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The Best White Water Rafting Near Breckenridge, Aspen & Vail

Colorado’s Premier Whitewater is Just a Scenic Drive Away!

Rafting and Kayaking Trip Options

Recent Reviews from our guests

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Nomnom profile picture
Nomnom
49 days ago
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Had a wonderful trip down the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, CO. First off, the scenery is stunning. Mother Nature didn’t pull out any stops in this part of the country. The service from Mild to Wild was excellent. Our main guide Lauren was accommodating, professional, and a real expert with the river. She and our other guide Anna were also very friendly with our two kids (9 and 11). I highly recommend this company for any trips down the river. We felt safe, learned a little about the river, and made some great memories.
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davidicus
60 days ago
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Amazing experience and I can't recommend this place enough. We went on the Brown's Canyon Arkansas River rafting run and had the best time. The guides are so helpful and kind, every experience level is welcome (depending on what trip you choose), and the beautiful scenery is something my son and I will always remember. Great company that communicated so well, was super organized, and you can tell they have a lot of pride and love for what they do. Special shout out to our tour guide Justin who made our trip a memorable one that my son and I will never forget.
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Gee Sprague
85 days ago
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Had a great day on the Arkansas river in Browns Canyon! Brendon was a great guide. Not only navigates the river, but great commentary! BTW, tell your mom you’re the best!!
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Lorraine Showers
353 days ago
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My jeep tour was everything I expected and more. The Aspen trees were brilliantly colored. The crisp temperatures and intermittent rain added to the beauty of the rocks. Our guide was delightful, caring and informative.
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LoveDosTravel
364 days ago
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Loved Cat’s Expert Knowledge. We had a substitution in our group of four and Cat dealt with it quickly and we were on our way to a fun morning. She asked us what we wanted to see and said she would specialize the trip just for us. She knew so much about the Aspen trees—the medicinal bark, how they reproduced and where they were able to grow. We learned about the animals common to this area and she pointed out several as we traveled. Her depth of knowledge about all aspects of this region was extraordinary. We were encouraged to ask questions and gave us lots of interesting information. She gave us blankets and binoculars to use. I don’t think we could have had a better guide.
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Experience812363
365 days ago
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Absolutely wonderful jeep tour Our afternoon tour was breathtaking. We saw at least a dozen mule deer, 3 grouse birds, 3 marmots, many chipmunks, and woodpeckers. It rained lightly during our tour which brought out a double rainbow. The Aspen trees and fire weed plants were just starting to turn colors. Our guide, Miles, was excellent. He knew about the history of the native people in this area. He explained the early mining history. He answered any question we had about any plant or tree we saw including what is edible or poisonous. He went above and beyond to make our jeep tour our highlight of our vacation.
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chap7002
2986 days ago
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Wonderful jeep tour of the San Juan Mountains My husband and I booked a 4-hour jeep tour for the morning of the 4th of July. Everyone in the office was so friendly and professional. We arrived early and met Jay who was our driver and guide for the tour. Jay is fantastic, friendly and very informative of the geology and nature of the area. Because of the 416 fire in the Durango area Jay took us on a different trail away from the smoke so that we could enjoy the beauty and not be smoked out. The trail was part of the old stage trail from Silverton to Durango during the 1800s. We saw lily ponds with beaver dams, two bucks and or course a squirrel or two. The mountains in the San Juan mountains are absolutely beautiful and of course the quaking aspen were amazing. Jay was so accommodating to stopping and letting us out to take pictures. And yes Jay and Jerry jokes were corny but funny. Thank you for such a great experience!!!
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Kathleen B
3277 days ago
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really fun trails/ rails trip This review is specifically for the "trails" part of our trip. We caught the bus at 8:00 and Doug, our bus driver, immediately got our attention with some clever humor. He was extremely informative on the trip all the way to Silverton. He also made a point of stopping along the way a couple of times to allow us to take photos of the aspen since we were there during the fall. The second part of the trip was our jeep tour. Miles was our driver and did a really good job of explaining what we were seeing and answering our questions. One of the things we liked was that even though our bus load needed 3 jeeps, each of the jeeps went their own way. This meant that small groups of people were on tour, so we weren't stepping all over each other. This is something we would do again.

What are you waiting for? Call today (800) 567-6745 OR (970) 247-4789

Closest Arkansas River Outfitter to Summit County, the Vail Valley, and the Roaring Fork Valley

Staying in Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, or Beaver Creek? You are closer to Colorado’s best whitewater than you think.

Mild to Wild’s outpost is conveniently located on the north end of Buena Vista, making it the nearest Arkansas River rafting outfitter to Colorado’s marquee resort towns. Your adventure lies just an hour’s scenic drive over the Continental Divide via Independence, Freemont, or Tennessee Pass.

Read more about why rafting the Arkansas is the best option for visitors staying in Breckenridge, Aspen, or Vail.

Why Choose the Arkansas River

Thanks to the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, the Arkansas River enjoys incredibly reliable, continuous water flows all summer long by utilizing supplemental water transported from the western slope.

When you raft the Arkansas, you can expect:

  • Dependable Water Flows: Great rafting all season long, even when other rivers drop.
  • Stunning Granite Canyon Scenery: Paddle through iconic Colorado landscapes and towering peaks.
  • Stretches for Every Adventure Level: From splashy pool drop class III rapids in Browns Canyon National Monument to action packed Class IV rapids in The Numbers.

Why Raft the Arkansas River with Mild to Wild?

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Trip Provisions

  • Onsite bathrooms, changing rooms, and free parking
  • Gift shop for your last minute needs
  • Action photos of your trip available for purchase
  • Neoprene wetsuits provided & boots available for rent
  • Custom, quality, & Coast Guard approved river equipment
  • Round trip transportation from meet location
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Professional, Interpretive & Entertaining Guides

  • Trip leaders average 2,000 river miles
  • Trip leaders are 3rd year guides on average
  • All guides are certified in First Aid and CPR
  • Most guides certified in Swift Water Rescue, and Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder
  • Dedicated company division to risk management, guided training, and continuing guide education
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Our Commitment
to You

For over 30 years, Mild to Wild has operated as a family-owned and managed business. We are committed to providing exceptional guest service and crafting memorable experiences. We are proud to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not absolutely delighted with our guides and equipment, your trip is free.

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