Middle Roaring Fork

Trip Details


Roaring Fork River Class II/III

1/2 Day

Mild 1/2 day

Runs May to August 31st

Minimum age is 5 years

Location: Aspen/Snowmass

Meeting times: 9:15 am | 1:30 pm

Includes: Snack

Aspen Price:
$155.00 Adult
$145.00 Child

Twin Lakes Price: N/A

If you wish to book within 48 hours of your trip time, please call our office at (970) 920-3511 . We would be happy to book for you!

Middle Roaring Fork Rafting: Easy Whitewater for Families

The Middle Roaring Fork is the easiest way to experience whitewater near Aspen, and our best-selling family trip. Gentle Class II rapids alternate with calm stretches, so there’s time to take in the red rock cliffs, views of 12,964-foot Mount Sopris, and wildlife like trout, bald eagles, blue herons and ospreys.

The trip starts just downstream of Basalt, about 20 minutes from Aspen and Snowmass. It’s a great fit for families with young children, first-timers and groups with mixed comfort levels, and anyone 5 and up can join. Read why we think it’s the best family river trip near Aspen.

Any trip can be made private and customized for your group.

We have photographers who take photos of your trip on the biggest rapid sections on each of our trips. We do not encourage people to bring their phones on the river, because of possibility of loosing it in the river.

Those shots will be available for purchase online or in our office the following days after your adventure.

Don’t bring valuables on the river with you. Phones and other personal items can be left on the vehicle and the same vehicle that drops you at the river will be waiting for you when you come off the river. Our vehicle will be manned at all times or locked throughout your voyage to ensure your stuff will be there upon your return.  

We suggest wearing quick drying clothing such as non-cotton shorts and t-shirt or bathing suit. We have all the necessary water gear for your rafting adventure. Be sure to bring waterproof sunscreen (you will be rafting at 9,000 feet where the sun is intense!), sunglasses with a retaining device. We will provide neoprene booties for you feet on all our trips or you can use your own river shoes with a heal strap.

Our shuttles will act as your mobile locker room.  Everything that is not going on the water will stay on the van!  It will be manned at all times or locked throughout your voyage to ensure your stuff will be there upon your return.  

AWR will provide all the necessary on-river gear for all our trips – splash tops / bottoms, fleece, booties, PFDs (personal flotation devices), wetsuits and helmets when appropriate. We provide transportation from our Aspen and Twin Lakes office to and from the river as well as pickups in and around the Aspen -Snowmass area. Our half day trips include a snack of cookies, bars, water and juice boxes. All full day trips include a sandwich  lunch. Prices do not include a 10%  user fee.

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. Rafting Essentials: Non cotton bathing suit or shorts, Athletic top, dry fit, under armor type. If it is cool out you can bring a sweatshirt and you can leave it in the vehicle while you are on the water. Towels are not necessary because of the arid climate, but you can bring them if you wish.  

 

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.

What’s Included

The raft trip and transportation from our Aspen shop, a life jacket and paddle, splash tops and bottoms, booties, a wetsuit when the water is cold, and a snack. Trip photos aren’t included, but you can buy them online after your trip.

The Middle Roaring Fork

We provide splash gear on all of our trips, and wetsuits and helmets when appropriate.

Middle Roaring Fork Trip Reviews

We had a great trip down the Middle Roaring Fork We had a great trip down the Middle Roaring Fork (Class 2 rapids) with Marina today! She is amazing and fun….very experienced and knowledgeable. Ask for her if you can! (Thanks Marina!!). We have done multiple trips with AWR over the years, and always enjoy sharing the adventure with our friends when we bring them to Aspen. They do a wonderful job with safety and the vans are always comfortable and clean. You will be glad you went with them!!
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Sandy Curtis Avatar
Sandy Curtis
8/26/2026
5 star ratingWhat a wonderful experience! What a great trip! A super adventure. Our family of 6, aged 9 to 77 had a wonderful first rafting trip! Pace was our guide and was 5+ stars out of 5! He expertly prepared us, made sure we understood all safety instructions, guided us superbly through the rapids, allowed our two younger members to swim in the deeper areas. He pointed out many geologic areas as well as birds along the way. You couldn’t have asked for a better guide or experience!
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Alan R Avatar
Alan R
8/13/2026
We took our family out for the Middle Fork We took our family out for the Middle Fork class 2 rapids with Pace, we have two kids below the age of 9, and they absolutely loved it. Pace was a great guide, made it fun for all, and had such a fun and positive attitude. Highly recommend AWR and Pace!
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Jordan Sanders Avatar
Jordan Sanders
8/11/2026

Book Your Middle Roaring fork Rafting Trip

Trips leave at 9:15 am and 1:30 pm from May through August, and peak summer dates fill early.

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