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Short & Mild Rafting Trip

Beginner Rafting for Young Families on the Colorado River!

Looking for a trip but have kids under age 5? Our Short & Mild Rafting Trip is great for anyone seeking a milder experience or trying rafting for the first time. This fun, scenic float with our experienced guides will keep everyone happy and safe. Easy class II rapids are a great introduction for young children or those who just want to enjoy the scenic beauty of the river without getting soaked! This trip is open to families with children as young as 3 years old. For families with children age 5 and older we recommend the Half Day Rafting Trip.

We meet at our riverside facility 45 minutes in advance and then depart directly from our facility down the Colorado River. Our experienced guides pilot 16’ rafts capable of carrying 8 guests through roughly 7 miles of beautiful scenery. The most exciting rapid, South Canyon, can be up to class III during June runoff. After about 1.5hrs of float time, it’s just a 12 minute shuttle ride back home, making this the perfect primer to river experiences. Launch site and take out are subject to change due to water conditions but will always contain scenic views and a beautiful Class II float.

Quick Details

  • Ages: Ages 3+
  • Duration: 2 Hours
  • Class Rating: Class II Rapids

More Info

  • Times & Departures: All trips meet 45 minutes prior to departure.
  • Memorial Day Weekend to August 20th: 9am and 1pm daily
  • Early/Late Season: 1:30pm only
  • Trip Length: 2 hours
  • Class Rating: Class II, on the Colorado River, 6+ river miles, departs from our riverfront facility.
  • Age/Weight: Minimum age 3, must fit in our youth PFD, max weight 375lbs.
  • Meeting place: All trips meet at our location in Glenwood Springs, CO, which is about 2.75 hours from DIA, 1 hour from Vail and Aspen.
  • Guides, life jackets, and shuttles to and from our facility are included. See below for a list of what to bring.

What to wear/bring

We provide all safety equipment and necessary gear including life jackets/PFDs and helmets. We recommend guests bring the following items to maximize their fun:

  • Shorts or Swimsuits (Light nylon clothing is best as everything gets wet!)
  • Old Tennis Shoes, sandals, or water shoes (Flip Flops not recommended as they float away!)
  • Windbreaker or Fleece (if cool)
  • Sunscreen/Lip balm
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Water Bottle
  • Change of clothes (for after your trip)
  • Towel (to take a warm shower at our riverside facility after your trip before hopping back in the car)

Full wetsuits, booties, splash jackets, and all other supplies are available in our gift shop for rent or purchase at very reasonable prices. DO NOT BRING any electronics such as smart phones, digital cameras, car keys or anything you would not want to get wet. These items have a tendency to be taken into the depths of the mighty Colorado! Please leave these items in your car and we will be happy to hold your car keys while you enjoy your trip!

Trip Restrictions/Policies, & Waivers

Advance Reservations are recommended and require a credit card to hold. Online reservations are taken up to 24 hours in advance of your trip. For same day reservations please call our reservations line at 800-993-RAFT(7238) and we will get you on a raft trip as soon as possible!

Whitewater Rafting, LLC has been dedicated to providing for your safety and enjoyment since 1974 but cannot assume responsibility for personal injury or property loss or damage. We have an impeccable safety record as each of our guides are fully certified by State and US Forest Service regulations including CPR, first aid, and extensive on river training maneuvers.

Licensed by the State of Colorado and permitted by US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made 24 hours or more prior to trip departure receive full refunds with no penalties; just email or call us and we will be happy to make any necessary changes. Cancellations made within 24 hours of departure time are subject to a $20 per person cancellation fee.

Trip times are the shuttle departure time. Please arrive 45 minutes before scheduled departure time for check-in, life jacket fitting, and safety orientation. Late arrivals cannot be guaranteed a spot on the raft and may be subject to the late cancellation charge.

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TripAdvisor

We had the best time! LULU was an amazing guide and got us super wet and most importantly, safely through. She told great stories and was perfect for my family! Running the river was unanimously the favorite activity on our vacation. We are already wanting to go back again!

Andrew C.

5 stars

The office staff were so friendly and helpful. The whole experience was great. The only problem I had was when sitting on bleachers getting instructions, we couldn’t hear Mary very well. She should have had a mic on but really all was good. Our guide was Moss and he was great!!!

Denise W.

5 stars

Highly recommend checking them out! Everyone's very friendly, they give you a good run down on rules/instructions. It was my first time rafting! I felt safe/comfortable being on the raft! Especially since we did class 3! Our instructor Stacks was wonderful!! Plus! They have an adorable shop dog!

Anavely C.

5 stars

This was an awesome trip! I wasn’t sure how my 3-year-old would do, but he did great! My older son also came out of his shell and had a blast. Our guide, Webs, was knowledgeable, fun and laid back. Definitely would do again given the chance. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign to go and do it!

Michelle A.

5 stars

Was really a good time. Great stretch and f river, and the guides are fabulous especially “5 Liter”. Don’t get the photo package though unless you are on the right side of the boat, or you’ll get some great pics…..of everyone else.

Tyler B.

5 stars

Our family whitewater rafting trip was a dream come true with our guide Sasha and Whitewater Rafting, LLC. We had THE best time and Sasha kept us safe and sound while commenting on the local scenery and history with her witty sense of humor. Highly recommend this outfit for your rafting needs!!

Anita E.

5 stars

This trip was perfect for us to take a nine and a four year old on. The older one loved jumping off the raft in the slow sections of the river, and there were just enough small rapids to make it fun for all. Our guide was quite friendly and made it a fun trip for all. Thanks for making this part of our trip so enjoyable!

Becky V.

5 stars

Guides Stacks, Chicklet and Big Mac were amazing. The safety meeting, equipment set up and prep were all professionally performed. The trip itself was absolutely crazy fun and the info sharing by the guides was very interesting. I highly recommend this trip and business!

Greg P.

5 stars

The white water rafting trip was amazing an experience of a lifetime our guide Mighy Quinn was knowledgeable and entertaining I would definitely recommend going I'll be back and I highly suggest Quinn as your guide thank you so much for this experience.

Jon P.

5 stars

The half day trip with our family of 5 (teens ages 18,15,13) was so fun! It's a smoothly run operation and our guide Merri was great - friendly and informative. It was a good value for the cost. This was our first time rafting. I think we'll try a level 4 next time. This was a perfect introduction.

Laurie

5 stars

Our Reviews

The Best Whitewater Rafting in Colorado

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