RAFTING · COLORADO RIVER RAFTING

Colorado River Rafting: the 15 Best Trips from Moab to the Gorge

30 trips  ·  from $94 a head

Warm brown water, red walls and a season that runs all summer. These 15 sort the Moab afternoons, the Royal Gorge Class IV runs and the Glenwood half-days by price, grade and how far the shuttle drives.

Half-Day Whitewater Rafting in Browns Canyon - The private put-in and the first paddle strokes
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Half-Day Whitewater Rafting in Browns Canyon

1.Half-Day Whitewater Rafting in Browns Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 999 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) Our pick

Join Noah’s Ark for a 2 to 3-hour rafting trip through Browns Canyon National Monument. After a safety briefing, you’ll suit up with a helmet and life jacket, then paddle class III rapids such as Raft Ripper, Zoom Flume, and Pinball. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

“Noah’s Ark was recommended to us by a local friend and we couldn’t be more happy. From the time you walk onto their property, through the end of your trip, you are treated with some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. Our guide Seth was an amazing leader: clear, specific and respectful with all his instructions. Even when we got off a little on timing he always remained calm, showing the leadership skills one would want from a guide. Amazing day with an amazing staff pretty much sums it up!!”

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Browns Canyon Full Day Rafting Adventure - Getting fitted with the right river gear
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Browns Canyon Full Day Rafting Adventure

2.Browns Canyon Full Day Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 825 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $169

Spend about six hours on the Arkansas River with American Adventure Expeditions, paddling through Brown’s Canyon National Monument, enjoying a riverside lunch, and stopping for swimming or optional 10 and 20-foot rock jumps. Guides such as Kayla and Jade lead a family-friendly trip for ages seven and up.

“We spent 11 days in Colorado and this was the highlight of our trip. Our guide was Kayla and she was wonderful! The whole crew was great! They provided a wonderful lunch and small hike up a by a creek. I have rafted all over America and this float was my favorite. Brown Canyon is beautiful.”

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Moab Afternoon Half Day Rafting Trip - Colorado River - From the Moab office to Castle Valley
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Moab Afternoon Half Day Rafting Trip – Colorado River

3.Moab Afternoon Half Day Rafting Trip – Colorado River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 678 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Spend about 4.5 hours rafting near Moab, with a scenic shuttle, safety briefing, Class II rapids, and views of Fisher Towers and Castle Valley. Guides such as Tom, Irving, Sam, and Annie add local geology, wildlife, river lore, and humor. No rafting experience is needed.

“Gentle, scenic rafting trip near Moab. Excellent guide (Annie) who provided interesting background and commentary”

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Moab Morning Half Day Rafting Trip - Colorado River - Starting at 8:30 am in Moab
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Moab Morning Half Day Rafting Trip – Colorado River

4.Moab Morning Half Day Rafting Trip – Colorado River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 522 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Start at Mild to Wild’s Moab office at 8:30 am, gear up, and ride a shuttle into Castle Valley. On the Colorado River, guides such as Devon, Claudia, Irving, and Ben point out Fisher Towers, wildlife, geology, and local stories while you float through mild rapids and may swim.

“We had a great time and Devon made it extra special for us and even let our kids have a try at guiding the raft from the captains seat. We definitely will return on our next trip to Moab.”

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Browns Canyon Intermediate Rafting Trip Half Day - What the intermediate rating means for you
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Browns Canyon Intermediate Rafting Trip Half Day

5.Browns Canyon Intermediate Rafting Trip Half Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 498 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Paddle through Browns Canyon National Monument on a three-hour Arkansas River trip for intermediate rafters. Your guide handles boat safety and commentary while you tackle Pinball, Zoom Flume, and Big Drop. Corey and Collin are among the praised guides, and wetsuits are available as an upgrade.

“This was our first time ever doing white water rafting. We chose the right place to do so. Our guides, Corey and Collin, were amazing and hilarious. They were very professional and made our experience very memorable. We definitely recommend and hope to do this again soon with The Adventure Company.”

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From Moab: Colorado River Guided Rafting Trip - Hotel pickup and the trip to the river
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From Moab: Colorado River Guided Rafting Trip

6.Colorado River Guided Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 478 reviews · 4 hours · from $97

Join NAVTEC Expeditions for a four-hour Colorado River trip from Moab. Your guide handles the rowing while you watch Fisher Towers and Professor Valley, hear local geology and history, and tackle gentle Class 1 and 2 rapids. The noon departure includes a buffet lunch.

“Navtec was amazing before, during and after the trip. This was a great family excursion and we had competent, fun guides!!”

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Royal Gorge Half Day Rafting in Cañon City (Free Wetsuit Use) - Starting at Echo Canyon River Expeditions
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Royal Gorge Half Day Rafting in Cañon City (Free Wetsuit Use)

7.Royal Gorge Half Day Rafting in Cañon City (Free Wetsuit Use)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 464 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $162

Spend about three hours rafting the Arkansas River through Royal Gorge country near Cañon City. A professional guide steers you through Class III to IV rapids while you take in towering canyon walls. Wetsuits, splash jackets, river shoes, transport, and safety gear are included.

“Ramsey was a great guide.. for first time it was a great adventure! Very knowledgeable of area history. A wonderful experience for our bucket list.”

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Royal Gorge Half-Day Rafting Trip - Gear, clothing, and the price of getting wet
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Royal Gorge Half-Day Rafting Trip

8.Royal Gorge Half-Day Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 328 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $132

Meet Lost Paddle Rafting in Cañon City, gear up, and spend about three hours on the Arkansas River beneath Royal Gorge Bridge. Guides such as Johnny, Tyler, Will, Chip, and Chris handle safety and paddling instruction while you tackle rapids, watch for wildlife, and may jump from a riverside rock.

“Best. Rafting trip. Ever! I've been whitewater rafting on the Arkansas easily half a dozen times., but I went into this trip thinking it might be my last. After this trip, I'm already planning another within the next few weeks. Lost Paddle is a great company! I had THE best time on the river on Friday, May 16. Great time of year to go down the river! The snowmelt raised the water level, the rapids were a blast, the weather was perfect, our guide was amazing, and the half day trip was PERFECT! I'll be joining the Lost Paddle group again SOON for another trip!”

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Royal Gorge Rafting Half Day Tour (FREE wetsuit use!) - Class IV Extreme fun! - Free wetsuit use makes the packing easier
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Royal Gorge Rafting Half Day Tour (FREE wetsuit use!) – Class IV Extreme fun!

9.Royal Gorge Rafting Half Day Tour (FREE wetsuit use!) – Class IV Extreme fun!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 296 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

You’ll spend about three hours rafting the Arkansas River through Royal Gorge, with Class III and IV rapids, free wetsuit and river gear, transport, a professional guide, kayak support, and a private photographer. Guides such as Zulu and Joaquin are noted for calm, safety-focused leadership.

“Our guide was amazing. His name was Zulu. He was fun and new all the history of the gorge. This was my second time. We will be back next year and I want Zulu to be our guide again. John was our photographer And he got some amazing pictures for us. I bought the package.”

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Whitewater Rafting on the Colorado River - Paddling beneath Fisher Towers
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Whitewater Rafting on the Colorado River

10.Whitewater Rafting on the Colorado River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 294 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $134

Paddle a six-person raft through the Fisher Towers section of the Colorado River near Moab. A licensed guide such as Leonard, Hunter, or Santo handles the river, shares local stories, and stops for a riverside lunch. Expect calm water, several class II rapids, red-rock views, and a little splashing.

“did the full day tour, 10/10 would recommend. It’s a great time on the water. Everyone was super nice and friendly. Had a great time.”

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Moab Combo: Colorado River Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour - 8 a.m. departure from central Moab
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Moab Combo: Colorado River Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour

11.Moab Combo: Colorado River Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 221 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $264

Spend 8 hours with NAVTEC Expeditions combining a rugged Canyonlands 4WD ride with a Colorado River float near Fisher Towers. Guides such as Matt, John, and Courtney are praised for local knowledge. Expect Shafer Trail switchbacks, rock art, riverside lunch, and mostly gentle Class II and III water.

“The 4 x 4 is actually an old Toyota SUV, the guide, however, made the trip he was so knowledgeable. Took time to take pictures. The rafting was a unique experience to see the canyonlands from below.”

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Browns Canyon National Monument Whitewater Rafting - Browns Canyon National Monument from water level
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Browns Canyon National Monument Whitewater Rafting

12.Browns Canyon National Monument Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Join Wilderness Aware Rafting for a roughly four-hour Arkansas River trip through Browns Canyon National Monument. Guides such as Cat, Liz, Snack, and Danny lead first-timers and experienced paddlers through Class III and IV rapids, with granite cliffs, wildlife, and Sawatch Mountain views along the way.

“Had awesome full day tip. Guide was awesome, great attitude informative and helpful. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes adventure”

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Full Day Browns Canyon Rafting - Three hours inside Browns Canyon National Monument
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Full Day Browns Canyon Rafting

13.Full Day Browns Canyon Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · 3 to 6 hours (approx.)

Meet at Noah’s Ark in Buena Vista at 8:45 am for a guided rafting trip through Browns Canyon National Monument. You’ll get a helmet, life vest, lunch, and all activity fees, with a small group capped at 50 people. Closed-toe shoes and moderate fitness are required.

“Had an outstanding experience! The guides were absolutely amazing with the kids and had a ton of information about the river! I highly recommend this purchase.”

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Moab Full Day Rafting Trip with Lunch — Colorado River - From the Moab office to Castle Valley
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Moab Full Day Rafting Trip with Lunch — Colorado River

14.Moab Full Day Rafting Trip with Lunch — Colorado River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $153

Spend about seven hours on the Colorado River with Mild to Wild, starting with a scenic shuttle from Moab to Castle Valley. Your guide handles safety and paddling basics, then leads you through calm water, Class II rapids, swims, games, and a beachside deli lunch. No rafting experience is needed.

“This event is great for young families. It's a slow float down the Colorado rive. It's hot and much of the time is spent in water fights and jumping in and out of the boat. If you have a family with kids about the age of 8-12 this would be perfect. I bailed half way to get out of the heat and boredom. Bad on me for not doing better research. In terms of Mild to Wild" this is way on the Mild side.”

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Full-Day Colorado River Rafting Tour at Fisher Towers - Fisher Towers sets the tone
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Full-Day Colorado River Rafting Tour at Fisher Towers

15.Full-Day Colorado River Rafting Tour at Fisher Towers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $138

Set out from Moab at 8 a.m. for a 7.5-hour Colorado River trip past Fisher Towers and Castle Valley. You will get lunch, water, scenic Highway 128 transfers, and a professional guide such as Kelly, Hannah, Liza, or Austin. Expect a relaxed float with a few rapids, not an all-day whitewater rush.

“Super activité sur le Colorado ! Les guides sont fabuleux (nous avions Ben) s’emploient à rendre la journée très agréable et intéressante. Les baignades font un bien fou sous cette chaleur ! Eau fraîche fournie durant toute la descente et repas super sympa sur la plage. Vraiment top !”

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New in Colorado River Rafting

★ 5.0Half-Day Arkansas River – Browns Canyon Rafting TripFrom $10037 reviews
★ 4.7Half-Day Rafting Trip on Colorado RiverFrom $10936 reviews
★ 5.0Browns Canyon Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Tour from Buena VistaFrom $10440 reviews
★ 5.0Half-Day Royal Gorge Whitewater Rafting Adventure Cañon City COFrom $11942 reviews
★ 5.0Upper Colorado River Half-Day Float Trip near KremmlingFrom $10046 reviews
★ 4.7Whitewater Rafting on the Colorado RiverFrom $12050 reviews
★ 4.9Canyonlands 4×4 Drive and Colorado River RaftingFrom $26453 reviews
★ 5.0Royal Gorge Full-Day Rafting TripFrom $19987 reviews
★ 5.0Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Upper Colorado RiverFrom $97100 reviews

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