Wild Rafting Trips

 Wild Trips (Class IV-V rapids) are designed for experienced rafters or physically fit, aggressive first-timers. You should be comfortable with an active, challenging ride and mandatory participation and must know how to swim. If you’re looking for something milder, check out our Mild Rafting Trips.

Class IV rapids (Wild) feature long, unpredictable, and powerful rapids that require precise maneuvering. AWR offers two Class IV trips  Slaughter House Falls on the Roaring Fork River this trip is accessed from our Aspen office and Numbers on the Arkansas River this trip can be accessed from our Aspen and Twin Lakes offices. Class V rapids (Extreme) are the upper limit for commercial rafting—extremely difficult, violent, and long. AWR offers the Pine Creek and Numbers trip for a full day Class V/IV trip. You can find more detail on the river difficulty scale in our FAQ – Know Before You Go.

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.

4. • 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.

   • 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.  

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.  

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.