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.

This multi-adventure package is your opportunity to try out two great adventures in one full day. Feel the breeze in your hair as you fly on our family-friendly zipline course, and then the spray on your skin as you raft the Lower Canyon. This section of the Clear Creek represents one of our more advanced whitewater opportunities, yet is still suitable for fit beginners up for a challenge!

Minimum age: 15, minimum weight: 50 lbs., maximum weight: 250 lbs.

Trip Highlights

2026 Expectations

Clear Creek is one of Colorado’s most snowmelt-driven rivers, so conditions in 2026 will depend heavily on spring runoff, warmer temperatures, and rainfall throughout the season. Trips are currently available across all levels, and our team keeps a close eye on river conditions so we can provide updates and help adjust plans if needed as your trip gets closer. If you’re open to exploring another area, the Upper Colorado River near Kremmling is also a great option this summer, offering reliable flows, beautiful canyon scenery, and rafting trips for all experience levels less than an hour from Summit County.

2026 River Conditions

What to Expect

• Two unique adventures in one full day
• Cover 10 miles of whitewater along the Lower Canyon section of Clear Creek.
• Navigate through steep drops and technical sections, conquering class IV and V rapids.
• Fly above Idaho Springs on our 6-line zipline course
• Exciting aerial elements including a log cross, hanging bridge, and dual race line
• Experienced raft and zipline guides

Trip Itinerary*

• Check in and meeting your guide at our Idaho Springs outpost
• Travel in our zip truck for most of the journey to the beginning of our zipline course, with a short hike to the first platform
• Soar on our six-line zipline course, immersing yourself in stunning mountain vistas throughout the entire adventure
• Return to our outpost and take a break for lunch – please pack a lunch or grab a bite to eat in town between adventures
• Meet up with your guide, gear up, and take a short ride to start the Lower Canyon section of Clear Creek
• Crash through adrenaline-pumping class IV and V rapids as you cover a thrilling 10-mile stretch of the river
• Return to the outpost and viewing the photos from your trips

*For some trips, the order of adventures may be switched. Please check your individual booking for exact details.

Who will love this trip?

• Adventurous family and friends looking to experience two different activities
• Physically fit beginner rafters seeking a challenge or advanced rafters hoping for more intense whitewater
• Families with kids ages 15 and older
• Groups searching for accessible adventure within a half hour of Denver

Related Packages

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 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.    

3. Gold Rush Rafting+ Zipline

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4. 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.

5. Upper Clear Creek Half Day Rafting Trip

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Not sure yet? Here are some other activities

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. 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.

3. Colorado River Float Trip: Scenic Half-Day Adventure

   <span style="font-weight: 400;">A Colorado River float trip is the perfect way to experience the natural beauty of the Gore Range, featuring gentle Class II rapids that are safe and fun for all ages.</span>

4. Browns Canyon Half Day Rafting

   <span style="font-weight: 400;">Browns Canyon half-day rafting trip delivers the perfect blend of family-friendly adventure and thrilling white water action. Paddle through Class III rapids on Colorado's Arkansas River while passing through the stunning granite walls of Browns Canyon National Monument, located just 2.5 hours from Denver and 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs. This 10-mile journey is ideal for first-time rafters, families with children ages 7+, and anyone seeking an accessible yet exciting white water experience.</span>  

5. Browns Canyon Rafting + Via Ferrata

   Excitement and scenery await on your Browns Canyon + Via Ferrata full-day adventure. Climb into the Rocky Mountains and rush the rapids of the mighty Arkansas River.

6. Mountaintop Ziplining In Colorado – Half Day

   Fly between towering old-growth pine trees and cliffs on our Mountaintop Zipline, a unique Colorado experience fun for all ages. This course may be the most incredible way to see the Arkansas River valley as you experience Colorado from a unique vantage point.  

7. Colorado Via Ferrata – Granite

   Adventure awaits as you conquer the cliffside on this unique mountaintop climbing experience. Feel a rush of adrenaline as you traverse across and above the Arkansas River Valley, using iron rungs, bars, and other features to ascend. Your stomach will drop on our hanging bridge and freefall flight line!

8. Starlight & Full Moon Zipline

   Join us for one of the most exciting and popular Colorado mountain summer adventures - ziplining! The starlight zipline adventure allows you to experience AVA's same cliffside zipline course after dark, with the moonlight zipline taking place under a full moon.

9. 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.    

10. Upper Colorado 4 Hour Fly Fishing

    Join AVA for a scenic fly-fishing excursion on the Upper Colorado River. Our 4- hour float trips are perfect for both novice and experienced anglers and present an opportunity to both fish and relax!

11. Stand Up Paddleboard Half Day

    Try the newest, most fun activity on the river - Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)! On this half-day trip, you'll SUP 5 miles down the Colorado River. You'll stand up or kneel on a large, surfboard-shaped board and steer with a long paddle as you navigate down the river. Prepare yourself for falling into the water, as it's highly likely that you'll go for a swim!  

12. Inflatable Kayaks Half Day

    Looking to take charge of the river? On AVA’s Upper Colorado Inflatable Kayak ½ Day trip you can do just that! Whether you want to try something new or are seeking a little extra excitement or independence, the Upper Colorado Inflatable Kayak trip is perfect for you!