Raft Trips

Parkdale, Colorado Big Horn Sheep Canyon III+

BIG HORN SHEEP CANYON (21 miles):
The Canyon walls open to stunning views of the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains rising to over 14,000 feet. Stretching between Salida, Cotopaxi and Parkdale, these rapids are less technical than Browns Canyon but no less exciting for an introductory river experience. Class III+

ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY

From mountain slopes of pinon pine, juniper and cholla cactus populated by big horn sheep herds … to the summits of the Collegiate Peaks, Mount Oxford, Princeton, Harvard and Yale… to the rapid-filled canyons of the Arkansas River, the Arkansas River Valley offers a world of adventures for you and your family. Explore this magical part of America’s old west with horseback riding, (day or overnight) mountain biking, hiking, visit a hot springs or take four-wheel-drive tour of this area’s ghost towns. Dvorak Expeditions offers you a great way to experience the wildlife and the wilderness within spectacular river valley.

*Colorado Govt. Use Fees of $3.00 flat fee for half day trips or 5.25% for full day trips and a sur-charge of 5% will be added to these fees. The sur-charge is 4% for fuel and 1% is going toward the Upper Arkansas Land Trust. Please use this link for more information.

What to Bring:
Please see our packing list and answers to common questions.

To see dates for any of these trips, choose a trip from the option box and press the submit button above. Once you are registered, you will get a confirmation email from Dvorak Expeditions for your trip.

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Responsibility Waiver
Dvorak Expeditions will assume no responsibility for injury to trip members, damage or loss of belongings or for time or expense incurred as the result of a Dvorak Expeditions trip. We require you to read and sign a liability release form prior to your trip as well as a health questionnaire.

Because of the risk associated with river trips, including possible personal injury, property loss and financial loss in the event of cancellation, we strongly urge all trip participants to obtain vacation insurance.

Forms We Need:
Please return the following forms to us via mail as soon as you have booked your trip:
Trip Questionnaire - Passenger List - Rental Request
Vacation Insurance Form - use the below information for online viewing.
Medical Risk Form

Meeting Place & Time:
Parkdale base at 8:15am or for an afternoon trip 12:15pm.
You can view our map.

BY PLANE:
Major airports are Denver International or Colorado Springs; rental car or van from there to the Arkansas Valley. Car rentals are available in Denver or Colorado Springs. There are "limited" jeep and domestic rental vehicles available in the Arkansas valley by prior arrangement.
Salida and Buena Vista, Colorado have small aircraft facilities and charter flights only are available with adequate numbers for charter.
Arrive in Salida or Buena Vista, Colorado the day prior to the trip.

By Car:
To reach our Parkdale/Royal Gorge Base, take Hwy 50 west from Colorado Springs through Canon City. We are located about 10 miles west of Canon City on Hwy 50. Coming from the north, take Hwy 285 through Nathrop which joins with Hwy 50 east, via Hwy 291 through Salida.

Arrive at the appropriate base by either 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. (depending on trip) on the first day, or 1:00 for an afternoon trip. You will meet your guides at the Royal Gorge base (see map). Special arrangements can be made to pick you up at your lodging by 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the first day. The travel time to the river by bus/van varies with each canyon and start point. Confirm prior to start date.
There is a secure parking area at Dvorak Expedition base for you to leave your belongings.

PRE- AND POST-TRIP ARRANGEMENTS
1.You start your whitewater full day with Dvoraks by checking in at the office: (See map and location notes) at 8:30 a.m.

2.Your guides will show the way with fitting out your personal floatation devise (PFD) and they will issue your wetsuit & boots by size for you to fit and dress for the trip. We will have rain jackets and pants for each guest on board the raft in the group dry bag. You can also place your personal items such as (sunscreen, fleece jacket, small towel into this same bag. You might want to place them in a large zip lock bag to keep them easy to view and find all together from the dry bag later in the day. If you have a camera (waterproof), lip sunscreen or items you want to get to often a fanny pack works great to wear.

3. Once you have gathered up your items for the day you will take your PFD, personal items and wetsuit/boots and make your way to the bus or van for transportation by Dvoraks will be provided to the river “Put In” launch.

4.NOTE: You want to make sure that you have left your keys at the front desk with the attendant and locked your valuables into your car. Your things are safe on our private property. On return from the trip you’ll have your keys ready for you to change into dry items, shower etc. The shop will have photos, t-shirts and many fun items for your whitewater souvenirs.

5.Your travel time from the Parkdale River Center to the launch site is about 15 minutes.

6.Once you arrive at the river your guides will direct you to the area where they will give you the safety talk and demonstrate the techniques for your raft crew; i.e. paddle where each person will paddle thru the rapids with the guide instructor or ride the rapids on an oar powered by your guide at the 10’ oars. Launch onto the river should be about 9:30 a.m. Now you’re on your way and a full day of wild rapids class II & III lots of adrenaline that will come and go as you cover about 18 miles of river in a full day.

7.Now there is still half a day left and you will stop for a deli lunch prepared by your Dvorak staff... Cold drinks, fresh fruits, and deli sandwiches you create yourself. Chips and cookies for the sweet tooth and always-fresh water for you throughout the day.

8.You will finish the day with some great rapids and in the quiet spots, it might be the time to water war with those on the other rafts. Time for paybacks from an earlier soaking you got.

9. No more bus rides as your trip will finish right at the beach at the Parkdale River Center. A short walk up the hill to the change rooms, showers and your vehicle. BONUS: We offer private camping to our guests exclusively. On-site tents, tent sites and the large pavilion for Bar B.Q.’s.

10.Back at the center, you can revisit your day’s events with your guide and see those Great photos taken of you and your family or group that day. Don’t forget the “Dry” t-shirt and take one home to those that missed this fantastic day on the Arkansas River’s Big Horn Sheep Canyon!

“I can’t believe we actually saw a whole bunch of Big Horn Sheep right there next to us.” Guest 2003

COME AGAIN AND OFTEN WE ARE HERE ALL SUMMER FOR YOU!

Dvorak Expeditions recommends that you obtain trip vacation insurance in order to protect yourself from any losses you might incur if you suddenly need to cancel your reservation. If you have to cancel your trip and have not obtained trip insurance, we recommend you try to find someone to take your place.

Please read carefully our cancellation policy, below, as it applies in every instance:

One-Day Trips
When cancellation is made 2 days or more prior to departure, all monies are refunded less a 50% (of total trip price) cancellation fee, or the total deposit if it is less than 50% of the trip price.
With less than 2 days notice, no monies are refunded (this includes credit card charges).

Travel Insurance
We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance through Travelex Insurance (please reference locator account # 06-0520 – product # A0105102) in the event you need to cancel your trip with us.

www.travelex-insurance.com
1-800-228-9792
Product No. TR01 05/00
Location No. 06-0520