Office hours are typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Early and late season we close between 5 and 6.
Call our toll-free number at 1.800.462.7238, and speak to our helpful reservation staff. You may also email us using our contact form. Our mailing address is PO Box 1550, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Groups of 10 or more qualify for savings on rafting trips. Check out our Deals & Specials page to find the rate for the trip you are interested in.
Reservations should be made as soon as you know your plans, although seats are sometimes available up to the last minute. Late registration is on a space available basis.
Your name, contact information and a deposit or full payment are required to confirm a reservation. If your trip is more than 14 days away, a 50% deposit is required with the remaining 50% due 14 days prior to your trip. Reservations made within 14 days of the departure require payment in full to confirm. We accept all major credit cards over the phone, or if there is enough time for us to receive a check mailed to the office prior to your trip, you can mail a personal check for payment. You will receive an email confirmation upon making your payment.
You can make a reservation over the phone by calling 1.800.462.7238 or online using our trip listing page. Our current availability is available online and reservations made via the online form are confirmed immediately.
Bookings made more than 14 days in advance require a 50% deposit to confirm. 14 days prior to your trip, the balance will be automatically charged to the credit card provided. Bookings made within 14 days of the departure date require payment in full.
Cancellation Policy (NON-discounted reservations): If your group or any person in your group cancels more than 14 days before the trip’s check-in time, a full refund will be provided. If cancellations are made within 14 days, no refund will be provided for any reason.
Cancellation Policy (DISCOUNTED reservations): If your reservation has a discount applied and you wish to cancel, you will not receive a refund. You may reschedule or receive a trip credit (digital gift card code) with the purchase of cancellation insurance.
Multi-Day Cancellation Insurance: Cancellation Insurance is available for 7.5% of the trip cost. Insurance purchased for individuals is non-transferable. If purchased, a refund would be provided, minus an additional 7.5% cancellation fee up to 5 days prior to check-in time. Anything called off less than 5 days, but at least 72 hours in advance would receive a non-refundable gift certificate, valid for one calendar year from the date of cancellation, Cancellations made within 72 hours are not eligible for a refund for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to road construction, undesirable weather, poor road conditions, COVID, or other illnesses
Rescheduling Policy: Guests are able to reschedule up to 14 days before their trip if necessary. If insurance is purchased, day trips can be rescheduled with 24 hours’ notice and multi-days with 5 days’ notice. Trips can only be rescheduled one time. Once rescheduled, the trip becomes non-refundable.
Water Policy: Wilderness Aware reserves the right to modify or cancel your trip due to extremely high or low water conditions. We will give you as much notice as possible of conditions that may affect your scheduled trip. If Wilderness Aware cancels your trip, a full refund will be provided.
We offer trip coverage for multi-day and single day trips during your check-out process.
Multi-Day Cancellation Coverage: Cancellation Insurance is available for 7.5% of the trip cost. Coverage purchased for individuals is non-transferable. If purchased, a refund would be provided, minus an additional 7.5% cancellation fee up to 5 days prior to check-in time. Anything called off less than 5 days, but at least 72 hours in advance would receive a non-refundable gift certificate, valid for one calendar year from the date of cancellation. Cancellations made within 72 hours are not eligible for a refund for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to road construction, undesirable weather, poor road conditions, COVID, or other illnesses.
Single-Day Cancellation Insurance: Cancellation Coverage is available for 7.5% of the trip cost. Coverage purchased for individuals is non-transferable. If purchased, a refund would be provided minus an additional 7.5% cancellation fee up to 72 hours prior to check-in time. Anything canceled less than 72 hours, but at least 24 hours in advance would receive a non-refundable gift certificate valid for one calendar year from the date of cancellation. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not eligible for a refund for any reason. Guests who opt out of Cancellation Coverage are subject to the 14-day Cancellation Policy.
Please arrive 1 hour prior to your trip departure time on half-day and full-day trips.
On multi-day trips, please arrive one hour prior to departure. If you are departing from our office in Buena Vista, you may check in by 6 PM the day before your multi-day trip, and pick up your waterproof storage bag and rental items so that you can pack at your leisure in your motel room or campsite. This avoids having to pack your bag at our office.
There is a minimum age requirement on every trip that we offer. We have raft trips suitable for all skill levels, including kids ages 4 and older. There is no maximum age requirement, but we would recommend that each guest who chooses to white water raft be in good physical condition. Minimum ages will increase at high water, typically this happens in June.
Transportation is included in the price of our trips. There are designated meeting points for each trip that we offer. We will transport you to the river at the start of your trip and return you to your vehicle at the end of your trip. Please note, we do not pick-up guests from their lodging or other locations.
For more information on meeting points for each trip, review our Packing Lists.
Tipping is appropriate, particularly if you have received exceptional customer service. Our guides are high quality service workers. A tip of 10 – 20 % of the trip cost is customary. You will have the opportunity to tip your guide directly at the conclusion of your trip.
If you had the time of your life, then the sky is the limit! We also appreciate your comments. We use your feedback to recognize extraordinary customer service and to discover areas where we can make improvements. Our goal is to exceed your expectations!
In Colorado, we rarely have an entire day of bad weather. It is sunny in the morning almost every day. Afternoon thunderstorms are fairly common in July and August and are typically mild and short-lived. In Arizona, it can still get chilly in March, and during that time we typically suggest you wear a wetsuit, etc. In April and early May in Arizona, it is typically very warm or hot.
We raft rain or shine. We will not cancel or cut trips short due to rain and/or thunderstorm conditions (including lighting).
If you join us on a multi-day trip, we can offer whitewater merit badges instruction!
Our office is located near Buena Vista, CO on the Arkansas River. We meet at other locations for other rivers and for lower Arkansas River trips such as the Royal Gorge. See our Map to our Buena Vista, CO Office or select your specific trip on our Directions page.
We have a mobile/satellite office for our operation on the Salt River in Arizona during March, April, and early May. This location does not have a physical address; it is simply located on Hwy 60 at the base of the Salt River Canyon between Globe and Show Low, AZ. See our Salt River Packing List for detailed directions.
Our office in Buena Vista, CO is a spacious and well-kept facility complete with large, clean restrooms and changing rooms.
In Arizona, we have a large trailer with two separate rooms that serve as a changing room. Portable restroom facilities are also available to us in this location.
We offer sunglasses, retaining straps, hats, sunscreen, drinks, snacks, T-shirts and souvenirs in our retail store. Photos of your group are available after your trip in the office, or can be purchased later here.
At our Buena Vista, CO location we have a lockable 10’x10’ kennel on our property that you may use free of charge if you raft with us. Please note that you need to provide adequate food for your dog. We can provide water.
**Please note that our dog kennels are not appropriate for small dogs or dogs that are exceptionally skilled at escaping enclosed areas.
Every Wilderness Aware camping/rafting multi-day trip is assigned a special gear boat to carry the group’s camping equipment down the river. This gives us the flexibility to stop at secluded campsites in the canyons, offering unparalleled views of the river and mountains. Many companies in Colorado do not offer this wilderness-style trip.
Our first time guests are thrilled by the quantity and quality of the food served on our trips. Hearty meals from our extensive menu are prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients. A meal with us is an event to remember. When you raft with us, you will enjoy comforts that are not normally associated with backcountry camping. After a great day on the river, imagine yourself enjoying a cold drink by the campfire while your guides prepare a delicious multi-course meal. Guides will even deliver hot drinks to your tent in the morning! Backcountry camping in a remote setting can only be this comfortable on a Wilderness Aware Rafting trip!
A guide captains every boat. Our guides represent the most qualified professionals in the industry. Guides must attend a 5-day interview trip prior to being hired. They are thoroughly experienced in the techniques of river running and are first-aid and CPR certified. Before guiding their first commercial trip, our guides receive river training that far exceeds the state requirement. What sets our guides apart is the personal attention they give our participants. Our crew of fun-loving professionals is dedicated to making each and every trip the finest possible.
We regularly conduct interpretive workshops to provide our guides with additional information on the natural, cultural, and political history of the rivers we run. We are proud of our staff and we know you will enjoy this fine group of people.
Up to seven guests plus the guide can paddle in a raft. We can take eight people if someone is willing to ride in the middle of the raft as a passenger. Groups larger than eight people must split between multiple rafts. We reserve the right to split groups as necessary and may adjust maximum boat loads based on water levels.
Before every trip, we conduct an in-depth participant safety orientation and paddling instruction. We regularly take first time rafters on our most popular trips.
You may elect to ride in an oar boat where the guide has complete control of the raft. This gives you the freedom to admire the scenery and use both hands to hold on. This is a nice option if you have young children or senior citizens in your group. One or two non-paddling passengers may also ride on a paddle raft.
Class I: Very Mild. No significant waves. No obstacles.
Class II: Easy. Rapids with regular waves, clear passages, and wide channels.
Class III: Moderate. Irregular waves, often narrow channels, maneuvering to avoid obstacles required.
Class IV: Difficult. Complex channels with many significant obstacles to be avoided. Precise maneuvering is required.
Class V: Extremely difficult. Long violent rapids, often following each other almost without interruption.
Class VI: Generally considered un-runnable. Possibility of injury or death likely.
The mountains of Colorado and Arizona can oftentimes receive above or below average snowfall during the winter months – which leads to either higher or lower than average river flows once runoff begins.
Wilderness Aware reserves the right to move your group to a more appropriate section of the river due to extremely high or low water conditions. We will give you as much notice as possible of conditions that may affect your scheduled trip. Note that if an alternate section of river is available to your group no refunds or credits are given.
We use top-of-the-line self-bailing rafts. These seven-chambered, self-bailing, inflatable rafts are virtually indestructible. All rafts are equipped with grab lines and foot stirrups for your safety.
On some Class I, II, and III sections during multi-day trips, you may try our one- and two-man self-bailing inflatable kayaks. These “duckies” are actually long, skinny rafts controlled with kayak paddles. With an inflatable kayak, you are free to challenge the rapids and explore the river on your own.
Arkansas Valley Digital Imaging professional photographers shoot photos on most sections of the Arkansas River. These quality photos will be available to view and purchase when you return to our office immediately after your trip.
Facilities are not available at some launch points and lunch spots. In this case, you will commune with nature in the purest form. In our camps on the river, you will enjoy the convenience of our portable chemical toilet called a “groover”.
If you would like to fish on your trip, we recommend you do a multi-day trip. This will allow you to fish in the late afternoon, evening, and early morning from camp. You must have a valid state fishing license.
Wildlife is abundant in Colorado, especially in the mountains. Bighorn sheep, deer, beaver, and coyotes can often be seen during your river trips. Sometimes you may even catch sight of a bald eagle or moose.
A highly trained professional guide captains every boat. We provide all rafting equipment including Coast Guard approved lifejackets. Each boat carries rain ponchos, wool sweaters, and waterproof storage for personal items. You can rent wetsuits, booties, and paddle jackets from us if weather or water conditions warrant their use. Also included in your trip is transportation to and from the river in reliable 2-way radio-equipped vehicles. A fantastic deli-style smorgasbord lunch is served on full-day trips.
Bring only your quick dry clothing to wear on the river and extra sunscreen. We recommend shorts and a swimsuit. Sunglasses and sunscreen are important since at high altitudes you are closer to the sun than you may think. Please bring your own water bottle (you can refill from the water jug at lunch if necessary). We have complete packing lists for each trip we offer.
We prepare fresh hearty meals from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day. Vegetarian and special diets are happily accommodated upon request. Lemonade and water are included with every meal. In addition to items listed under “what is provided on full-day trips”, we make every effort to make you comfortable by supplying a kitchen shelter, camp chairs, and a portable chemical toilet.
Bring everything mentioned above plus a change of clothes for camp, toiletries, and personal drinks if you do not wish to drink only water or lemonade, and entertainment (Frisbee, fishing gear, books, etc.). If you have a sleeping bag and tent, you may bring them or rent from us.
Many people come with only their normal vacation attire. We can outfit you with anything you need that is special for rafting or camping. See our Packing List page for a detailed list of items we have available to rent.
We wash our wetsuits, splash jackets, wetsuit booties, helmets, and life jackets after EVERY SINGLE USE. In Colorado, we use a three-step cleaning system with soap and disinfectant. Your health and safety is our top priority.
Wetsuits, splash jackets, and wetshoe rentals are appropriate when the water is higher and/or if rain showers or chillier than normal weather is expected. Wetshoes are a good idea anytime if you do not have appropriate shoes to wear or do not wish to get your shoes wet.
We will issue you a rubberized duffel bag big enough for your personal clothing and sleeping bag. It is approximately 3.8 cubic feet in size (about the size of a medium/large ice chest). We use a custom built cargo net system to secure camping equipment and have never lost a bag, even in the roughest rapids.
Rivers and individual rapids are rated on a scale of I to VI as a way of comparing their relative difficulty. Class I is fast-moving water and class VI is not rafted commercially. Our most popular trips are class III-IV. Most trips do not require previous experience.
Safety in any activity, including rafting, can never be guaranteed. Wilderness Aware can assume no responsibility for personal injury or for equipment lost or damaged in any way. We are, however, very proud of our outstanding 45+ year safety record. Your safety is always our primary focus.
We carry 2-way radios on all Arkansas River trips and shuttle vehicles. These radios are capable of calling our office where changes in logistics or response to emergencies are quickly handled by our full-time staff. Guides also carry cell phones on the Arkansas River and are able to get service in a few locations. On trips that do not base out of our Buena Vista, CO office, we carry a satellite phone for emergencies only.
All guides and drivers are required to pass a pre-employment drug test as well as random tests throughout the summer season.
Non-swimmers do quite well floating and maneuvering in a lifejacket. Swimmers have more confidence and are less prone to panic in the event you fall out of the raft, though many of our participants cannot swim. We provide Coast Guard approved life preservers designed to float you face-up in whitewater. Everyone will wear a life jacket at all times while we are on the river.
Although we spare no effort to ensure a safe trip – a river trip, bus ride or canyon hike carries some risk. We cannot assume responsibility for injury to participants or damage to personal belongings or for time or expense incurred. We are equipped to handle emergency first aid in case of illness or accident. We will provide aid and arrange evacuation when a trip leader deems it necessary or desirable. Costs of specialized means of evacuation, such as helicopters, and medical care beyond first aid are the financial responsibility of the ill or injured person.
Our rivers are located between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. Altitude causes shortness of breath, headaches, and dehydration. Most people do not have serious problems here, but try to arrive a day or more early to acclimatize yourself if you can, and drink plenty of fluids while you are here. A headache often means you are dehydrated.
Women who are pregnant cannot go rafting. This policy is for your own safety and that of your unborn child.
You will be required to sign a release of liability prior to trip departure. All youth under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian co-sign on their release. Liability releases can be downloaded from our website ahead of time from our Liability Release page.
A delicious deli-style sandwich lunch is provided on full-day trips in Colorado and a hot fajita lunch is served on all full-day trips in Arizona. Multi-day trips include fresh, hearty meals from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day.
On all full-day trips in Colorado, our deli-style sandwich lunch includes a choice of sandwich (special diets are accommodated upon request), chips, cookies, and water and/or lemonade. In Arizona, our lunch location includes a permanent structure that allows us to offer a hot chicken, steak, and veggie fajita lunch. Our goal for multi-day trip lunches is to provide a wide variety of fresh, quick, healthy, and tasty choices including wraps, pitas, and bagels. Dinners are prepared from scratch and include a main dish such as lasagna, steak, chicken, fajitas, stir-fry, or seafood. Included is a salad, vegetables, and drinks. We carry Dutch ovens* and prepare freshly baked cake or pie for dessert. Breakfast dishes may include French toast, eggs, or pancakes. Sides include meat, fruit, juice, coffee, tea or cocoa.
*We cannot take a Dutch oven if the area is under fire restrictions or does not allow open flame.
Full-day trips include cold lemonade and water at lunch.
Multi-day trips include hot drinks in the morning and evening, including cocoa, tea, and coffee. You are welcome to bring alcoholic drinks, soda, or any beverage of your choice for the evening on multi-day trips (no glass containers).
Drugs or alcohol are not to be consumed before or during your trip. This includes marijuana. No refund will be given to those drinking alcohol or using drugs prior to the trip. On multi-day camping and rafting trips, alcohol may be consumed while at camp. Please remember that rafting trips operate in a very remote area with difficult access for emergencies. Try to avoid glass containers
It is not safe to drink from any stream in Colorado or Arizona. We provide safe drinking water for you on full-day and multi-day trips.
We survey over 5,000 guests each year to find out what made their experience with us exceptional and what we could do to make it even better. Using that input, here are a few examples of the efforts we have made that set us apart as a leader in the outdoor industry:
Wilderness Aware holds Colorado River Outfitter License #609, and Outfitters Registration License #863. We are members of the Colorado River Outfitters Association, America Outdoors Professional River Outfitters, Arizona River Outfitters Association, Arkansas River Outfitters Association, and Rafting America. All or part of our operation is conducted on public lands under a special use permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (Kremmling, Royal Gorge, Uncompahgre, Moab, and Dolores Public Lands Field Offices), Colorado Parks and Wildlife and USDA Forest Service (San Isabel-San Carlos Ranger District, Routt, Medicine Bow, Tonto and San Juan National Forests).
Wilderness Aware is an equal opportunity service provider and employer.
A TRIP FOR ANYONE: From gentle, family-friendly floats to adrenaline-pumping rapids, Colorado's rivers cater to all levels of experience. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned rafter, there's a river here that matches your thrill-seeking appetite.
BREATHTAKING SCENERY: As you navigate the rapids, you'll be surrounded by Colorado’s stunning natural beauty, from rocky canyons to lush riverbanks. Keep an eye out for local wildlife, including eagles and elk, enhancing your outdoor adventure.
MAY-SEPTEMBER SEASON: Colorado's rafting season extends from the snowmelt of May through the warm days of September, offering a refreshing escape during the summer. This long season makes it easy to plan a trip that fits your schedule, with different water levels presenting new challenges throughout the months.
Choose from a variety of Colorado rivers, day trips, and multi-day trips to find just the right option for you and your crew. Better hustle, because they’re booking up quick!
Wilderness Aware Rafting is proud to be a Colorado & Buena Vista white water rafting outfitter under the National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. All or part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Wilderness Aware Rafting is an equal opportunity service provider and employer.
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