Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting - Beginner Outpost — Local services in Idaho Springs

If there was a higher star value, I would definitely use it for this place. I was on a business trip for work but decided to take my kids and my 70+ year old mom with me so we could road trip it and share some memories and experiences that we may not be able to get all together again. We were thinking of things that we could possibly do such as maybe the zoo, whitewater rafting, etc. When my mom did me a solid and started up looking up places and reading reviews, this place obviously caught her attention for a couple reasons... availability, reviews, price and of course customer service. I leave that part up to her because she knows I am big on those things. Everything seemed to work out as far as our dates aligning with what they had available and the price point was perfect for what we got with our ride so we were excited. We showed up a little early and as soon as we walked in the young lady at the front desk was super nice and helpful and just got is going and even recommended (HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO) to get the go pro helmet. U want to take pictures and video but believe me it is NOT easy especially if you are a first timer. We got our rin down before we started the changing scenario which I highly recommend as well(wet socks & jacket & suit). Jordon was super great and funny but also very knowledgeable about making SURE you were aware of what u were about to do and go thru and could handle. Even though it SOUNDED really intimidating...once you get out there it makes sense and it is very helpful. When we walked down there was another company that was down there giving like on dry land in the boat next to the water instructions which at the time we wondered why we didn't get that but when we were on the boat in the water it helped so much more to understand the instructions they were getting but we got them IN the water. This guy was great and so helpful and incredibly reassuring. My mom is 70+ and at the end of the ride...she LOVED IT. We did the beginner with two younger guys and the four of us and our instructor Jordan and it was amazing! He had music playing, but also gave us little tid bits here and there when we came up to certain points. The ride was AWESOME! My kids and I AND my mom can't wait to plan our next rafting ride with Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting! There IS a photographer that also took pics at a certain point and it was awesome to see and everything from start to finish was unforgettable! highly recommended going with this group. They are family owned and may not be the biggest out there or the fanciest but you can tell they know their stuff and take pride in...

We had an amazing time with Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting and our river guide Nate! I took my family of five for a day trip to Idaho Springs, where the highlight was the rafting trip — and it didn't disappoint. I recommend visiting in late May or June to experience higher and faster water for an exhilarating journey down the beautiful river. Even during our visit in July, the water was still moving pretty well, making it a great trip for families with children age 14+. We had some close calls navigating the rapids and even witnessed a raft flipping over completely, reminding us to stay alert during the trip.

My wife and I have three sons, ages 15, 18, and 19. During the trip, my oldest son, who boasts of being a big, strong man, humorously declared that he couldn't be unseated from the raft and would be the savior for those who couldn't handle the whitewater rapids. Much to our amusement, he was thrown from the raft on the final class 4 rapid of the trip. With a huge smile on my face, I immediately leaped to his rescue, following the instructor's directions to retrieve the "swimmers" by their PFD (personal flotation device or life jacket), dunk them into the river, and use the momentum of the PFD to pull them back into the raft. The water was only about 5' deep at that point, and it resulted in a hilarious and memorable family moment of a father attempting to 'rescue' his son by dunking him into the frigid waters to pull him back into the raft, while he stood on the riverbed holding the raft and resisting my efforts. It was a day filled with laughter, and we won't ever forget how hard I tried to "rescue" him.

In conclusion, the only change I'd suggest is for the picture-taking staff to position themselves in locations with higher angles to capture all members of each raft. In almost all of the pictures taken of us, at least one person is blocked out by the person in front of them. Considering the $50 price tag, I’d expect more inclusive pictures for sharing on social media and with...

I do not recommend this company for white water rafting. Their lack of safety standards and accountability resulted in a serious, entirely preventable injury to my mother, who suffered a concussion with ongoing complications due to the gross negligence of one of their guides.

While we understand rafting carries inherent risk, this was not a rafting accident—it occurred after the tour ended, when a guide recklessly crashed a boat into ours while we were carrying it along a rocky shore. The impact slammed and pinned my mother and brother against the rocks. Multiple witnesses commented on how hard the crash was. Shockingly, the guide responsible never checked on my mother, and the company offered no first aid, incident report, or follow-up. Later that evening at dinner, she was shaking then passed out. We (and the restaurant) immediately called for an ambulance and she was transported to the ER to check for a brain bleed.

My family has years of rafting experience, including Class IV–V rapids. We chose the intermediate tour (on June 14, 2025) due to scheduling, and the rafting itself was uneventful. However, the lack of professionalism, poor vetting of staff, and total absence of responsibility afterward is unacceptable.

I hope this review serves as a...