Three Tips for Finding a Trusted Rafting Outfitter
If you’re planning your first river trip, you want to make sure you choose a rafting outfitter that’s going to make your experience on the river as incredible as it can be. Several factors comprise great river trips. From safety to fun and everything in between, each of those factors should be considered when choosing a rafting outfitter.
We know, considering all of these factors makes the choice sound intimidating. Top it off with the fact Colorado has dozens of raft companies to choose from, and the job borders on overwhelming. However, if you follow our advice, you’re sure to find the rafting company that’s right for you.
While planning, we think everybody should pay attention to these three major details about the river rafting company you intend to book your trip with.
A Spotless Safety Record
The dangers of whitewater are no joke, so you want a river outfitter that has an excellent safety record. It should have the right safety equipment and offer straightforward, easy to understand safety demonstrations that will keep you safe.
Personable Guides
Establishing rapport with people starts with good conversation. Your guide should have the patience to chat with his or her guests as well as be able to talk comfortably about the surrounding wildlife and river history. In return, Your guide will be able to evaluate the comfort level of everyone in the boat before "testing the waters" so to speak. Do you prefer to hit the fun splashy stuff or stay as dry as possible? Either way, a personable guide will make or break your river trip.
Variety of Trips
There is no universal trip right for everybody. Make sure you inform the rafting company about the age, physical condition and swimming ability of each member of your group.
A good river outfitter has a variety of trips to choose from and informed staff who help you find the perfect whitewater rafting trip for you!
Go online for a sense of these factors. When you've narrowed down your options, give them a call and get more details. Ask yourself, are they friendly, do they answer all your questions, are they pushy or don’t seem like they have the time to answer all your questions? You can get a great feel for the company by their reservation staff, as it usually will translate into the guide staff on the river.
Five Reasons Fall Rafting Rocks
Here’s a little secret. Some tourist flock to Colorado to ski, while others come in the summer to hike, raft, and fish. But, did you know fall is actually the ideal time to visit Colorado? And though the river is lower than in the spring and summer, would you ever guess it’s still a great time to raft?
Those of us at KODI Rafting love hitting the river in the fall, and here are five reasons why:
- Fall in Colorado is gorgeous. Aspens change to shades of red and gold making for lovely patches of color throughout the mountains. There’s nothing quite like it, and it’s only available after Labor Day.
- Low water makes for unique adventures. You may not get the big whitewater you get in June, but a rockier ride leads to technical rapids and lots of exciting bumps and turns.
- The crowds are gone, making your trip down the river more intimate. Towns also have fewer tourists, so grabbing a bite to eat or navigating shops and sidewalks is easier.
- With the cooler, but still warm, weather, the fall is a great time to take a dip in some hot springs. Buena Vista boasts two resorts as does Steamboat Springs, which is a short drive from our Kremmling outpost.
- The sun just seems to give off incredible colors in the fall and Colorado’s wildlife becomes more active as it prepares for winter. If you keep a lookout, you might spot a fox, some deer, or even a mountain lion from your raft.
Experience the splendor of a Colorado fall with KODI Rafting. We have dozens of trips to choose from. Give us a call. We’ll hook you up!
Five Reasons to Book a Horseback Riding Trip in Colorado
Sure, we love our rivers here in Colorado, but they’re just one piece of our breathtaking landscapes. Beyond the canyons and banks surrounding our whitewater are tree-filled mountains, wildflower-strewn meadows, snowy peaks, and more. While many people choose to hike into the backcountry to experience all this wonder, we’d like to recommend horseback riding as an alternative method for exploring Colorado’s nooks and crannies.
The following are five reason we think horseback riding in Colorado is the best:
- Colorado is steeped in western heritage, and there's no better way to experience it than firsthand on one of its many ranches.
- Colorado’s mountain vistas always look more stunning with a horse in the picture.
- Children as young as five years old may participate on trail rides, and even little tots under the age of five can take a pony ride at some stables. Take photos of your ride for memories that will last a lifetime.
- Horses are incredible animals. They are large, majestic, and emotional creatures. It's not hard to form an unbreakable bond with horses, even during the short time of your ride. The connection that forms between rider and horse is one you'll always remember.
- Colorado is blessed with an abundance of wide-open spaces and wilderness. Hidden away are mountain trails so rugged, the only way to access them is on foot—or, even better, on hoof!
KODI Rafting makes booking a horseback riding adventure easy. Simply call our reservations specialists, and they’ll set you up. Better yet, pair a horseback ride with a raft trip by booking a Saddle Paddle adventure.
What to Expect on Your KODI Whitewater Rafting Trip
So, you’ve decided to raft. Good for you! In our opinion, a day on the river is better than just about anything else! Whether you’re floating through Browns Canyon National Monument or taking a quick trip down Clear Creek, we want to make sure KODI Rafting is everything you expect us to be.
Once you find the perfect raft trip for your family or group, this is what you can expect during your day on the river.
You’ll arrive at your designated outpost 30 minutes before your trip’s departure. This gives us time to meet and outfit your group and have you fill out a waiver.Since we experience such a variety in weather patterns and water levels throughout the summer, we suggest making a “Game-Time Decision” as to what gear you’ll need for the day. Our expert staff will help with the decision making.
We won’t let you raft without a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and a helmet on most rivers. If you choose to slip into a wetsuit, neoprene booties, or a splash top, you’ll have time to get these, too. You’ll store personal belongings in your car, and we’ll hold onto your keys at each outpost.
At the designated departure time, we’ll head to the put-in where your trip leader will give you a KODI pre-trip briefing. He or she will explain all of the “what-if” questions for the day, just like airline instructions do prior to takeoff.You’ll then be divided into rafts, which hold between six and 10 rafters. Your boat guide will give you a little more instruction as to how to sit in the boat, how to paddle, and how they will call out paddle commands.
If you are out with us for a full day adventure on the Upper Colorado or on the Arkansas River, your guides will prepare a hot riverside meal for you while you snack on an appetizer of veggies and dip. KODI lunches also include lemonade and cookies for dessert.
KODI Rafting works with expert photographers who capture the perfect picture of you working your way down an amazing Colorado river. Strategically positioned, these photographers snap a series of photos of your boat as it passes by. Depending on the river you choose, photos will either be displayed at our outpost for you to review or available online shortly after your trip.
Your time with us isn’t quite over once you reach the take-out. You’ll take a short shuttle back to the outpost, during which time, our guides have been known to pass along a few jokes and point out historic landmarks and points of interest. If you have a good joke, we’re sure your guides could us a little fresh material, so bring along your best stand-up.
Back at the outpost, you’ll be able to get into some dry clothes, enjoy a slide show of your adventure (on most rivers), and shop for souvenirs. We happen to have the largest selection of KODI Rafting apparel in the universe.
A Guide to Tipping Your Raft Guide
Great KODI raft guides turn an average rafting experience into an amazing rafting adventure you’ll remember always. If your KODI raft guide has given you an experience to last a lifetime, consider rewarding him or her with a tip at the end of your trip.
While all river guides can get you down the river, the great ones add excitement and fun while ensuring your safety is their number one concern.
A great whitewater river guide also treats each guest with respect and exhibits genuine enthusiasm toward introducing you to the wonders of the river.
A strong guide adds items such as local historical, area wildlife, or geological information to their conversations in the raft. Most importantly, an excellent guide is flexible and attentive to the needs and queries of rafting guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
So, you want to tip your KODI raft guide. But, how much?
The amount you tip is really up to you. Raft guiding is considered a service industry and many people believe anyone in the service industry, like restaurants, hotel employees, and hairdressers, should get between 10 % to 20% of the total cost of the service. For example, if your trip was $200 and your guide made your experience a memorable one, a $20 – $40 tip would be generous and greatly appreciated!
Tips can be given directly to your guide at the end of your trip or handed off to office personnel at the appropriate KODI outpost. If you forget to tip or run out of money, ask management about using a credit card for tipping. But remember, guides prefer cash.
If you aren’t tipping at all or tipping less than the recommended amount, explain your reasoning. It may make for an awkward moment, but there’s one invaluable word any working stiff can relate to—feedback.
Colorado Rafting Packing List
For many of our rafters, a trip with KODI is their first trip on the river, and almost every one of them is bound to ask, “What should I pack anyway?”
If you’re about to take your first whitewater rafting trip, let us tell you the items you need to pack to make your day on the river as fantastic as possible.
Please know KODI Rafting supplies almost everything you’ll need for your Colorado whitewater raft trip. However, we did say almost everything. Here’s what we suggest you bring:
Comfortable, secure footwear
The best type of footwear to wear are sandals with a secure strap around the ankle. This does not mean Crocs or flip flops, but something secure like Tevas, Chacos, etc. If you don’t have sandals like this, a breathable pair of sneakers works, too. KODI also rents river booties for $5 for a full day and $3 for a half day at some of its outposts.
A bathing suit
Because of Colorado’s quickly changing temperatures and the fact that you may get wet, it’s best to bring layers of clothing on your trip. The base of these layers should be a bathing suit. If it gets hot out, you’ll be happy to be wearing one!
Workout clothing (or synthetic material)
Avoid cotton, jeans, and long pants if possible. Comfortable, quick-drying clothing is great. Any outdoor gear such as neoprene, polypropylene, wool, or fleece is best.
Sunglasses WITH a secure strap
Colorado’s sun is strong and so are many of our rapids. Combine those and you’ll want to make sure your glasses don’t get lost in the river.
Sunscreen
Our beautiful blue skies and high elevation make for crazy sunburns. Always protect yourself with sunscreen.
Water
Not only is paddling a raft a lot of physical work, most of our river trips are at high elevation where water is even more important to stay hydrated. Pack a bottle of water to keep it on hand in the boat.
A pair of clothes to change into after your trip
When you’re done with your trip, you may be wet or cold or both! You’ll be glad to have a pair of dry clothes waiting for you at the take-out.
Give the Gift of Adventure with KODI Rafting
When it comes to gifts, giving things is good but giving experiences is far better. Next time you need to buy a gift, give the gift of adventure. Your friends and family are sure to love an experience they'll remember long after the trip is over.
Even though our rafting and adventure trips run mostly during the summer months, you can give the gift of adventure year-round.
With KODI Rafting, it’s easy to purchase gift certificates online. You can give a dollar amount or choose from our list of rafting or adventure trips. We can even personalize an itinerary for you. Just give us a call and we’ll craft the perfect adventure for your gift.
Some gift ideas…
- Zip Line and Raft the Arkansas River
- $100 toward a KODI Rafting adventure
- Browns Canyon Half Day Raft Trip
- Four hours of stand up paddleboard rental
Gift certificates are perfect for birthdays, holidays, family reunions, anniversaries, and more. What about that upcoming bachelor party or girls getaway? Treat your friends to memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s also possible to send a gift certificate to your recipient’s email along with a personalized message. So, if you’re a last-minute shopper, this is the perfect way to have adventure show up in someone’s inbox right away.
If you have a river or outdoors lover in your life or are looking for a special way to celebrate this summer, consider giving the gift of adventure with KODI Rafting.