Whether you’re looking to shoot the rapids with Colorado Rafting Company or wanting to take a spring-break backcountry ski trip, these experienced and knowledgeable guides are ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. And with a massive range of gorgeous territory spanning some of our most mountainous counties — Grand, Clear Creek, Summit and Eagle — you’ll have no shortage of outdoor playgrounds to choose from.
Take a look at what’s offered each season.
Summer: Rafting, Kayaking, Hiking & More
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting with Colorado Rafting Company takes you down swift currents, where tossing rapids keep the adrenaline high. Don’t miss your chance to raft the Blue River — it’s only open for rafting early summer and, even then, water levels vary each year. When conditions are just right, the river threads through stands of pine and wide-open ranch lands with the Gore Mountains framing the horizon.
For a mix of thrills and history, rafting on Clear Creek is powered by Rocky Mountain snowmelt. The river flows through Idaho Springs, and the team designs trips for all skill levels, guiding rafters past historical landmarks like the well-preserved, red Argo Gold Mine and the wooden Charlie Tayler Water Wheel.
Kayaking & Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Paddle an inflatable kayak, or “duckie,” on the Colorado River, where cool droplets splash your skin and the sun glints on the waves. Drift through calmer sections beside rafts and explore the shore for a more intimate river experience. When you’re paddling so close to the water, your heart races as you take on the rapids!
For a totally mellow adventure on the water, Colorado Adventure Guides’ island-hopping stand-up paddleboarding tour leads you across Lake Dillon to uninhabited areas. Along the way, you’ll pass shores lined with dense thickets of pine, patches of vibrant wildflowers, and wildlife like rabbits and foxes. It’s a serene outing that’s perfect for beginners and groups.
Colorado Wildflower Hikes & Alpine Lake Trails
Guided group hikes are available for all abilities, with tours tailored to your pace and interests. You might venture through the woods on an iconic Summit County trail suited for beginners or take on a tougher hike up Byers, Bottle or Ptarmigan peaks near Winter Park. While Colorado hiking is a treat all summer, July is peak wildflower season in the high country, when meadows come alive with scarlet paintbrushes, shocking-pink elephant flowers and more.
Expansive valleys that make you feel small, gushing waterfalls and still, sky-mirroring waters await on alpine lake trails. Family-friendly hikes like the short loop to Rainbow Lake pass through evergreens and lead to quiet spots by the water’s edge.
Meanwhile, folks seeking a challenge can join a guided hike to the summit of a fourteener like Quandary Peak, where the air is crisp and the elevation is high. From far above the trees, the view opens up to jagged ridgelines stretching into the distance and rocky expanses that unfold in every direction. Tip: Be sure to follow Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles to help protect Colorado’s natural beauty.
Rock Climbing
Summer brings out Colorado's rich shades of green and colorful splashes of wildflowers, and the sights you’ll take in while rock climbing make the effort worth every pull and reach. Introductory courses cover the basics like anchor building, top-roping and rescue techniques while prioritizing safety. You can start with a half-day outing to learn the fundamentals, opt for a full day that lets you lead with a guide or take on a two-day climb to push your skills even higher.
Other Summer Activities With Colorado Adventure Guides:
- If you have the time — and the grit — join a guided one- or two-day mountaineering excursion and reach for the sky.
Fall: Mountain Biking & Mountaineering
Mountain Biking
With wind brushing your face and your heart pounding, mountain biking offers a faster, thrill-filled way to explore the mountains. Colorado Adventure Guides leads mountain-biking tours along forested paths, old mining roads and rugged off-road terrain.
Areas in and around Winter Park are home to some of the state’s best mountain-biking destinations, like the singletrack winding through quiet forests of pines and glowing golden aspens on Idlewild Trail.
Meanwhile, shuttled mountain-biking routes include scenic rides like the Peaks Trail, a forested path with varying terrain that connects Breckenridge to Frisco. Adults who are beginners can get a feel for drops, jumps and technical riding, while kids can pedal into the youth mountain-bike day camp to learn basics like gear shifting and balance with hands-on guidance.
Mountaineering
Want more altitude? Colorado Adventure Guides leads full-day mountaineering trips on which advanced climbers grip rocks and test their limits. Kelso Ridge up Torreys Peak is a favorite, blending steep scrambles with rewarding views of rolling peaks and valleys. For a classic high-alpine push, the Tenmile Traverse lets you conquer 8,500 feet of elevation and rewards with panoramic autumn colors.
Other Fall Activities With Colorado Adventure Guides:
- Whitewater rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding often run through September, when bold fall colors start to show along the water, especially on the Colorado River near Rancho Del Rio.
- Head out on the hiking trails to catch sight of the changing leaves, with red, orange and gold spreading across hillsides and valleys.
Winter: AIARE Avalanche Program, Winter Peak Ascents & More
AIARE Avalanche Program
To prepare for winter recreation in the high country, turn to Colorado Adventure Guides’ AIARE avalanche education program. Courses start with an introduction to the backcountry, during which you’ll unpack the basics of snow science, get hands-on with gear and learn how to move safely through stacked snow and shifting alpine terrain.
AIARE Level 1 and AIARE Level 2 courses lay the groundwork for backcountry safety, teaching you how to spot avalanche terrain, make fast decisions under pressure and use life-saving tools like beacons, shovels and probes if a slide occurs. Conditions in the backcountry can change in seconds, but these programs give you resources to help you travel more safely through avalanche terrain.
Winter Peak Ascents
Guided winter peak ascent tours offer big adventure and even bigger payoffs. You might start with a steady climb up a local peak like Buffalo Mountain (elevation 12,781 feet) or Grizzly Peak (elevation 13,996 feet), or aim for one of the area’s many fourteeners — mountains with summits above 14,000 feet. Guides are there every step of the way, including the 3,500-foot push up Quandary Peak, from which you can see snow blanketing Summit County below and might catch the rustling sounds of ptarmigan in their downy-white winter plumage.
Ice Climbing
As soon as waterfalls freeze, ice climbing season begins. Whether you’re swinging an ice axe for the first time or already know the ropes, Colorado Adventure Guides tailors the session to your skill level. It’s a hands-on winter activity that even families with kids can learn.
Guides walk you through the basics, teaching you how to grip an ice axe, kick in with crampons and move steadily up a frozen wall. You’ll find accessible climbs in places like Chalk, which is accessible for beginners, or swing your tools at East Vail’s iconic feature, The Fang — a towering frozen waterfall shaped like a giant icicle.
Guided Hut Trips
After a day out in deep snow, warming up with tea inside a remote backcountry hut hits just right. Colorado Adventure Guides has access to nine huts sitting among snow-draped trees, offering cozy spots to settle in after carving fresh turns on skis, forging your own path on snowshoes or mountaineering to new heights.
Huts like Carner’s Cabin sit at 11,700 feet in San Isabel National Forest, while Broome Hut rests on the west side of Berthoud Pass. Francie’s Cabin draws the most guests, situated near 11,300 feet in the scenic Crystal Lakes drainage of the Tenmile Range in a true alpine setting of windswept peaks.
The trip starts with your guide reviewing the planned route, then spending the day skiing or splitboarding on sparkling slopes, and in the evening trading stories over a shared meal by the fire. If you’re hoping to explore the backcountry on your own someday, avalanche-focused hut trips teach you how to read terrain and make smart decisions in real time.
Other Winter Activities With Colorado Adventure Guides:
- Trek through powdery snow on a snowshoeing tour for serene winter views, while your guide shares fun facts about the area you’re exploring.
- Let the snow drift past you as you move through steep ridgelines on backcountry skis or a splitboard.
Spring: Backcountry Skiing, Splitboarding & Snowshoeing
Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
Spring is often Colorado’s snowiest season — and with all that bonus snow, the season also brings longer days, warmer temperatures, safer avalanche conditions and more time to chase daylight on the powder. Make the most of it by locking into your skis or splitboard for heart-pounding turns through fresh tree stashes and glades.
Guided tours lead you uphill into untouched terrain that’s perfect for folks experienced in chasing the thrills of blacks on resort slopes. Depending on the trip, you might reach a frosted summit or glide through wintry meadows. Think wide-open descents and fluffy, fresh tracks.
Snowshoeing Tours
Get your cardio in and embrace the scenic solitude of Colorado Adventure Guides’ snowshoe tours. This peaceful winter activity lets you slow down and savor the outdoors, each step pressing into pillow-soft snow. And the sport is easy to learn, making it a solid choice for families — especially kids eager to leave their first tracks.
With each breath, take in backcountry stillness as you’re guided through quiet meadows framed by mountain views or into canyons where the hush deepens. There’s also the Salt Lick tour, a variety of trails including an easygoing trek through tall pines and sunlit aspen groves, which eventually lands you near the ice-ringed waters of Lake Dillon.
Other Spring Activities With Colorado Adventure Guides:
- Guided peak ascent tours bring brisk mountain air and stunning views of sunlit snow across the valley.
Want More?
Learn more about Colorado Adventure Guides
