Globally, the recreational boating market expects shipments of over a million units come 2027. Water rafting is one of the major players here, especially white water rafting.
White water rafting is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. Whether you’re looking for a day trip with friends or a getaway with your significant other, water rafting is the perfect way to spend time together in nature.
When you go rafting, you’ll be able to bond over shared experiences and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river. You’ll also be able to challenge yourself and see how far you can go. It’s an activity that all ages and abilities can enjoy, so no matter what your group is like, there will be something for everyone.
While many places in the U.S. are ideal for this activity, none is as popular as the ones in Colorado.
Colorado is popular for white water rafting for several reasons. Most importantly, it’s the variety of rapids in this region that makes the activity so much more fun. Of course, that also means you have many options to choose from, so how do you find the best white water rafting in Colorado? Let’s find out.
Get Out There
Before you start your search, it’s important to make sure you and your family are physically fit. White water rafting is an exciting activity that requires strength and endurance. The guides will give you tips on how to prepare for the trip. However, it’s best if everyone in the group can handle hiking uphill for long distances, carrying heavy equipment, and paddling a raft through swift-moving water.
You’ll also want to talk to the guides about your experience level before booking anything. If this is a first-time adventure for everyone on the trip (including yourself), consider choosing an introductory package that includes lessons in paddling techniques as well as general safety procedures. If one person, in particular, has more experience than others do, they might be able to teach some of those skills during these lessons.
If possible, try not to schedule your white water rafting trip during inclement weather conditions, such as rain or windstorms in Colorado. These can make things difficult both on land and at sea.
Look at the Reviews
The second step you should take is to look at the reviews. Look for reviews on Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Google. Check out the company’s website and see if they have any information about their safety or environmental responsibility record. Ask your friends and family if they have been rafting before and what their experience was. If they enjoyed it, you are likely to do too.
Colorado has several companies that offer rafting and other water activities. Colorado Springs alone has at least ten to fifteen such spots. It’s easy to get lost amidst all these choices.
Therefore, when choosing a rafting trip in Colorado Springs, look for a Colorado Springs white water rafting company that has good reviews. This is important because you want your time on the river to be safe as well as fun. A rafting company with good reviews guarantees all that and more.
Focus on Safety
Safety should be the first thing you think about when choosing a whitewater rafting adventure. All whitewater rafting companies will have certified guides, but some guides are better than others. Look for companies with guides that have been certified by the American Canoe Association or American Whitewater.
While it’s important to feel safe on your trip, safety equipment is another way to ensure that you have an enjoyable time. The best way to stay safe while white water rafting is by wearing a life vest at all times while on the river. You don’t want to fall out of your boat in the middle of rapids and risk drowning.
Ensure that every person on board has a life vest before running any rapids. It’s also helpful if each person brings along goggles or swim goggles because they’ll help protect your eyes from debris like rocks or sand when going through class IV rapids or above.
Check out Their Guides
Check out the company’s guides’ experience. You can usually find this information online or ask the company you’re considering booking with. If they’ve been around for a while, and their guides are experienced paddlers who love what they do, chances are you’ll have an enjoyable trip.
Choose Your Difficulty Level
When it comes to choosing a river, the difficulty level of rapids is key. The higher the class of rapids, the more challenging they’ll be. In other words, even if you’ve taken classes in paddling before and are comfortable with paddling white water rafting trips on Class II or III rivers, you may want to consider starting out with a lower-classed trip. That will allow you time to learn some basic skills under less challenging conditions.
The recreational boating market is expected to reach a value of US$ 28.8 Billion by 2027, and white water rafting will play a vital role here. Colorado’s white water rafting scene alone is bringing in a huge amount of money every year.
So in the next five years, you can expect more white water rafting companies opening shop here. With so many options, it’s vital that you keep these tips in mind to ensure that you’re always choosing the best white water rafting company in Colorado.
