Rafting Colorado's Glenwood Canyon

We rafted with Glenwood Canyon Rafting out of West Glenwood, Colorado. The 10 mile paddle ended at their property along the Colorado River, making a bus ride back unnecessary. Our guide, Betty, was fantastic -- one of the finest I've had in my several dozen raft trips across the country. I've driven I-70 through Glenwood Canyon many times and biked the trail several times, and looking from those vantages, I always thought this more of a float trip than a whitewater trip, but I was incorrect. Even in mid-August, the beginning section, called Shoshone Rapids, still has class 2 and 3 rapids and we got soaked by the very cold water many times, especially when the river was in shadows from the canyon walls. It was wonderful!

When Betty learned we had rafted before, she put Ellen and me in the front positions. Here's a shot just before we hit the standing wave at Man-eater Rapid...






... and then as we are inundated by the wall of water...







Besides rafts, you could also do the lower section of the trip (after Shoshone Rapids) in an inflatable kayak or "duckie" as seen here...





Just before the take-out point, the city re-engineered the river, adding a "wall" to create a 4 foot drop and a resulting wave for the whitewater kayakers. Here's a shot looking back after we went over the rock wall. (You can see some kayakers on the right.)