crack open a beer with your steak, kick your feet up and soak it in. Save room for dessert. Trust me, this is a treat you won’t want to miss.
As the sun sets on day 1, you will reminisce on the day with such disbelief, as the overnight rafting experience is one that will not disappoint. When you’re ready to catch some zzz’s, curl up in your sleeping bag in your tent, or pull your sleeping pad out to sleep under the stars.
Wake up on day 2 to the scent of breakfast being made by your guides and the gentle sound of the Arkansas River flowing right next to you. Trust me when I say this will be one of the most satisfying breakfasts of your life! After your guides pack up the dry-bags and load up the gear boat, you will once again hop aboard your raft and hit the rapids for another action-packed day on the water.
Yes, you will be filled with a sense of being bummed the trip is over as your guide directs your boat to the side where the bus will be waiting to shuttle you back to our outpost. Never fear, however, as when you return to the outpost, there will be fantastic pictures of captured memories awaiting!
So, how much does the 24 Hours in Browns Canyon trip run for 2 people? For the entire experience, including food and the memory of rafting in a National Monument, the bill will come to $598, $206 less than spending 24 hours in Breckenridge. Bet the choice doesn’t seem that tough anymore, does it?
Overnight Trips with AVA
AVA has numerous options for overnight rafting in Colorado. Looking for more adventure with the 24 Hours in Browns Canyon? Try our deluxe trip for an added zipline adventure! If you need more rowdy whitewater, give the 2 Day Advanced a try. Now, for the most extreme overnight rafting adventure available, you have to hit the Arkansas River on our 3 Day Mild to Wild trip. On the Mild to Wild, you will start with the 24 Hours in Browns Canyon trip, then at the end of day 2 you will be shuttled to the top of the notorious Pine Creek rapid, a thrilling class V! You also get to partake in some kayaking and rock climbing on this 3 day adventure. I promise; it will be one for the books!
If you are traveling with children under 7, head over to our Kremmling outpost for the 24 Hours on the Upper Colorado or the 3 Days on the Upper Colorado overnight rafting trips. Kids as young as 2 or 3 can partake in the gentle flowing waters and overnight adventures on the Colorado River.
