FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
General Help
If you give us MORE than 48 hours notice we can cancel your reservation with a full refund, less process fee and credit card fee. Any reservation canceled less than 48 hours before the trip date there will be no refunds. Any trip moved inside 48 hours of the trip date is non refundable.
We have a wide range of trips from mild floats to exhilarating whitewater. The class II-III Middle Roaring Fork trip and Stand Up Paddle Boarding are great for families with young children ages 6, 7 and 8 or people who want their Roaring Fork rafting trip to be a relaxing one.
Our Class III trips, the Upper Roaring Fork, Fractions and Browns Canyon, are great for adventuresome beginners and experts alike.
For those who want more of a wild experience while rafting near Aspen / Snowmass, our Class IV Slaughterhouse Falls, Numbers or the Class IV/V Pine Creek /Numbers trips will quench your thirst for the extreme. Inflatable Kayaks (Ducky’s) are perfect for those who like to control their own destinies. Navigate your own craft down the Class II-III rapids of the Middle Roaring Fork.
Our experienced staff are always available to help guide you to the perfect trip. Please give us a call 970-920-3511
You can book your Aspen Whitewater Rafting trip online or by phone-call Aspen Whitewater Rafting at 970-920-3511. Let us help you pick the trip that’s right for you, or tell us what you’re looking for and let our experienced staff help you choose the ideal trip for you or your group. Reservations should be made in advance, although seats may be available up to the last minute.
Our rafting trips are categorized by river section difficulty. When choosing the right trip for your family or group you need to weigh all factors, like what is the age, fitness level, adventurousness and type of experience the participants are looking for.
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Mild Trips (Beginner/Class I-II): Suitable for all ages, less paddling required, focusing more on scenic floats and gentle rapids. See Mild Rafting Trips.
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Adventurous Trips (Intermediate/Class III): A step up, featuring dynamic waves, moderate obstacles, and requiring active paddling from participants. No experience is necessary, but a sense of adventure is!
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Wild Trips (Advanced/Class IV-V): Designed for experienced rafters or physically fit, aggressive first-timers. These trips feature large, unavoidable waves, narrow channels, and require mandatory participation and strong physical effort. See Wild Rafting Trips.
We provide all necessary safety and rafting equipment, including a life jacket (Personal Flotation Device or PFD), helmet, and a paddle. For your comfort, we also provide complimentary use of wetsuits, splash jackets, and booties when water conditions require them. You should wear a swimsuit or quick-drying athletic clothes underneath. Avoid cotton! For a complete list of what to wear and what to bring, please consult our general FAQ page.
Our trips depart from one of two main locations, depending on the river section you choose. We provide transportation to and from the river on all our trips:
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Aspen/Snowmass Location 520 E. Durant Ave aspen, Colorado (for Upper Roaring Fork and Shoshone trips) as well as all the Arkansas River trips. We do pick up at hotels and properties around Aspen.
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Twin Lakes Location 759 HWY 82 Twin Lakes Colorado,(for Browns Canyon and Fractions trips). Transportation to and from the river put-in and take-out is included from your designated meeting location. Please check the specific trip details on the booking page to confirm your departure point. You can find information about our facilities on the Locations page.
Yes, the Adventurous trips are perfect for groups! We welcome large parties like family reunions, corporate retreats, and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
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For groups of 18 or more, you may be eligible for special rates and booking priority. Visit our Group Rafting Trips page for details.
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For a truly personalized experience with your own guide and exclusive raft, you can inquire about a Private Rafting Trip.
We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation and refund policy outlines the guidelines for making changes to your reservation, including deadlines for full refunds or rebooking. In the rare event that we must cancel a trip due to unsafe water conditions, weather, or other factors, you will be offered a full refund or the option to reschedule. For the official, detailed policy, please refer to the Aspen Whitewater FAQ page or contact us directly.
We provide all necessary safety and rafting equipment, including a life jacket, helmet, and paddle. We also offer complimentary use of wetsuits, splash jackets, Fleece tops, and booties to keep you warm. You should wear a swimsuit or quick-drying athletic clothes underneath. Avoid cotton! For a complete list of essentials, please see the “What to Bring” section on our FAQ – Know Before You Go page.
Minimum Age requirements for Class IV trips is 15 years old and for the Class V trips is 18 years old river flow conditions may also determine any changes to the minimum ages.
As far as weight requirements we expect every one on our class IV /V trips to be in good shape, somewhat athletic and able to paddle through out the trip. Our age and fitness requirements are in place for safety of all the guest and our staff. Please call our office or check our FAQ – Know Before You Go for the minimums for your specific trip date.
Guide gratuity is not included in the trip price but is a customary and appreciated way to thank your guide for a safe and exciting experience. A gratuity of 15-20% of the trip cost is standard, but you should adjust based on your satisfaction.
River Classes
CLASS I:
Your bath tub.
CLASS II:
Mild. Predictable, smaller rapids. Great for younger families.
CLASS III:
Moderate. Larger, more irregular rapids. Our most popular trips.
CLASS IV:
Wild. Long and unpredictable rapids, following in immediate succession.
CLASS V:
Extreme. This is the edge. Active participants, experienced in shape paddlers.
Safety
We have trips for all abilities. Our beginner and intermediate trips are designed for younger children, or people who just want to see what rafting is all about without too much stress. Our advanced trips are designed for people who have active or aggressive lifestyles. We are more concerned with the fitness level of the person than their rafting experience. If you are a good listener and are willing to paddle, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a raft.
There are inherent risks involved with whitewater rafting that everyone should evaluate before getting on the river. AWR has an outstanding safety record due to the requirements we place on our guides and equipment to perform to a high standard. Each guide has a minimum of First Aid and CPR; as well as extensive training in all aspects of river guiding and rescue. Many of our guides hold certification as Wilderness First Responders or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). All trips are equipped with First Aid kits and river rescue equipment. You will receive coast guard approved flotation devices and all the on river gear needed, along with an extensive safety talk prior to trip departure. We strive to give a fun, exciting, and safe trip to all our guests!
While everyone wears a Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD), knowing how to swim is a mandatory requirement on all Class IV/V trips. for this class of trip, as the chance of falling out of the raft is higher than on Class II and III sections.
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Safety is our top priority. All our guides have extensive training, including First Aid and CPR certification, and have to meet the state requirement’s to guide Class IV and V section. Aspen Whitewater Rafting requires that all our Class IV guides have at least three years of guide experience, have over 1000 river miles and have trained on the section at least five times. The qualifications for Class V sections is the same except that 4 years of experience and 1500 river miles, and have all the necessary river rescue skills.
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We ensure all participants have a clear understanding of what is involved in the section and that participants are required to paddle.
- AWR will make sure everyone is physically fit and able to paddle through out the trip and every must know how to swim.
- On the Slaughter house and Pine Creek / Number trips we have a safety kayaker fallow the trip down the river to help with any issues that arise.
- Aspen Whitewater Rafting provides all the necessary gear for all our trips, on Class IV and V trips Wetsuits, tops, fleece booties and helmets are provided.
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Minimum Age requirements for Class IV trips is 15 years old and for the Class V trips is 18 years old river flow conditions may also determine any changes to the minimum ages.
As far as weight requirements we expect every one on our class IV /V trips to be in good shape, somewhat athletic and able to paddle through out the trip. Our age and fitness requirements are in place for safety of all the guest and our staff. Please call our office or check our FAQ – Know Before You Go for the minimums for your specific trip date.
What's Included
Weather
We run river trips rain or shine. Our simple philosophy is “you’re going to get wet regardless of the weather.” We have plenty of cold-weather gear available if Mother Nature is enhancing our day. Colorado traditionally does not have entire days of foul weather–the sun shines 300 days a year here! Cell phone weather app’s are generally unreliable in the mountains of Colorado.