Whitewater Rafting in Aspen and Snowmass

Aspen

For the truly adventurous, Blazing Adventures (48 Upper Village Mall, Snowmass Village. 970/923-4544 or 800/282-7238. www.blazingadventures.com) runs mild to wild excursions on the Shoshone, Upper Roaring Fork, and lower Colorado rivers.

Glenwood Springs

When the ski season is over and Colorado's white gold starts to melt, many ski instructors swap their sticks for paddles and hit the mighty Colorado River for the spring and summer rafting seasons. Stomach-churning holes, chutes, and waves beckon adrenaline junkies, while calmer souls will revel in the shade of Glenwood Canyon's towering walls.

All the outfitters below offer a basic half-day raft trip on the Colorado for $43.

Blue Sky Adventures (319 Hwy. 6. 970/945-6605 or 877/945-6605) offers a unique "pedal and paddle" deal with a half-day raft trip followed by a half-day bike tour.

If you're the independent type, lead your own white-water rafting adventure by putting in at the boat ramp operated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (County Rd. 106. 970/947-2920). It's on the Roaring Fork River, just east of town. Colorado Whitewater Rafting (I-70 at Exit 114. 970/945-8477 or 800/993-7238) is home of the "Double Shoshone," a round-trip through the area's most hair-raising rapids. Rock Gardens Rafting (129, ., 129, . 970/945-6737 or 800/958-6737) runs trips down the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers, and operates a full-service campground on the banks of the Colorado.