4 Trips to Choose from!
Every skier/boarder should try this at least once.
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Raft Trips |
Cache La Poudre River Class II-IV
Enjoy Whitewater Rafting near Fort Collins, Colorado
The Cache la Poudre River, northwest of Fort Collins, is Colorado's first and only designated National Wild and Scenic River. You get a thrilling whitewater rafting experience in a pristine and protected environment. The sections we raft are just a little over one hour drive from either Denver or the town of Estes Park, which is just outside Rocky Mountain National Park.
We have 4 great trips for you to choose from.
Lower Poudre Half-Day
The intensity of the rapids on the lower Poudre vary from intermediate to advanced intermediate in difficulty (i.e., Class III rapids). Our professional guides and specially selected rafts ensure that both first time and experienced rafters can join the fun. A whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Cache la Poudre makes a great family outing.
Meeting Time: 8:15 AM and 12:30 PM
Minimum Age: 7 years old
Departure: RMA Fort Collins Store
Cost: $49
Season: Mid-May to late August
Mishawaka Half-Day
The rapids on the Mishawaka Falls section of the Cache la Poudre are much more action-packed than the other half-day whitewater rafting trips, with plunges that vary from intermediate to advanced in difficulty (i.e., Class III and IV rapids). The current is swift and the channels are narrow, with fun but challenging rapids.
Rafters on this adventure must be at least 13 years old and must come prepared for hard stroking, teamwork and getting wet. Wet suits on this trip are highly suggested.
Meeting Time: 12:30 PM
Minimum Age: 13 years old
Departure: RMA Fort Collins Store
Cost: $58
Season: Mid-May to early August
Mishawaka Lunch Trip
This Cache la Poudre trip, in addition to running the same stretch of river as the Mishawaka Falls section described above, stops part way through for lunch along the river.
Meeting Time: 10:00 AM
Minimum Age: 13 years old
Departure: RMA Fort Collins Store
Cost: $62
Season: Mid-May to early August
Upper Poudre Full-Day
The full-day whitewater rafting trip on the Cache la Poudre begins near the community of Rustic at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, and finishes near Poudre Park. The river has rapids that are advanced in difficulty (i.e., Class III and IV rapids). The stream channel is narrow and rocky, and the current is very swift with almost continuous rapids. Waves frequently break over the front of our self-bailing rafts, making for a wet and exciting trip. For this reason, we VERY STRONGLY SUGGEST a wet suit.
Meeting Time: 8:15 AM
Minimum Age: 13 years old
Departure: RMA Fort Collins Store
Cost: $98
Season: Late May to early August
Reservation Policy
To ensure you get to go on the trip of your choice, we require you to make reservations in advance. Weekend launch dates usually fill faster than weekday launch dates, and most trips are full weeks in advance.
Trip Safety and Liability
We make every effort to run safe and exciting trips. On most of our trips, you will help paddle the raft with your fellow crewmembers. We provide safety and instructional talks before each trip and it is your responsibility to follow the instructions given.
All outdoor adventure activities, including whitewater rafting, involve elements of risk. If you have any physical concerns, please consult your physician before rafting with us. We do not assume liability for personal injuries or death. You must sign an "acknowledgement of risk participant agreement" form prior to your trip, which you can do at check-in on the day of your raft trip.
Please know that we cannot allow anyone impaired by drugs, including alcohol, to go on any of our trips. No refund will be made for anyone impaired that is denied a raft trip.
What to Wear on half-day & full-day White Water Rafting Trips
We go rafting rain or shine, and having the proper clothing and staying warm ensures you have the best experience. Remember, you will get WET and the water is COLD. For this reason, bring comfortable, fast drying clothing, such as a bathing suit or nylon shorts, and old tennis shoes or river sandals that attach securely to your feet. When it's sunny, you'll need a hat, sunglasses with strap, and sunscreen. On cool days, wear items such as wool or fleece sweaters and socks.
We don't recommend blue jeans or cotton clothing, as they get wet and stay wet, keeping you cold.
We do recommend wet suits when it's chilly. If you want to rent one, let us know and we can outfit you like a pro.
Remember to pack dry clothes to change into after the trip.
Pigeon Express and River Photos
Pigeon Express™ is our photography program that uses homing pigeons to help capture your river adventure in photography.
Using specially designed Lycra backpacks, the birds fly film of your rafting trip on the Cache la Poudre River back to our Fort Collins outpost, typically traveling distances between 20 and 40 miles. When we release the pigeons in the Poudre Canyon, they "home" in on their loft and fly back to the outpost in about 20 minutes, which is faster than we could drive out of the canyon. After the pigeons arrive back home, we develop the film so that you can see your photos when you get back from the river.
Our pigeons are reliable, hard working and fun. Because they have been hand-raised by our staff at Rocky Mountain Adventures headquarters, they are friendly birds that like to stick close to home. When you're at our Fort Collins store, visit the loft and meet our feathered friends.
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| Poudre River |
Min Age |
Cost |
Wetsuit package rental |
| Lower Poudre Half-Day |
7 years old |
$49.00 |
$12.00* |
| Mishawaka Half Day |
13 years old |
$60.00 |
$12.00* |
| Mishawaka Lunch Trip |
13 years old |
$65.00 |
$12.00* |
| Upper Poudre Full-Day |
13 years old |
$98.00 |
$12.00* |
Group Discounts
With a group size of 10-14, everyone in the group receives a 5% discount. A group size of 15 or more includes a free rafting trip for the group leader and 10% discount for everyone else in the group.
*Our Farmer John Wet Suit Package includes
Farmer John wet suit
Booties
Spray jacket
To see dates for any of these trips, choose a trip
from the option box and press the submit button above. Once you are
registered, you will get a confirmation email from Rocky Mountain Adventures
for your trip.
You can search all the trips that we offer:
You can also search by geographic area:
Meeting Place
Fort Collins Office
(All Cache La Poudre River Trips)
In the upper right hand corner of this page, you can enter your location or a point that you know of and hit enter and google maps will open and show you a map to the meeting location and driving time.
Driving from Denver
Take I-25 north about 60 miles to Fort Collins exit 269B (westbound Colorado Highway 14). Travel west on Highway 14 for about four miles to the intersection of Highway 14 and Riverside Ave. Turn right, following the signs for Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 287. After about a mile, the street (which is now Jefferson) intersects with College Ave. Turn right onto College Ave., continuing to follow the signs for Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 287. After about three miles, you will see the JAX Farm and Ranch store on the right. Rocky Mountain Adventures is about 2/10 of a mile down the road on the left, just through the traffic light and over the railroad tracks. Approximate drive time 1 1/4 hrs.
Driving from Estes Park
Take U.S. Highway 34 about 30 miles east to Loveland. At the junction of U.S. Highway 34 and U.S. Highway 287 in Loveland turn left onto U.S. Highway 287 North (Lincoln Avenue). Continue on U.S. Highway 287 through the cities of Loveland and Fort Collins toward the Poudre Canyon. (Please note that U.S. Highway 287 in Fort Collins is named College Avenue.) Just after leaving the downtown section of Fort Collins you will cross the Cache La Poudre River. Mileage from the river is a follows: At 2.5 miles from the river you will pass the JAX Farm and Ranch store on your right. At 2.7 miles you will cross the intersection of Highway 287 and Shields Street. Our building is just past the traffic signal on the left side of the highway at. Approximate drive time 2 hrs.
Refund Policy
For reservations cancelled at least 14 days before your trip date, 8% of the trip fee is non-refundable. For reservations cancelled less than 14 days before your trip date, your trip is non-refundable. It is rare that we cancel a trip; however, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel trips due to extreme weather conditions (e.g., very high or very low water or snow conditions) or an insufficient number of reservations.
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More Trip Information
For directions from where you are to where the Cache La Poudre River is located/meets at, enter your starting point as: City, State or Zip Code or Airport and click on our button.
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Trip Length:
Approximatly 4 1/2 hours to full day
Difficulty: Class II-IV
River Ratings
(what they mean)
Season: Mid-May to late August
Flow:
500cfs: Low
500cfs to 2500cfs good
2500cfs and above is high You can see our online
river flows or click on USGS Poudre River at Fort Collins, please note that this gauge is below a water diversion, which can divert 1,500cfs. So this gauge can read zero and the Poudre River may still have great water.
Group organizers may go on this trip for free! Click
here for details.
Lodging before and after your trip:
Where to stay in Fort Collins?
There is fantastic camping along the Cache La Poudre river, the
only problem is availability. Please call the Forest Service to
reserve a campsite at 877-444-6777 or go to their website at www.reserveusa.com.
You can also contact the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce at: (970) 482-3746.
BE SURE TO MAKE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS!!
Rocky Mountain Adventures
1117 North US Highway 287, Fort Collins, CO 80522
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