FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The easiest way is to book online — you can browse all available trips, check dates, and secure your spot in minutes. Prefer to talk to someone? Call us at (970) 372-2870 and we'll get you sorted.

It depends on your group — age, experience, and how much adventure you're after. For most adults, we recommend Clear Creek Intermediate. For families with young kids, Clear Creek Beginner or the Upper Colorado scenic float are great picks. For a full breakdown of every trip with honest recommendations by scenario, check out our Need Help Deciding? guide — or take our 2-minute trip finder quiz.

Yes — reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekends and peak summer months (June–August). We do occasionally have same-day availability, but we can't guarantee a spot without a booking. Reserving in advance ensures you get the trip, date, and time you want.

Without trip insurance, we hold to a 7-day cancellation policy — cancellations made at least 7 days before your trip are eligible for a full refund or reschedule. If you add trip insurance at booking, you have the flexibility to reschedule or cancel up until 24 hours before your scheduled trip. If we ever have to cancel due to unsafe river or weather conditions, you'll receive a full refund or reschedule at no cost to you — no questions asked.

Absolutely. We specialize in group trips for corporate outings, school groups, family reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and more. Visit our Groups page for details or call us to discuss your event. We can accommodate groups of all sizes and customize the experience to fit your needs.

Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet — you will get wet. A swimsuit is ideal under a wetsuit (provided by us in cooler months). Avoid cotton, which gets cold and heavy when wet. Bring a change of dry clothes for after the trip. Secure footwear is required — water shoes or sandals with heel straps work great. No flip-flops.

Leave valuables at home or in your vehicle. Loose jewelry, expensive sunglasses, and items you can't afford to lose should stay behind. Glass containers are not permitted on any trip. Flip-flops and open-toe shoes without straps are not allowed on the water for safety reasons.

Yes. We provide high-quality wetsuits when conditions call for them — typically spring through early summer when water temperatures are coldest. All essential safety gear including helmets, personal flotation devices (PFDs/life jackets), and paddles are always provided. You just need to show up ready to have fun.

You're welcome to bring a phone or camera, but understand that it may get wet and we can't be responsible for damaged electronics. Waterproof cases and action cameras (like a GoPro) mounted securely are a great option. We recommend leaving expensive gear in your vehicle unless it's fully waterproofed and secured to your person.

Our Idaho Springs location is our base for Clear Creek trips, located just off I-70 near Idaho Springs, CO. Our Kremmling location serves Colorado River and Gore Canyon trips near Kremmling, CO. Exact meeting point details and directions are included in your booking confirmation email. If you have questions, call us at (970) 372-2870.

Trip lengths vary depending on the run. Clear Creek trips range from 2.5 to 3 hours total depending on the run. Colorado River trips range from a half-day to a full day, with multi-day overnight options available. Plan to arrive 30–45 minutes before your scheduled launch time for check-in, gear fitting, and guide orientation.

Our guides work incredibly hard to make your trip safe, fun, and memorable — and like most service industries, gratuity is a meaningful part of how they're compensated. If your guide took great care of you on the water, a show of generosity is always warmly received and genuinely goes a long way.

No experience necessary. We offer beginner-friendly trips specifically designed for first-timers, and our guides provide a full pre-trip safety briefing and paddling tutorial before you hit the water. Many of our most enthusiastic guests are complete beginners. Just show up with an adventurous attitude and we'll handle the rest.

Yes! Minimum age requirements vary by trip and difficulty level. Our beginner Clear Creek trips are accessible for children as young as 4 years old. More advanced runs such as Gore Canyon have a higher minimum age (typically 16) due to difficulty and physical demands. Check the specific trip page for age and weight requirements, or contact us and we'll help you find the right fit for your family.

Whitewater rafting is an adventure activity with inherent risk, but with professional guides and proper equipment, the risk is well managed. We mitigate risk at every level — from the gear we use, to the training our guides undergo, to the thorough safety briefing every guest receives before launching. We take safety more seriously than anything else we do.

It happens — and our guides train extensively for it. Before every trip, your guide will walk you through exactly what to do if you end up in the water: feet up, toes pointed downstream, float on your back until your guide retrieves you. Everyone wears a properly fitted PFD at all times. Our guides are Swift Water Rescue certified and respond immediately and calmly.

Yes — all of our guides are current in CPR and First Aid, trained in Swift Water Rescue, and hold active Colorado guide licensing. Guide qualifications are non-negotiable at Liquid Descent. You can meet the crew here.

The consumption of alcohol and/or marijuana is strictly prohibited before or during your rafting trip. This is a non-negotiable safety policy — no exceptions.

We run our trips rain or shine. We provide all the gear you need to stay warm, so a little inclement weather just adds to the experience — you're going to get wet anyway! There's an old saying in Colorado: "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes." Storms can roll in and out in a matter of minutes, and more often than not we'll start a trip under dark clouds and finish under blue skies. That's just Colorado — and honestly, it's part of what makes it so great. That said, in the rare event of unsafe conditions, we will postpone or cancel for your safety, and you'll always receive a full refund or reschedule at no cost.