Learn more about our trips:

White Water Rafting Trips

Rafting trips on six rivers from 1/4 day to 10 days in length.

Arkansas River White Water Rafting Trips, CO

America’s most popular river near Denver & Colorado Springs.

Salt River Trips, Arizona

World-class whitewater near Phoenix & Tucson.

Family Rafting Trips

Choose from a variety of family & group-friendly rafting trips.

Royal Gorge & Numbers

The most challenging rafting trips on the Arkansas River.

Multi-Day Getaways

Rafting combined with riverside camping or bed & breakfasts.

Land-Based Adventures

Enjoy a horseback ride, Jeep tour or downhill mountain bike trip.

Dolores River Rafting

White water rafting through a magical Desert Canyon on Colorado’s Dolores River

The Dolores is a classic western river, unspoiled, with a majestic desert backdrop. In May and early June we take advantage of the warm temperatures and early season runoff to raft this exceptional wilderness river. Enormous Ponderosa pines grow in stark contrast with a landscape of red and orange sandstone cliffs. This results in a striking kaleidoscope of color unique to the Dolores River as the scenery changes through five major western life zones, from the alpine life zone at its headwaters to Upper Sonoran desert terrain along much of its lower reaches.

The traverse of the Dolores takes one through an area as interesting for its history as for its rare natural beauty. It is not known who named the Rio de Nuestra Senora de las Dolores (River of our Lady of Sorrows) and when they did so, but the Spaniards knew it by that name when Dominquez and Escalante joined it near the present day town of Dolores, Colorado on August 11, 1776. They were searching for a northern route to the California missions. The unspoiled character encountered by Dominquez and Escalante remains today.

Dolores River Trips:

The Dolores River is located about 30 miles northwest of Cortez Colorado, home of Mesa Verde National Park. It is west of Telluride and Durango and within easy driving distance.

Dolores River Resources:

>>> Dolores River Rafting Map Overview
>>> Photos of the Dolores River
>>> Directions and Packing Lists
>>> Trip Itineraries – Dolores River
>>> Regional Highway Map