Whitewater Rafting in Durango

Whitewater rafting in Durango is a great place to river raft! Whether its your first time or you've gone more than a hand full, Durango, CO offers great river conditions for everyone. Here are some of the places you can river raft in Durango:

Lower Animas River
A perfect Durango activity thats fun for the whole family. The Lower Animas offers fun and easy rapids all Summer - unless you arrive during peak runoff. In that case be prepared for plenty of excitement!

Upper Animas
No other river in Colorado comes close to the scenery, remoteness and challenges of the Upper Animas River. We offer trips for intermediate to expert rafters and kayakers. Be careful, our fully stocked riverside camp and hiking options in this roadless wilderness might just lure you to opt for the two or three day trip!

If you've never been on a Colorado river rafting trip, here are some tips to help you be prepared for your fun day:

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

• Swimsuit or quick-dry clothing.
• Water bottle (optional).
• Shoes or sandals that can get wet (no flip flops please).
• Sunscreen and sunglasses with strap.
• Sleeping bag for overnight trip.

WHAT IS PROVIDED?

• Self-bailing boats, paddles, life jackets.
• Splash jacket and/or wetsuit as needed.
• River shoes on full day or longer trips.
• Helmet as needed.
• Drinking water.
• Meals on half day or longer trips.
• Free parking and transportation.
• Tent and pad on overnight trips.
• Full paddling suits available on expert trips for your safety and comfort!

DO I NEED A RESERVATION?

• Yes for half day or longer trips (25% deposit).

SHOULD I TIP MY GUIDE?

• Tips are encouraged (5 to 15% is common).

Here's a recommended Durango Rafting Company

Colorado River Rafting

Its funny to think that such an amazing recreational activity such as river rafting was first invented and used for military purposes. Now i'm sure there was someone before the British sailing company who sad on a log and rode down a river and enjoyed the splashes of water to the face, the intense current from the rapids and the uncertainty of getting down alive. The first actual "rubber river raft" was invented in the 19th century however.

Colorado river rafting has been enjoyed since the states inception to the union. With amazing rivers, views and now rafting companies, Colorado is one of the top places to go whitewater rafting in the country. If you have not had the chance to go down a raging river in a rubber tube with 7 other screaming friends, I would definitely put it on your things to do this summer!

There are plenty of places to go rafting in Colorado. The Breckenridge rafting area, the Royal Gorge rafting area, Estes Park and Durango are a few popular places to go. There are plenty of rafting websites out there to help you get informed on when, where and with who to go with.

Colorado River Rafing featuring rafting in India

The Zanskar River :: India

by Anupam Chandola
part I of III
Anupam Chandola (Arnie) is a native of India and has guided around the world including the Zanskar. Arnie really wants to go again so he wrote this up to entice you to join us in the summer for "a true journey of exploration and discovery". He can setup fully guided or semi-private trips where you kayak or row your own raft as I know that would appeal to many of our readers. Just contact us with questions.
Rafting in the Indian Himalayas

River running is virtually as old as civilization itself, but rafting and kayaking as recreational activities are relatively new, especially in the Indian Himalayas. A river journey in an exotic foreign country is one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to experience the rural areas, observing different ways of live, cultures and natural environments, and coming into contact with village people the conventional traveler rarely gets to meet. These pleasures are complimented by an even greater thrill: rafting through powerful, fast flowing rapids. The skills of our professional guides and the stability, sturdiness and buoyancy of modern self bailing rafts, enable us to safely challenge these exciting rivers. Nowhere are these voyages of exploration and adventure better experienced than in the Himalayas, where some of the finest white-water rivers in the world surge through spectacular land of dramatic contrast supporting an amazing variety of flora and fauna, interlaced with a myriad of centuries-old culture. History you will find with India River Rafting in the Himalayas. Colorado River Rafting has more rapids...

Colorado River Rafting and what to wear...

You will be the most comfortable in things that dry quickly. If the weather is warm, and that is most typical, dress to get wet. Swimsuits, shorts and T-shirts are fine. Appropriate footwear is a must. Old pair of tennis shoes or the Teva-type sport sandals (the guides choice of footwear) is best. Wool socks or no socks. If it is expected to be a cool day, rule number one is COTTON IS WRONG! A wool sweater or fleece jacket is good to have along on any raft trip. There are brands of wetsuits and one of the best for coldwater 45 degrees is this wetsuit approved by scuba pros and this wetsuit for waters ranging 60 to 75 degrees, spray jackets, and river boots preferred by Colorado River Rafting professionals. Again, expect to get wet!

If you wear glasses or plan to wear sunglasses, a retaining strap such as a chums or croakies is the key to still owning your glasses at the end of the day. Only waterproof cameras are recommended. A water bottle is nice to have along. Most outfitters rent the river wear and some provide certain things for free like raftmasters.com on your Colorado River Rafting trip. Sunscreen and/or a hat are also good to have. Don't forget your spirit of adventure.

Colorado Whitewater Rafting Terminology for beginners

Boat & Equipment Terminology

Paddle: A paddle held in the hands, not attached to the boat, used to paddle. Can be single-bladed (for rafting and canoeing) or double-bladed (for kayaking, solo cats, inflatable kayaks)

Paddle Boat: A raft with a crew of paddlers and a guide.

Oar: A long blade, attached to the boat by an oarlock on thole pin, and used to row.

Oar Rig: A boat rigged with oars, so one person sitting in the center of the boat can row.

Stern Rig, Paddle Assist: An oar/paddle boat, in which the guide has oars and frame in the stern, and thecrew, sitting forward, has paddles. Ofen used on high water.

Bow: The front of the boat.
Stern: The rear of the boat.

Duckie, Inflatable Kayak, Funyak, Splashyak: A one or two person inflatable boat, usually paddled with double bladed paddles.

Cataraft: An inflatable boat with two pontoons.

Solo Cat: A one-person cataraft paddled with a double-bladed paddle.

Hoopi: Tubular webbing used for multiple purposes in rigging and preparing boats. Some into Colorado Whitewater Rafting do not know this term.

Carabiner: A clip, used to secure items into the boat, and to construct safety and rescue systems.

Wet Suit: A neoprene rubber suit which allows a small amount of water in, to help retain body heat.

Dry Suit: A suit designed to keep all water out, under which any amount of layered clothing can be worn.

Dry Bag,
Day Bag: A bag for keeping gear in on the river, to help keep things dry (but probably not 100%)

Life Jacket: A personal floatation device, coast guard approved, and worn like a vest.

BRECKENRIDGE RAFTING and what rafts utilized by outfitters

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MANUFACTURERS OF RAFTS under 12 feet long and what rafts are used by Breckenridge Rafting outfitters:
AIRE

RAFT:Puma Length:11'6" Width:66" Diameter:18" WEIGHT:88 lbs MATERIAL:PVC/U CAPACITY:950 lbs PRICE:$2500
AIRE makes the Puma, a longtime favorite for raft creeking. Lately they have been making bigger versions of the Puma called the Super Puma and the Super Duper Puma but I feel like they should make a smaller version and call it the Baby Puma or something. Recently I portaged a Puma for three miles and that wasn't too fun. If you are listening AIRE please build me a Baby Puma, 9 feet long and weighing less than 40 lbs.

Hyside

Mini-Me 9' 62" 18" 45 lbs Hyp 4 $1764
140SBU 11'8" 70" 18" 87 lbs Hyp 6 $2779
109RBS 9' 62" 18" 71 lbs Hyp 4 $1420
139RBS 11'6" 66" 18" 84 lbs Hyp 6 $1975
Hyside is the proud maker of the Mini Me 9 foot raft. What fun! These things are popular R2 boats and make it possible to do some serious raft creeking. Made of Hypalon.

Incept

G25S 8'5" 53" 15" 55 lbs Poly/U 2 $NA
G29S 9'6" 57" 15.75" 66 lbs Poly/U 3 $NA
W33S 10'10" 63" 15.75" 78 lbs Poly/U 4 $2190
These New Zealand boats are imported directly to Idaho through a giant whirlpool from the Buller River straight to the Payette. They offer not one but three small rafts in delightfully light weights for those days where half your time is spent walking.

Maravia

Seal 11'6" 72" 17" 77 lbs Poly/U 4 $2201
Elan 12' 69" 18" 95 lbs Poly/U 6 $3998
Maravia makes two small rafts but don't try to find them on the Maravia website - better off visiting the River Connection instead. I was part of a two man crew that paddled a little Maravia down the Green Truss section of the White Salmon and the boat held up very well.

NRS

E-120 12' 66" 17" 108lbs Hyp NA $3400
Otter120 12' 66" 17" 88 lbs Hyp NA $2475
NRS has two 12 foot self-bailing models both made of hypalon. The E series is made for commercial abuse but is pretty heavy. The Otter is a good value and should be a great boat for the private boater.

SOTAR

SP10E (Tan) 10' 18" ? lbs Poly/U ? $2400
SP12E 12' ? 18" ? lbs Poly/U ? $2779
ST11E 11' 62" 19" 78 lbs Poly/U ? $3381
ST12E 12' 70" 19" 85 lbs Poly/U ? $3381
SL11E 11' 64" 20" 75 lbs Poly/U ? $3740
ST12E 12' 68" 20" 82 lbs Poly/U ? $3974
Sotar has three basic raft models. The ST is their standard design, the SP is the standard design but in Tan color only and the ST has a diminishing tube design. The prices are pretty high for boats this small, save perhaps the SP model. Sotars have been used on some pretty balsy stuff including the first raft descent of the Green River Narrows.

Star

LX12-SB THUNDER 12' 72" 18" 116 lbs PVC 3-6 $2449
VX12-SB 12' 72" 18" 90 lbs PVC 6 $1485
B12-SB LIGHTNING BUG 12' 57" 24" 103 lbs PVC 3-5 $1919
U9-SB ULTRA LITE 9' 50" 18" 75 lbs PVC 4 $1675
Star is the maker of the Bug and Ultra Bug as well as standard rafts. The bugs are supposed to behave more like catarafts since they have a lot of clearance. Check it out to see what I mean.

Vanguard

PSB-1104 11'4" 66" 16" 101 lbs PVC 4 $2395
PSB-1200 12' 73" 18" 114 lbs PVC 6 $2595
Vanguard makes two small rafts with a nice price. Unfortunately they are very heavy and would be difficult to carry for just two people.

This information is cited from www.whitewateraddiction.com and many or all Breckenridge Rafting outfitters use these manufacturers.

Rafts you will not see often during Colorado Whitewater Rafting

You may come across two other types of rafts during a Colorado Whitewater Rafting expedition that are not used often called J-Rigs, Sweep boats, and Dories. 'J-rigs' are giant rafts that are very specialized passenger and gear haulers. J-rigs are constructed of huge pontoons and are often motorized. They're used by many of the commercial rafting companies in the Grand Canyon. Sweep boats are named for the two huge oars used to steer them. They're basically very large self bailers, but the oars extend out both ends of the craft, and steer the boat like rudders rather than extending out the sides to row as a normal self bailer does.

Sweep boats (or "sweeps") are commonly used by commercial outfitters on the Middle Fork of the Salmon (you'll rarely see them on other rivers). Their advantage is that they carry huge loads of camping gear and food for Colorado Whitewater Rafting expeditions that last longer than a few days.

Due to the huge displacement and surface area exposed to the current, they are the fastest non-motorized craft on the river. Their disadvantage is that they have no brakes! Trust that if you see one, the guide holding those big oars is both very courageous and very skilled!

Dories
While certainly not a raft, you may encounter wooden or fiberglass boats called Dories on the river. These craft seem to be more popular on certain rivers. While they may be more fragile, they are certainly maneuverable.

They seemingly can stop on a dime in significant current, giving their ‘driver’ time to adjust course, mid-rapid. And they are a pretty sporty ride! But on rocky rivers or later in the season at lower water levels a Dorie can be a liability.