Blog & News

  Snow capped peaks. Champagne powder.  Bluebird skies. Small town feel. Natural snow. No lift lines.  These are just a just a handful of the reasons that people choose the Upper Arkansas River Valley in the winter for the skiing, snowmobiling and other snowy adventures here- a place unlike any other in Colorado. But when...

Okay, yes. We love to talk about the magical river valley that we live in, and how stoked we are to be able to raft the Arkansas every single day, all summer long. But truth be told, American Adventure Expeditions is more than just rafting. We’ve got the perfect menu of mountain adventures to fill...

If you’ve spent any time on a raft, hung out with kayakers, or even researched float trips this summer, you’ve likely heard references to a section of the river being “boney” or had someone ask you to grab your “PFD”, and wondered what the heck they were talking about. So here we offer up the...

You know you just can’t get enough of Colorado when you move here for the winter skiing and find yourself looking for a way to stay all summer long. That’s exactly how many of us river guides find our way to American Adventure Expeditions. We typically start out as ski patrollers or ski instructors while...

Rafting season is in full swing here in the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Water levels are up and the river is running. Play holes are loaded with stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers attempting tricks and improving on their moves from last season. Body surfers donning life jackets are braving the waves for a little fun –...

Looking for a weekend escape that’ll blow you away? Then you’ll dig a trip to the Royal Gorge in Cañon City. The Royal Gorge has everything that we adrenaline junkies love, including sheer cliff faces, awesome wildlife, raging rapids, and one of the highest suspension bridges in the world. Here’s a rundown on what you...

This is the second of two blogs on wildlife along the Arkansas River. Check out last week’s post, A Guide to Wildlife Along the Arkansas River. Colorado wildlife is frequently most active in the early morning hours and around sunset. Particularly in the heat of summer, birds, sheep, and even fish choose the cooler temperatures...

If you’re planning a trip to Colorado, checking out the wildlife that call our state home should be on your to-do list. In our opinion, there’s no place better to spot some native creatures than from the waters of the Arkansas River! Here are some of the wild animals you’re likely to see from your raft:...

Sheer granite canyon walls peppered with colorful rock formations. Bighorn sheep hanging out on treacherous cliffs. Postcard-perfect landscape, perhaps with a glimpse of mule deer, elk, bobcats, black bears, falcons, and other wildlife thriving in the surrounding canyon. All this as you surge along channels of churning water atop a raft – whipping through rapids...

Blasting rapids. Sloshing waves. Steep turns and crazy angles. Yep, white water rafting can be totally insane. But you can also tone it down a notch to make it an amazing adventure that’s suitable for kids. While you can’t take kids younger than age 6, you can definitely make rafting a family-friendly activity for your...