Trip Info & Resources
What To Expect On Your Trip
Congratulations, you’ve booked your adventure with AVA! Now you’re wondering what you need to know, how you need to pack, what might throw a wrench in your perfect trip.
We’ve got you covered. Keep reading for everything you need to plan for your whitewater rafting, aerial, fishing and other activities.
Your Guide To Adventure
We want to make sure you have the answers to all your questions…and that you know what questions to ask!
Get the paperwork out of the way
As soon as you’ve booked your trip, you can take care of the tedious part – making sure your whole party has signed their waivers. This will speed up your check in so you have more time to enjoy the day. See the waiver link below.
You can also pre-purchase photos so that you’ll have a reminder of the incredible memories you’ve created. See the photo link below.
Also take a moment to check your confirmation email to ensure all the details are correct, in particular the date, time, and specific trip that you’re booked on.
Confirm where you're going and how to get there
At least 24 hours before your trip, be sure to check the outpost address in your confirmation and the driving directions. More detail is available in the Getting Here link below. Make sure to check cotrip.org so you know about any closures or construction, and be careful about how you choose to get to us. Uber and Lyft are notoriously unreliable – they may get you to our outpost and then strand you there with no way to get back to your hotel or rental.
The night before and the morning of
Conditions in Colorado can vary considerably, even within a few weeks’ span. Be sure to bring the right gear so you can stay warm and safe in the outdoors. Check the weather beforehand and morning-of, and remember that we don’t cancel for rain. Details on what to bring are in the link below.
Leave a little early to give yourself plenty of time to find our location and park.
Safety, safety, safety
We consider your safety our highest priority. You’ll be equipped with a number of pieces of safety equipment, including a personal floatation device (PFD) for rafting; wetsuits for colder times of year; helmets and harnesses for aerial tours; and more. You’ll also receive a full safety orientation to prepare you for your adventure. You can review our rafting safety page (below) for even more information. You can also learn more about the difficulty levels assigned to different trips at the link below.
On the river, on the course, on the trail
Once your adventure gets going, we will work hard to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your guide will be there to provide not only safety and instruction but also information about the local area and entertainment. They will also work to adjust to current conditions which are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. River conditions will fluctuate over the course of the season and can change the nature of any given trip from fast and high consequence to lower and more technical. AVA may change the section of your trip or cancel a trip due to water levels. You can check current conditions at the link below as well as learn more about the best times to go rafting.
Wrapping up
We strive to provide you with exceptional service and memories that will last a lifetime. The better prepared you are for your adventure, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it. Check out our FAQ’s page for any additional questions you might have.
Resources
Check out these handy pages for answers to all your questions. From safety to logistics to current conditions, we’ve got you covered.
It's a surreal, exhilarating experience you won't forget!
The Granite Via Ferrata in Buena Vista, CO is a high-energy, heart-pounding journey that takes you through obstacles built directly into the cliffside. The course reaches its peak with a feature found nowhere else in Colorado – The Flight Line Free Fall. Leap off an 80-foot cliff, and feel your pulse race as you plunge towards the ground before being caught in a controlled free fall.
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FAQs ABOUT OUR TRIPS
A wet suit will be provided, so you should wear a swimsuit or athletic clothes that you can put your wet suit over. Depending on the time of year and temperature, we may recommend athletic clothes to keep you warm. Do not wear anything with cotton as that will not dry quickly and can make you cold throughout your trip.
We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. If your tour is scheduled for 12:30 pm, then you should arrive at 12:15, so you can check in and we can get started right at 12:30.
We do not allow dogs or any pets on our river trips. We do ask that you leave them at home or with a dog-sitter because it may not be safe for them to stay in your car during your rafting trip.
We do offer photos that can be purchased before or after your trip. If you pre-purchase your photos you will get a discount. Typically, there are photographers that sit along the river and take photos as your group goes through the rapids.
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