Blue River

Beginning in the mountains near Breckenridge and Frisco, the Blue River’s alpine flow powers 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. Our Blue River Express trip meets just 15 minutes north of Silverthorne and about 35 minutes from Breckenridge.  

The Best of the Blue

The Blue River, a tributary of the mighty Colorado River, is a lesser-known Colorado gem. It courses through high alpine scenery, rich green forests, and expansive ranchlands before merging with the Colorado River. If you are visiting central Colorado, consider a splashy class III Blue River rafting trip for an exciting whitewater excursion perfect for families, first-timers and those looking for a shorter adventure.

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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!

  1. 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 II-III rapids and marvel at the scenery around you as you paddle down one of Colorado's lesser-known yet quintessential rivers.      

  2. 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 cliffside in this unique assisted climbing experience, with views of the Rockies and the town of Idaho Springs present the entire way.

  3. 1/2 Day Bike Rental

    With our multiple bike options, you can choose from spraying up dirt on the trails, sending it downhill at Breckenridge Resort, or cruising the recreational paths.

  4. 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 a seasoned angler, this trip is fit for all levels of experience.    

Blue River Whitewater Rafting

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 rafting 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. Check out our current river conditions page to stay up to date on Colorado river 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. View driving directions.

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 blood-pumping 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. View Package

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FAQs

WHEN CAN I RAFT ON THE BLUE RIVER?

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.

HOW FAR AWAY IS THE BLUE RIVER?

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.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR RAFTING ON THE BLUE RIVER?

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.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

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.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

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.

FAQs

Where are you located?

AVA has locations across the state of Colorado. Our primary outposts are located in Idaho Springs, Kremmling, Buena Vista and Breckenridge. For more information on getting to your adventure with us, please visit our Getting Here page.

Is transportation to and from the outpost provided?

Transportation to the outpost is not included. You can enhance your experience and add our shuttle service as an additional offer during the booking process. If you add this transportation to your adventure, a private car will pick you up at your address and transport your group to our outpost, and our driver will be ready to take you home at the conclusion of your tour!

When is the best time to go rafting?

If you’re planning a vacation to Colorado you likely have a limited time window from which to choose – and that’s just fine. Depending on the type of challenge, length of time you want to be on the river, and the location you’ll be visiting, we have multiple options for beginner to advanced paddlers. The Best Time To Enjoy River Trips at AVA: Arkansas River: May – Sept Clear Creek: May – Sept Colorado River: May – Sept Blue River: June Dolores River: May – June Salt River: Late February – mid-May

When can I go ziplining?

You can zipline with AVA from March through November each year! The Cliffside Zipline in Idaho Springs near Denver will open the first weekend of March and stay open on a limited schedule through the end of November. The Mountaintop Zipline in Buena Vista will open between the end of April and early May and stay open through Labor Day. During the summer there are zipline trips hourly starting at 8:00am at both locations.