Bachelor & Bachelorette Party Rafting Trips in Colorado

People rafting in colorado during a Bachelor & Bachelorette Party

Before taking on one of life’s biggest adventures, why not plan a bachelor or bachelorette party rafting trip in Colorado? It’s an unforgettable experience. Whitewater rafting offers a fun alternative to the traditional booze-fueled weekend in Vegas. Our trips cater to everyone—from Class V adrenaline junkies to those seeking a laid-back float. Plus, we handle ALL the planning. All we need from you is a date! Why Take Your Bachelor or Bachelorette Party Rafting? 1) Make It a Party to Remember Be the friend whose bachelor or bachelorette party everyone still talks about years later. Whitewater rafting is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Once you step into the raft, it’s you, your crew, and the journey ahead. Whether it’s a one-time celebration or the start of a new tradition, this is a party no one will forget. 2) Trips Are Highly Customizable at an Affordable Price Our guides love hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties and will accommodate special requests to make your trip unforgettable. Want to surprise the bride or groom with their favorite Colorado microbrews at camp? Or perhaps have a spread of cupcakes and champagne waiting at the take-out? We can make it happen! With over 48 years of experience, we’ve hosted countless parties and always have fresh ideas. If you need inspiration, ask one of our reservations specialists—they love party planning! With trips starting at just $79, you can create an unforgettable experience without the hefty price tag. 3) Easy Peasy Planning, Let Us Handle It To pull off the perfect Colorado whitewater rafting bachelor or bachelorette party, all we need from you is a date. The moment your group arrives at our Buena Vista headquarters, we take care of everything. We provide all the gear you’ll need, plus fun souvenirs like waterproof disposable cameras or necklace koozies. We also handle shuttle logistics, meals, and any special requests to make this the best party ever. 4) Trips for Everyone From Beginners to Experts As one of the first whitewater rafting outfitters in Buena Vista and the Arkansas Valley, we’ve hosted countless bachelor and bachelorette parties. Over the years, we’ve expanded our selection of trips. You can choose from easygoing float trips to ultra-extreme Class V adventures. We offer half-day to five-day rafting and camping trips. Want more excitement? Add horseback riding or zip-lining to your adventure. We’ll handle all the planning so you can focus on the fun! What Our Customers Saying There’s no better way to trust an epic trip than hearing from those who’ve been there. Our bachelor and bachelorette groups come for the thrill but leave with memories to last a lifetime. From adrenaline-pumping rapids to laughter-filled nights around the campfire, our guests rave about the unique experience rafting offers for any pre-wedding celebration. Here’s what some of our past guests had to say: “We just finished a three day rafting and camping trip with Wilderness Aware out of Buena Vista, Co. Our Guides, Ashley and Gomez were great. They did a great job explaining the river and keeping us informed of what rapids were coming up. Wilderness Aware guides work extremely hard to ensure you have a great experience. They offer a ton of different trip options so if camping is not your jam you can stay in your choice of accommodations. We will definitely be back. – Brian Detherage, via a 5-Star Google Review “Amazing time rafting different parts of the Arkansas River! We did the 4- day Inn to Inn trip and felt like VIP’s! 5-Stars all around from accommodations, food and fun! Our guide Ashlynn was a true professional! Enjoyed every minute! – Shar Carson, via a 5-Star Google Review “Great trip, Ashley was a great guide. Would highly recommend WAR to anyone looking for a great experience.” – John Randels, via a 5-Star Google Review

Featured Trip: The Arkansas River Dinner Float

Looking to sneak in a little time on the Arkansas River that anyone from your preschooler to Grandma can enjoy? Check out our exclusive Arkansas River Dinner Float Trip. Known among River Rats as the Milk Run, our Arkansas River Dinner Float Trip takes you on a mellow easygoing portion of the river. Showcasing some of the best views of Mt. Princeton and Yale, this trip features Colorado mountain scenery at its finest. This 3.5 mile trip is perfect for wrapping up a summer day or easing into whitewater rafting if you are new to the scene. With its laid back pace compared to some of the other sections of the Arkansas River, the Milk Run is extremely beginner friendly or perfectly suited for those who would rather take in the scenery than charge through adrenaline-inducing rapids. We mount the boats with oars so guides take care of all the paddling and you can focus on enjoying. The trip wraps up at the Riverside Bar & Grill, home to the best fish tacos and margaritas in Buena Vista. Relax as you leisurely enjoy dinner and the beautiful Sawatch Mountain Range views. This trip is unlike any other and sure to be one of the more memorable dinners on your vacation.

Easiest Summer Trip Ever: Family Vacation Wilderness Aware Style

There are some people out there who are planners; they get a thrill mapping out road trip stops (“we can stop for gas and see the UFO watch tower in Hooper since we’ll be 304 miles in and it’ll be approximately 7:36pm which means we can do dinner too”) and then those who prefer more of a laissez faire approach to planning. I definitely fall in the second category, which is why I am a huge advocate for a Colorado white water rafting trip for the entire family to enjoy. Hang on— you say that sounds like a lot of work? Not at all! Our multi-day rafting trips are pretty much like an all-inclusive family vacation with way more excitement than any coastal resort or theme park can offer. The moment you arrive at our office, our friendly staff is taking care of you. In the morning we offer all our guests a complimentary continental breakfast. After your family has gotten their fill, we suit you up in your rental gear (wetsuits, splash jackets, and booties), provide you with a dry bag for your personal items, and you’re good to hit the river. We cover all the details so you can relax and focus on the important things: family, fun, and whitewater rafting! We bring all the gear so you won’t have any headaches over how to load the car and keep everyone with enough space. Your camp is guaranteed to have a beautiful view of the water since we raft right up to it. Our guides take care of all the shopping and cooking (they really outdo themselves here serving delicacies like pesto bread bowl appetizers, freshly made lasagna, garden salads, and even baking cakes at camp in a Dutch oven!). Best of all, you get nonstop entertainment all day as you take on the rapids. Bonus perk—there won’t be any additional costs on the river so you don’t need to take on any unnecessary expenses for “irresistible” touristy trinkets. On top of all this, you’ll also be introducing your family to some of the best nature out there. Our rivers are home to big horn sheep, bald eagles, otters, moose, and many other exotic animals. Since the Arkansas River where we do the majority of our overnight rafting trips is along the continental fault line, you’ll be exposed to stunning rock formations throughout your whitewater rafting trip. Browns Canyon, for example, just recently was declared a national monument because of its beauty. In short, you could put a lot of effort into planning and carrying out your family’s next vacation or you can pretend you did and really just book one of our overnight adventures and have the best time ever—we won’t reveal your secret 😉

Spend Your Honeymoon in the Wilderness

If you’re planning your honeymoon and not really interested in a typical one on the beach, then consider a week in the wilderness instead. An unconventional honeymoon is memorable and unique compared to the traditional trip to paradise. It’s actually more like a fairy tale waking up in the woods and exploring the outdoors like our Once Upon a Time friends. After all the work spent planning a wedding, take it easy while an outdoor adventure company organizes the trips for you. Not only is it budget-friendly but wilderness honeymoons provide personal experiences you’ll never forget. Multi-Day White Water Rafting If you and your beau are thrill seekers, a multi-day rafting trip is for you. We offer tent camping or inn-to-inn trips. Imagine having a continental breakfast in the mountains, spending a half day on the river and taking in the beautiful scenery around you, then going horseback riding or mountain biking afterwards. If you are staying inn-to-inn, dinner will be at a local restaurant and if you are in a tent, our guides will cook gourmet meals for you. The next couple days will be full days on the river and evenings walking in downtown Salida or under the stars around a campfire. We provide professional photography during your trip so you don’t miss those special moments. Just can pick up your picture cd on your last day with us. Rafting Packages Interested in spending more time away from people and more time together? We have one and two day rafting packages for people to do a half day of rafting and another activity. Paddle-N-Saddle tours offer half or full day rafting and a horseback trip. Raft-N- Zip is for those wanting more adrenaline rushes with our zip lining tour. Love mountain biking? Then the Paddle-N-Peddle is just for you and your love. These shorter packages offer a day of fun during your honeymoon with the freedom to spend the rest of your week with hikes, fishing, camping, and more. Let us help you start planning your honeymoon in the wilderness today. Contact us or Request a Brochure for more information on white water rafting and our other adventures.

Plan Your Bachelorette Party with Whitewater Rafting

If you’re planning a bachelorette party for a friend that is more interested in a less than traditional party to celebrate her last days as a single woman, then a whitewater rafting trip could be right up your alley. For the woman who loves to explore the great outdoors, planning a trip to the mountains with some camping, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or Colorado zip line tours would be much more memorable and unique for this bride instead of a night on the town. Whitewater rafting is an exciting option that takes your friends on a fun getaway to celebrate the upcoming marriage, which you can easily customize this with another outdoor trip. Many of our trips are budget-friendly and the rivers a rush. We offer great discounts for groups of 10 or more. Plan an Easy and Fun Bachelorette Party Your Maid of Honor duties will be a lot easier when organizing a whitewater rafting bachelorette party since we do all the planning, packing, and cooking. If you’re worried about the camp food, Wilderness Aware provides delicious gourmet meals prepared by our experienced guides. No matter how experienced your guest list is, we can help you choose the right trip that will keep all the girls comfortable while experiencing exciting adrenaline rushes and plenty of laughs. All you have to worry about is bringing the basics: swimsuit, shoes, sunscreen, and water for a day on the river. Don’t worry about taking pictures either, we can capture the best rafting moments for you with professional photography that you get to keep. They would also make a great wedding present. Continue the Party in Buena Vista Buena Vista is a beautiful mountain town to spend the weekend with the Bride and friends. There are plenty of lodging options, hiking trails, good food, shopping, and a hot springs nearby. Start a day off by climbing Mount Princeton, one of the more popular 14ers in the area with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and wrap it up with a relaxing soak in a hot spring pool. Whether you decide to do a multi-day camping rafting trip or a half day Browns Canyon rafting trip paired with a couple nights at a rustic inn, you can be sure that the whitewater rafting bachelorette party that you plan will be exciting for everyone involved and there will be plenty of stories to share at the wedding. Need some inspiration to get your party planning going? Adobe just launched their free Adobe Express Invitation Templates so that you can create the perfect party invites free of cost. Happy planning! At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip bachelorette party or a multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here or call us at 1-800-462-7238 to plan your trip today.

5 Things to Do With Kids in Buena Vista This Summer

Families are drawn to Buena Vista, which is at the heart of Colorado and appropriately named in Spanish as, “Beautiful View.” This city set between Salida and Leadville is a mecca for outdoor lovers and wildlife. A quiet forest with an abundant ecosystem and habitat for animals, the natural beauty of this area attracts people here for a taste of nature and adventures. With mountains, rivers, forest, inns, restaurants, and shopping nearby, Buena Vista visitors have a huge variety of activities to choose from. Here are our top 5 things you should do with kids (or if you’re a kid at heart) when you visit Buena Vista this summer. Whitewater Rafting Colorado Over 250,000 people come through Buena Vista each year to go whitewater rafting. The Arkansas River is one of the top 10 rivers to raft in the US and the magnificent Browns Canyon and wildlife are well worth the trip. Since the river has various sections available for rafting, people of all rafting levels can enjoy a half day to multi-day trips rafting along the Arkansas here. Rafting is a great way to get the thrill of adventure while also appreciating the nature around you. Camping and Cabins If you’re into laying out under the stars and roasting marshmallows, Buena Vista is the place to do it. Camping near the base of Mt. Princeton or along the Arkansas for the peaceful babble of the river. If hanging out in the trees in a tent isn’t your cup of tea, then choosing a local inn with a rustic feel will keep you in touch with nature while having the ability to lay in a comfortable bed and get a hot shower at the end of the day without sacrificing the feel of the mountain life. Buena Vista River Park This park boasts a dog park, bouldering, ball fields, tracks, skate parks, picnic tables, disc golf, and a great view to see kayakers hitting the rapids. The South Main neighborhood is especially designed for kayakers. The river runs along over half a mile next to River Park and is a great place to explore Buena Vista culture. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Kick back after a day of adventure soaking in a hot springs pool. Mt. Princeton has a variety of pools to relax in including a soaking pool, exercise pool, relaxation pool, cascading pools, and Chalk Creek. Sit in each pool surrounded by water from Chalk Creek where you can adjust the temperature by moving rocks around. For the kids and young at heart, there’s a 400 foot hot water slide to ride down on a mat into 75 degree water. Buena Vista Restaurants What is a trip away from home without good food? Buena Vista has a great selection of restaurants available. If you’re into mountain breweries, sit down to a meal and drink at Eddyline Restaurant. More interested in something for breakfast? Get some eggs at Evergreen Café or Gunsmoke Café. Have a hankering for sushi? No worries there, The Asian Palate offers a variety of Asian Fusion meals. Buena Vista is a great place to go for a mountain getaway and a taste of Colorado water culture. If you’re looking to make some memories with your family and kids, look no further. When visitors come to Buena Vista, they can see why so many people want to make Browns Canyon a national monument. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip or multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here.

Rafting as Team Building Exercises

Whitewater rafting is an excellent way to encourage camaraderie and strengthen workplace relationships. Team building exercises don’t have to be at a nearby park or in a meeting room of the workplace to be effective. Most employees enjoy team building a lot more when it takes place in a new environment and involves participating in sports and fitness activities together. You don’t have to sit around telling your deepest fears and walking on hot coal in order to build up your team spirit (unless you really want to). Let’s take a look at the top reasons people organize team building activities and how you can carry out those exercises using rafting. Some of these you may prefer to choose a calmer river to use. Improving Communication Each person in the raft will spend 5-10 minutes as the “guide” and direct the group which way to paddle in order to avoid obstacles or make turns along river bends. Work together to reach different markers and rotate among every employee in the boat without falling behind the other rafters. Employees learn to react to the environment and flow of the river while having the ability to foresee upcoming obstacles and quickly respond. Learn Personal Backgrounds Starting with the person in front right side going clockwise, the first person will tell a story from when they were a small child. The next tells a story from their childhood, then preteen, then teenager, then young adult, etc. In this manner, each person gets to share a part of their background from a different stage while remaining part of the team paddling together. The other members practice listening skills and have the ability to engage with the story-teller on a more personal level too. Trust Everyone in each raft except one person is blind folded and the one with sight has to guide everyone to paddle across a river. Teams will race back and forth across the river and rotate guides until each person has guided the raft to shore. This exercise encourages employees to trust the guidance of each other while the person guiding must adjust their instructions and communication to get their team to paddle effectively as they depend on their advice. Collaboration Set up a worse-case scenario such as: the bus forgot to pick up the rafters and they have to stop on a shore and spend the night next to the river. Ask the team to work together to decide what indicators of the river shore would make them choose to stop there, how they would set up a fire, get fresh water, find food to eat, and set up a shelter based on things they see along the river. Have them come up with a list of 10 things they must do in order to survive the night. Using rafting for team building helps to provide a fun and engaging environment for employees to work on their interpersonal and communication skills together while also valuing their individual skill sets. It helps teams to learn in practice instead of in theory alone while experiencing immediate consequences and requiring creativity and critical thinking to respond with. Plan your team building river rafting trip with us at Wilderness Aware Rafting today. Our Browns Canyon Half Day Trip is our most popular on the Arkansas River. Contact us online or call us for more information 1-800-462-7238.

Colorado Outdoor Adventures

I come from a city where one rarely sees all the generosities of the weather, so to see snow or the leaves change colors on trees would imply a drive for several miles away from the city. Moving along the roads of Colorado, heading to the small town of Buena Vista, I drove almost nonstop with one of the best visual experiences that nature could offer—beautiful snow-capped mountains, or just completely green. Sometimes I passed full paths of trees with red leaves, then the next with yellow leaves, some orange, some green and so on. I also passed by beautiful rivers that accompanied me for a couple of minutes. It was so gorgeous! I had to stop a few times to record it with my camera. White Water Rafting & More Finally, I made it to my destination. If you are looking for excitement, Wilderness Aware Rafting in Buena Vista is an outfitter providing access and tours to exceptional adventures such as as horseback riding, zip lines, mountain bikes and rapids. To start, you can try whitewater rafting down America’s most popular rafting river, the Arkansas River, as well as four other stunning Colorado waterways. Witness glorious canyon walls and grand views of the largest concentration of mountain peaks that are over 14,000 feet high in the lower 48 states. They offer exciting trips for all levels of ability including gentle floats for children as young as 4 years old. The wildly popular Browns Canyon tour is perfect for adventurous first-timers (like me) and experienced rafters alike. Activities Out of the Water And for the experienced rafters looking for a more intense adventure, consider the extreme Colorado white water rafting trips in the Royal Gorge or the even more challenging Numbers section of the Arkansas River, known for big, powerful drops and continuous rapids. If getting wet is not your thing, Wilderness Aware Rafting has more fun land-based options to choose from. I rode a good-looking 4-legged horse named Boston and together we promenaded among some of Colorado’s most beautiful passages on a horseback riding tour. I rode until a meadow where my beautiful white horse stopped by the river and where Mount Princeton could look down on us with curiosity. I later said goodbye to my fuzzy partner and continued my adventure towards Leadville. The moment I feared the most had arrived: high-altitude zip line between the towering snow-capped mountains and stately pine trees! Thankfully, their zip lines use some of the latest braking technology, which means you can fly hands-free without worry. At first, I was nervous, but by the second circuit I was already a pro; by the fifth one I wanted to do it all over again. Whether by water, land or sky, outdoor excitement awaits in Colorado! Bring your sense of adventure and let Colorado’s white water rafting experts at Wilderness Aware Rafting organize your next best experience!

The Lessons of Rafting: How Rafting Can Be Used as a Business Team Building Exercise

To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. -Mike Krzyzewski Good businesses know that team work is important, whereas great businesses know the importance of team building. If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to improve your workplace atmosphere, energy, and synergy, taking your employees for a day of whitewater rafting is it. A 2012 Wakefield Research Study shows that almost 31% of employees dislike team-building activities so skip the typical trust exercises. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why whitewater rafting is great for team building. 1. We Offer Food One of the best ways to improve workplace relationships is to have them share a meal together. If you think about it, anytime there’s a celebration, it involves gathering together for a meal. At Wilderness Aware, we offer deli-style lunches on our full-day trips and free continental breakfasts. There’s even a shaded meeting area and riverside picnic site for groups to gather and reminisce about their day on the river. 2. Team Work at its Best Another effective team-building activity is to have employees participate in fitness or sports activities together. When each person has a critical role in the raft to paddle through eddies and challenging obstacles, it sets up an open environment for bonding and encouragement. Looking back at our roots not 50 years ago when office jobs were uncommon and people physically interacted on a daily basis, you see a huge improvements in relationships. A change of scenery with a common goal gives people a fresh outlook. 3. Nature Therapy is Awesome Being outdoors and working together in Mother Nature spurs nature therapy and an experience that they’ll never forget. Nature therapy can have regenerative powers that diminishes stress, anxiety, and depression. It is a great way for people to relax together and unwind. Being outdoors also improves physical health and mental clarity. People talk and bond more when they are moving, and in this case, paddling their oars through whitewater! 4. Fun is an Option Setting up a getaway that allows employees to enjoy themselves and have fun taps into the most basic way that humans and animals improve their social skills: learning through play. It also lowers blood pressure and increases friendly pats on the back. When co-workers feel more comfortable interacting with one another, workflow and quality improves because people aren’t hesitant about approaching one another for advice or suggestions. When employees can connect to one another, it improves their happiness with their workplace.   The workplace culture is taking two directions: companies that care about employee retention and a quality workplace, and companies that have high-turnover, which is usually their best employees leaving for something better. A team-building activity that is actually fun and exciting will spur innovation while also showing your employees that you do care about their overall well-beings and happiness at work. Whitewater rafting is an exciting outdoor activity that encourages team-building in an exciting and unique way. If you’re interested in planning a day on the river for your company, contact us at Wilderness Aware Rafting and we’ll be happy to help you get started.

Colorado Things to Do: Experiencing the Best of Colorado Outdoors

If there were two words that sum up Colorado, they would be: adventures outdoors. Whether you’re a tourist or a native, people expect their free time in Colorado to be spent outside in the sun with endless things to do. At 5,280 miles above sea level, a vacation in Colorado would be wasted if you don’t take a trip into the majestic Rocky Mountains. If you’ve been to or you live in Colorado, I’d bet a nickel for every time you were asked, “What are the best things to do in Colorado?” or “My friend/relative is visiting Colorado, where should I take them?” These are the best things to do in Colorado and they surely will not disappoint. Whitewater Rafting Ok, ok, maybe we are being a little biased here with whitewater rafting, but seriously, how many people do you know said they had a bad time rafting in Colorado? People who paddled in the mighty Arkansas River (the world’s most commonly rafted river) with one of our experienced and friendly tour guides leave exhilarated and wanting more. There are 95 miles of river here and plenty of experience levels and challenges to choose from; it’s like being a kid in a candy store. Another benefit of rafting with us besides the delicious gourmet meals is the amazing views of Browns Canyon where Colorado wildlife are often spotted alongside the river and up the canyons. Hiking & Biking Colorado? Mountains? Outdoors? Hiking is one of our favorite pass times and being out in the wilderness bonding with Mother Nature is one of the ways that keeps Colorado laid-back. Some of us that like to go a little faster and harder prefer mountain biking and, quite frankly, our knees thank us for it. There’s nothing quite like cruising with the wind through your hair and the smell of fresh air and pine trees. We’ll help you remember what it was like to be young while exploring the great outdoors on two wheels. Horseback Riding Horseback riding is Colorado’s second most popular outdoor activity because it’s a great taste of the Wild West with an elevated view of the beautiful landscape as you bond with a magnificent creature. A peaceful ride along Chalk Creek to a railroad bed or to a waterfall is just what the doctor ordered. A journey through the wilderness with your trusty steed is an exciting yet calm way to explore Colorado outdoors. Just a little bit of nature-therapy to nourish your soul. Zip-Lining For those looking for a more thrilling taste of Colorado zip line tours, soaring through the forest’s tree tops will get your heart pumping. This is a great way to spice up family vacations while also lowering your blood pressure and burning calories. Feelings of accomplishment, bravery, excitement, and being like a bird soaring through the trees are included. Excited to head to the mountains yet? Check out our Whitewater Rafting & Adventure Trip Packages and plan your Colorado outdoors trip with us today.