Whatever sort of whitewater trip you can arrange, whatever the length, you really should do it! We’re biased, sure, but whitewater rafting is simply one of the most extraordinary adventures that you can have out in the great outdoors: an amazing bonding experience (with family, with friends, with complete strangers), and the chance to literally ride the water cycle as it knits together the landscape.
Here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we offer tours on some of the all-out premier whitewater in Colorado (and North America) that range from half-day to full-day to multi-day rafting trips. If the latter interests you, we’ve prepared the following blog post to help you decide whether multi-day rafting trips in Colorado are right for you. (Hint: We think they most definitely are!)
Multi-Day vs. Day Trips
Day-trip whitewater rafting—which might take place in a single morning or afternoon or stretch across most of the daylight hours for an all-day deal—is great for squeezing into a busy schedule and for getting acquainted with the activity in the first place. It might focus on a gentle float, shoot through a stretch of high-thrills rapids, or—especially on a full-day tour—bridge together some hodgepodge of both.
A multi-day rafting trip, which could be an overnighter or spread across a week or more, combines river-running with a camping expedition, expanding the possibilities and deepening the adventure. Whatever the difficulty level, such an experience goes beyond the legitimate fun and thrills of the single-day version and promises something extra special.
Why You Should Choose a Multi-Day Whitewater Trip
If your schedule allows, you really ought to consider a multi-day rafting trip—at least one on the Arkansas River, surging through such remarkable realms as the Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the world-famous Royal Gorge. Here are a few of the reasons why!
- Dealing With Crowds: Day-trip rafting tends to focus on more popular reaches of the river, whether scenery-drenched Class I-II floats or ultra-adventurous runs through legendary rapids. A multi-day rafting trip often incorporates such high-profile stretches but also allows you to explore less-run, more remote, and otherwise uncrowded, hidden-gem-style reaches of river—a major plus for lovers of wild country and ambiance.
- Adventure for Every Level: Multi-day Arkansas River rafting trips like we offer here at Echo Canyon, emphasize variety, giving you fuller opportunity to combine technical rapids with easy-breezy scenery gazing, or enjoy extended experiences of one or the other.
- Connection With Nature: The more time you have on a river, the more you’ll lock into that intoxicating rhythm of the flow—a welcome change from the harried hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, and something we think everyone should get to experience. There’s a meditative and mindful quality to extended downstream tours on a whitewater river, an in-the-moment vibe that comes alongside increased chances to spot wildlife—not least in those magical hours of dawn and dusk—and to portal through different sorts of (beautiful) landscapes and ecosystems.
Staying Overnight: Camping out along a whitewater river—there’s nothing like it! Bask under star-filled night skies, wake to blazing sunrises amid a birdsong chorus, and enjoy campfire meals and stories in between all the river-running adventure.
Rafting Outfitters With Multi-Day Rafting
For one thing, not all rafting outfitters offer multi-day trips. Such tours necessarily demand more in the logistics department, and not every company has the capacity or experience to pull them off.
Here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we’re proud to offer both single- and multi-day rafting trips of the finest kind, centered on the legendary Arkansas River: one of the greatest whitewater courses in the country. Our two- to three-day group expeditions treat you to sublime river running—from ultra-relaxing flatwater floats to romps through stellar rapids—enhanced by delicious meals cooked by your guides at beautifully situated Rocky Mountain campsites.
Pick the Perfect Rafting Trip With Echo Canyon
There are so many reasons to go with Echo Canyon River Expeditions for a multi-day rafting trip in Colorado. We guide on some of the most hallowed whitewater in the country, and on top of the well-run campouts that define our multi-day tours, we’ve got a fine partner in Royal Gorge Cabins: You can easily tack on a stay in a decked-out cabin or glamping tent here in Cañon City, Colorado to your on-the-river odyssey and thereby enjoy a truly unforgettable getaway that’s equal parts outdoor adventure and rustic-luxe R&R.
Choose Echo Canyon if you’re seeking the ultimate, personalized multi-day rafting adventure. Book our rafting packages for an exceptional experience from start to finish, from stunning natural surroundings to great accommodations.
