Last Update: 07/19/1999 - Jens Moller

Texas Creek - Midway between Canon City and Salida on Route 50

I've wanted go White Water Rafting for the last 15 years, but never made the effort to try it. I decided that it looked like a great thing to do, and I'd regret it if is didn't try it sometime in my life. So, I took my daughter and a friend of hers and we went. There are many places on either the Colorado River or the Arkansas River in Colorado where you can take a guided White Water Rafting trip. You could buy your own raft and go anywhere you wanted, but you'd have to come up with a few thousand dollars to buy a raft that was built for this sort of service and then you'd have to know the river very well. All in all, its much more intelligent to find a River Rafting company that deals with the river on a daily basis and lets you use their gear while you enjoy it. You'll have a great and wet time.

The safety session with the Guide. All aspects of rescue are discussed, paddle usage and how to use your feet to stay in the raft.

Getting ready to launch the raft

We chose to go along the Arkansas River. If you do the same, you'll see River rafting services from Canon City all the way up to Buena Vista along Route 50 and 285 along the Arkansas River. The biggest rapids are along the start and finish of the river between these 2 cities. The water movement/rapids are measured in levels.

From my discussion with the Guide this is what I recall about the ranking. Level 1 is smooth moving water. 2 has small whitecaps. 3 is moderate rapids. 4 is lively rapids. 5 is very strong rapids. 6 is dangerous rapids (No licensed Rafting company is allowed to take paying customers on level 6 rapids).

There are many businesses providing a rafting service - I preferred to find one that was not as busy as some of the others. I like the more personal service that some of the smaller operators provide. From Colorado Springs, I took a short trip thru Canon City, past the Royal Gorge on Route 50 and out about midway between Canon City and Salida.

We skipped the Rafting companies immediately west of Canon City and went to Adventure Sports at Texas Creek. There were no crowds and we got right in as walk-ins. There are Rafting services near Buena Vista and Salida too - its a long river and there are plenty of interesting places to see along it.

Before getting onto a raft in the water, you go thru a training session. You are fitted with a life vest that is snugged down onto you, almost to the point where it feels too tight - but there is a reason. If you fall out of the raft, you are pulled in using the top of the life vest, and not your arms. This is a safety measure. Another thing that you learn is that you stay in the raft by wedging your feet under the edges of the raft - its designed to work this way. The goal is to give you something to hang onto without using your hands. There is training on how to use the paddles not only to steer and control the raft, but also how to use it safely to pull someone out of the water. If there is a problem, everyone works as a team to help whoever needs help.

This training was particularly useful since I was the person who managed to fall out of the raft while going thru some rapids. All I got was wet - I was back in the raft shortly after I took a dunk. Had both of my feet been hooked under the edge, I would have stayed in - I discovered that its a bit harder to hang on if you are in the very front, which is where I sat so I could take pictures - I made the mistake of only hooking one foot while I turned to snap a a few photos.

Jesse and Anna waiting to get splashed

Looking at level 2 moving water from the river

They had disposable waterproof cameras on sale at the shop where we signed up. I was glad that I bought one. I hung it from the 2nd latch on my life vest for the trip. It didn't mind the dunk in the river at all. My Digital Camera wouldn't have taken kindly to it. We took the half day trip. This consisted of 9 1/2 miles of travel on the river. Most places offer half day, full day and multi-day trips. Please call to verify the prices that I mention below.

The prices started at 35.00 per person for a half day trip in the milder part of the river (level 1 thru some level 3 rapids). If you have kids under 16, t his is probably where you'll go since they need to be at least 16 to take on some of the more aggressive rapids (level 4 or 5). The trip is longer if you go thru the faster rapids and it costs a little more. We stopped about half way on a little beach area and my Daughter and her friend swam and jumped off of a ledge, while wearing their life vests, into a deep part of the river - Its great to have a guide who knows the river. On full day and multi-day trips you will stop off for meals.

Our Guide knew a safe beach area were we could stop and play in the water. The Arkansas is a river fed by gold producing streams and you can successfully pan for gold here too, if you know where - drop me a line if you'd like to try it.

They like to depart at 8:00 am and 1:00 pm for their half day trips, but I suggest that you call ahead and find out what the current schedules and weather is like. In May and early June, the water is fairly high. We went in mid July and the water level was great and not too cold. Remember that the water in the Arkansas River here come from melting snows in the Mountains only 50 to 100 miles from where you start your trip, it might be refreshing depending on how hot it is on your trip. They had wet suits and other things to help keep you warm if wanted to rent them. They also have a changing area that you get out of your wet clothes after the trip. You will get wet.

Reccomended items to bring along: Clothes that dry quickly. Rubber Soled Shoes. Swim Suits or Cut Offs (Short pants). Sun Block/Sun Tan Lotion. Sunglasses. Safety Straps to hang onto your eyeglasses. Change of clothes at the end of the trip. I had a great time and was sore the next morning from all the paddling we did. The raft is full of air, but its not soft to sit on - its inflated very tight.

Right after I got dunked

According to our guide, level 4 rapids appear on the trips between Texas Creek and thru the Royal Gorge. There are also level 4 rapids on trips starting at Buena Vista and Salida. There are level 5 rapids up near Buena Vista. If you want adventure, and you are over 16, these are the places to start your trip.

NOTE: I have no association with Adventure Sports Texas Creek. It just happened to be who I did my rafting trip with. If you want to contact them to make reservations or find out about their availability for a river trip, call - In the USA - (719) 275-8828, (800)-342-5134 or ridewave@ris.net.

Comments? Questions? contact Jens Moller

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