Explore Trips
Gunnison River Pleasure Park, 8949 Pleasure Park Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419
One day just isn’t enough
Journeying through spectacular canyon scenery, the Gunnison Gorge in western Colorado lies below the Black Canyon National Park, providing a secluded retreat that spans 14 miles and two days of wilderness adventure.
A 7-mile rough 4x4 trail and then a mile hike down the Chukar Trail brings us to the river and the narrow canyon carved through the polished Proterozoic schist and gneiss formations. The first day of Gunnison Gorge rafting brings mild rapids and crystal clear pools that punctuate the journey, while the second day presents a narrowing canyon, a steeper river gradient, and exciting pool-drop rapids that appear one after another, requiring intricate maneuvering or a wild dash through boat-swamping holes and waves.
With its unique blend of thrilling adventure and serene beauty, the Gunnison River rafting trip is an absolute must-do for any bucket list.
This overnight Gunnison Gorge raft trip is a fantastic excursion for any group with participants at least eight years old. Venturing out into the Colorado wilderness with children can sound like a logistical nightmare, but when you book your trip with Arkansas River Tours, we take care of all the details. All you have to do is pack up your camp gear and enjoy the trip!
This trip is a fantastic way for kids to get a feel for remote camping in a controlled environment or embark on an easy friends reunion with all the tough planning covered by our team. From scout groups to family reunions to weekend getaways, everyone can experience the beauty of Gunnison Gorge!
Location: Gunnison River Pleasure Park
Requirements: Minimum age of 8, some paddling required
Trip Length: Two days
Adventure Level: Class III-IV rapids
Journeying through spectacular canyon scenery, the Gunnison Gorge in western Colorado lies below the Black Canyon National Park, providing a secluded retreat that spans 14 miles and two days of wilderness adventure.
A 7-mile rough 4x4 trail and then a mile hike down the Chukar Trail brings us to the river and the narrow canyon carved through the polished Proterozoic schist and gneiss formations. The first day of Gunnison Gorge rafting brings mild rapids and crystal clear pools that punctuate the journey, while the second day presents a narrowing canyon, a steeper river gradient, and exciting pool-drop rapids that appear one after another, requiring intricate maneuvering or a wild dash through boat-swamping holes and waves.
With its unique blend of thrilling adventure and serene beauty, the Gunnison River rafting trip is an absolute must-do for any bucket list.
This overnight Gunnison Gorge raft trip is a fantastic excursion for any group with participants at least eight years old. Venturing out into the Colorado wilderness with children can sound like a logistical nightmare, but when you book your trip with Arkansas River Tours, we take care of all the details. All you have to do is pack up your camp gear and enjoy the trip!
This trip is a fantastic way for kids to get a feel for remote camping in a controlled environment or embark on an easy friends reunion with all the tough planning covered by our team. From scout groups to family reunions to weekend getaways, everyone can experience the beauty of Gunnison Gorge!
Location: Gunnison River Pleasure Park
Requirements: Minimum age of 8, some paddling required
Trip Length: Two days
Adventure Level: Class III-IV rapids
Gunnison River Pleasure Park, 8949 Pleasure Park Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419
Gunnison River Pleasure Park, 8949 Pleasure Park Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419
One day just isn’t enough
This tour encompasses adventure at its finest. Accessing the river requires a 7-mile rough 4×4 trail followed by a 1.5 mile hike down into the gorge. Once in the gorge, you will journey through the remote canyon navigating various class III whitewater and stunning geography.
This river has some amazing campsites with sandy beaches and shaded areas. Camping out in the middle of nowhere under the millions of stars is a treat that not many get to experience.
During the day, there are fishing and hiking opportunities that will provide stunning views from above the gorge. There is also an opportunity to go spelunking on the Smith Fork!
Your overnight Gunnison Gorge adventure starts with a meetup at Gunnison River Pleasure Park. Aim to get to our meeting spot by 7:15 am for a prompt start.
Our team will have already organized the gear, planned the meals, and found the campsite, so you don’t have to. We will provide each guest with a large dry bag to securely pack all of their personal gear so everyone has everything they need for the trip. Once our guides check you in, it’s time to suit up in our provided life jackets and head to the put-in.
After we tackle the rugged 7-mile 4×4 trail, everyone takes a beautiful mile-long hike down the Chukar Trail to the river. Each guest will carry their personal gear. The narrow canyon carves through the polished Proterozoic schist and gneiss formations for a beautiful natural gateway to kick off the trip!
Day one of Gunnison Gorge rafting brings mild rapids and crystal clear pools punctuating the journey. We will meander down calm parts of the river, with ample opportunities to tan, take a dip, or pull over and hop on a leg-stretching hike. Day one has especially stunning hiking opportunities that will take you to fantastic views of the gorge from above.
Day two has a bright and early wake-up to enjoy a hot camp breakfast and hop on the whitewater! This section of the river includes a narrow stretch of water and a steeper river gradient, which leads to more exciting water and wild pool-drop rapids. These jump up one after the other, almost like heading down big whitewater stairs! These class III rapids are a great time for everyone, from rafting newbies to seasoned paddlers. You’ll fly over rapids like Boulder Garden, Jumpin’ Jack Splash, Cable Rapid, and Grand Finale. When we pass Smith Fork, there is a unique opportunity to try your hand at spelunking through some of the interesting caves in the area!
Past guests say the camping experience is almost as fun as rafting the river itself! When we reach the campsite, the late afternoon and evening will be full of gold medal trout fishing in nearby pools, laying on sandy beaches, swimming in a calm eddy, eating delicious guide-cooked food, and relaxing around the fire. The remote wilderness takes us far away from any light pollution of the city, so you can also ogle at the millions of visible stars on clear nights.
You will finish the trip around 4 pm the second day, so you will have enough time to explore Gunnison and find a cute restaurant to enjoy a well-deserved meal and toast to a wonderful time in the Colorado wilderness.
Rafting the Gunnison River
The Gunnison Gorge overnight trip offers a front-row seat to remote, secluded Colorado beauty. Our team will seamlessly execute your excursion into the remote wilderness of Gunnison Gorge, a logistically challenging trip without help.
The first stretch of the trip has calmer water that allows you to take in your surroundings and enjoy the sun, the current, and your company. There are even opportunities to hop off the boat for a lazy river swim, scenic hike, or fishing break in one of the many fishing hotspots along the river. There is also a chance to go spelunking on the Smith Fork! The second day ramps it up a notch with some class III-IV pool drop rapids that are a blast to conquer.
Adjacent to the remarkable Black Canyon National Park, Gunnison Gorge has impressive scenery, from vibrantly colored rock faces to dramatic cliffs and formations. You’ll raft through wide-open spaces, perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a lazy river dip, to towering sheer canyon faces that create a scenic chute for the rapids-filled section of the river.
What’s included:
What’s not included:
We recommend staying in Hotchkiss, CO or Delta, CO the night before for easy access to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park.
We have select dates for this river and they range between May and September. Check out our calendar for open dates!
Per the forest service regulations, we are only allowed 12 people per campsite and this includes staff members. Up to 8 guests can attend per launch.
Transportation to and from the river, meals, PFD/life jacket, wetsuits, and splash jacket. Wetsuits and camping gear are available for rent.
We will provide you with a dry bag to pack all of your personal gear into. Please remember that you have to carry all of your personal gear down into the gorge so don’t over pack!
We recommend staying in Hotchkiss, CO or Delta, CO the night before for easy access to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park.
We have select dates for this river and they range between May and September. Check out our calendar for open dates!
Per the forest service regulations, we are only allowed 12 people per campsite and this includes staff members. Up to 8 guests can attend per launch.
Transportation to and from the river, meals, PFD/life jacket, wetsuits, and splash jacket. Wetsuits and camping gear are available for rent.
We will provide you with a dry bag to pack all of your personal gear into. Please remember that you have to carry all of your personal gear down into the gorge so don’t over pack!
We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch customer service and are here to assist you in any way we can. Let us know how we can help!
If you'd prefer, email us at info@arkansasrivertours.com or call 1.800.321.4352.
Since our inception in 1973, Arkansas River Tours has been committed to providing the safest, highest-quality river trips available.
Phone: 1.719.942.4362
info@arkansasrivertours.com
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