Cache la Poudre River Half-Day Trips
Cache la Poudre River Half-Day Trips
We offer up to 3 trips daily late May - early September - Trips depart from the Estes Park High School parking lot located at 1600 Manford Avenue. Do not come to our downtown office to meet your trip.
Departure Times: 6:45 AM / 9:30 AM / 12:30 PM
Please Arrive 15-20 minutes prior to departure
Age and Weight Restriction:
All participants must be at least 7 years of age and weigh at least 50 lbs.
Trip Duration: Approximately 6 hours
(Please note: Trip duration includes all transport time to the river and back to Estes Park, safety orientation, gear fitting, and rafting. Time on river varies by river flows but is generally 1.5-2 hours)
Did you say “Rapids?”
The Poudre River (how the heck do you say it? "Poo-der". We didn't name it - we just raft it). The "Poo-der" is a fast-moving river with nearly continuous Class II to III rapids and little float water. This river has the distinction of being the only "wild and scenic" designated river in Colorado and we are one of the few companies allowed to run it.
NEVER BEEN RAFTING? Don't worry, our professional guides ensure that both the first time rafter and the experienced rafters have a great time. Non-swimmers are also welcome.
Actual time on the river can vary each day depending on water flow. While each season is different, the water is usually swift-moving early in the season and slows down after the snowmelt is gone. By August some of the fun comes from dodging the rocks along the way. We'll get you wet!
Feel free to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages along if you like.
Trips depart from the Estes Park High School at 9:30am and 12:30pm daily. We also have a 6:45am trip Monday through Friday. (Okay, I heard you *GASP* when you read that time. Those of you from the Central Time Zone it's 7:45am for you. Before you dismiss this trip as too early, this trip is often smaller and we're often the only company on the water then. The river is all ours - it's incredible! Then you're back in time for lunch and your afternoon is open to do something else. This one runs during peak season - mid June through early August).
Call 970-577-7238 (RAFT) or 800-367-8523 for reservations or book online as space is strictly limited on all half day trips. The U.S. Forest Service regulates the number of rafters per trip. (They have no sense of humor about this so no, unfortunately we can't just sneak you on.) During peak season we run at capacity and will turn people away, so reservations are strongly encouraged. Payment is required in advance for all trips so we know how many boats and guides we'll need.
We don't want to leave you behind - book now!
These trips run from around Memorial Day through the end of August - sometimes Labor Day if water levels permit.
Checking the weather? Be sure to check the weather in Fort Collins, CO, not Estes Park. The weather is generally much warmer at the Poudre River than in Estes Park as it is much lower in elevation. June temperatures are typically range between the mid 70s to high 80s in Fort Collins. Click here for a link to the Fort Collins weather forecast.
Cancellation Policy:
We go rain or shine - weather can be different on the river than it is in Estes Park. We take payment at time of reservation. We run at capacity most of the season and turn away others to hold the space for you. We reserve the space for you - you in turn agree to pay for the trip. All money is fully refundable if we are advised of the cancellation at least 7 days prior to the trip.*
Within 7 days of the trip, we are happy to refund your money if given enough advance notice to resell the space. Rescheduling your trip to a later date due to weather within 7 days is equivalent to a cancellation. Trips resold within 7 days will be refunded minus a $5.00 processing charge per participant. No refund applies if the space is not resold before the trip.
Please understand that booking a trip is similar to booking an airline ticket. Trips depart at the scheduled time whether all participants are present or not. Absolutely no refunds if you just do not show up for the trip. We turn away others to hold the space for you. Additionally, drivers, guides and meals are prearranged based on your being on the trip. These costs cannot be recouped. Thank you for understanding.
Every participant is required to sign a waiver before being allowed to raft.
* Cancellations of 10 participants or greater are required to cancel 14 days prior to trip in order to be eligible for a full refund.
Example: You have a trip booked for July 22nd, 2020 and want to cancel 2 spots. You would need to do this by July 15th. After July 15th, we would need to resell the 2 spots in order to get you a refund. However, if you are cancelling 11 people for the same trip, you would need to do this by July 8th. After July 8th, we would need to resell 11 spots in order to get you a refund.