Philmont Pre-Trek Adventure & Peak 1 Express Transportation

Make the Most of Your Arrival Day with AVA

Instead of waiting around after your flight, AVA’s Philmont Pre-Trek Adventure invites you to jump into Colorado’s most iconic outdoor activities, all expertly guided and fully coordinated. All logistics, equipment, and transportation are included so you can focus on fun and team building before hitting the trail.

Signature Adventure Options

Whitewater Rafting

Start your Philmont journey with an energizing whitewater rafting adventure led by AVA’s experienced river guides. This activity is a favorite among Philmont crews because it builds teamwork, communication, and confidence. Most groups enjoy Class II–III rapids, which offer exciting splashes and scenic canyon views without requiring prior rafting experience. Calm stretches allow guides to provide instruction while giving your crew time to take in Colorado’s mountain scenery. All equipment is provided, including helmets, life jackets, and paddles. Paired with reliable Peak 1 Express transportation, rafting turns your arrival day into a memorable, adventure-filled start to your Philmont experience.

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Ziplining

AVA’s ziplining adventure is a thrilling yet approachable way to kick off your Philmont Pre-Trek Adventure. Perfect for first-time adventurers and mixed-ability groups, ziplining delivers big excitement with minimal physical demands. Your group will soar along a series of professionally built zip lines that cross forested valleys and mountain canyons, all under the guidance of certified AVA staff. Guides handle safety briefings, equipment fitting, and encouragement throughout the experience. When combined with smooth Peak 1 Express private shuttle service, ziplining offers a fun, low-stress way to bond as a group before continuing on to Philmont Scout Ranch.

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Via Ferrata

For crews seeking a more challenging pre-trek experience, AVA’s Via Ferrata adventure provides an unforgettable introduction to Colorado’s vertical terrain. Using fixed ladders, cables, and iron rungs, your group will traverse real rock faces in a controlled, guided environment. AVA’s climbing instructors ensure safety while helping participants build confidence, focus, and trust. No prior climbing experience is required, making Via Ferrata accessible while still feeling like a major accomplishment. With Peak 1 Express transportation handling logistics, this adventure transforms arrival day into a powerful, confidence-building highlight of your Philmont journey.

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Rafting

1. 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 adventure offers a fun outdoor adventure that everyone in your group will enjoy.

2. 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 scenery, and keep your eyes peeled for big horn sheep, otters, and other native wildlife that are commonly spotted on many of our Colorado whitewater rafting trips.

3. 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 opportunity to explore some of the best whitewater in the state within a short distance of Denver.

4. Gold Rush Rafting+ Zipline

     Join us on one of our best family trips, and experience Colorado fun on the river and in the air. From our Idaho Springs outpost, paddle Clear Creek's best family-friendly whitewater and soar through the trees on our cliffside zipline course.  

Ziplining

1. Cliffside Zipline Half Day

   <p class="isSelectedEnd">Experience one of the most unique zipline adventures near Denver on our Cliffside Zipline Course in Idaho Springs. Your adventure begins in historic downtown Idaho Springs before boarding our signature Safari Truck for a scenic ride up the mountain. From there, you'll soar across six exhilarating ziplines built directly into the rugged Rocky Mountain landscape above Chicago Creek.</p> As you travel from platform to platform, you'll fly past towering granite cliffs, forested slopes, and sweeping mountain views while tackling exciting aerial features including a hanging bridge, log cross, jungle bridge, and dual race line. This half-day adventure combines adrenaline, incredible scenery, and family-friendly fun, making it the perfect Colorado mountain experience for first-time zipliners and thrill seekers alike.

2. Gold Rush Rafting+ Zipline

     Join us on one of our best family trips, and experience Colorado fun on the river and in the air. From our Idaho Springs outpost, paddle Clear Creek's best family-friendly whitewater and soar through the trees on our cliffside zipline course.  

3. Upper Clear Creek Rafting + Zipline

     Package a thrilling zipline tour with the Upper Clear Creek half-day rafting trip for an adventure of a lifetime! This full-day experience combines our class IV rafting trip on the Clear Creek with our exciting and scenic cliffside zipline course.    

4. The Lower Canyon Rafting + Cliffside Zipline Package

   The Lower Canyon and cliffside zipline multi-adventure package includes an entire day of adrenaline-pumping fun. Join us on the Clear Creek and up high on the cliffside above Idaho Springs, and experience the best of the Rockies from every angle.

Via Ferrata

1. Mount Blue Sky, Colorado Via Ferrata

   <p class="isSelectedEnd">Get your heart racing on one of Colorado's most unique aerial adventures. Our Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata takes you high above Chicago Creek on a guided cliffside climbing experience built directly into the rugged mountains surrounding historic Idaho Springs. Clipped into a continuous safety system, you'll traverse exposed rock faces, cross suspended bridges, and navigate a series of exciting features while taking in sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains below.</p> Throughout the adventure, you'll move across dramatic granite cliffs overlooking the canyon and downtown Idaho Springs, experiencing terrain typically reserved for technical climbers. Combining hiking, climbing, and aerial elements, the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata delivers an unforgettable mountain adventure just 30 minutes from Denver.

2. Gold Rush Rafting + Via Ferrata

   On our Gold Rush rafting and Via Ferrata multi-adventure package, adventure starts strong and keeps coming. Climb high into the cliffside above Idaho Springs and the Chicago Creek on Via Ferrata course, a unique form of climbing with features built into the mountainside. You'll then cool off over the course of 7 miles of moderate rapids on the historic Clear Creek.

3. Upper Clear Creek 1/2 Day + Via Ferrata

   Spend your day venturing through the mountains on with this thrilling combo of activities! You'll have the opportunity to challenge yourself on the water and land, as you rush class IV rapids on the Upper Clear Creek and climb high into the cliffside on our Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course.  

4. The Lower Canyon 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 adventure. Get your heart rate up as you ascend the cliffside, and keep the adrenaline up with rafting on this section of class IV and V rapids.