Advanced+. Add a little more excitement to the Class IV-V Gauntlet trip! Show up early and we'll let you rappel seventy-five feet down to your raft to start the trip. This is a great way to fit a little climbing into your Colorado vacation. Novices are encouraged to participate. Rappel down to the river, where you meet your raft and the rest of your trip begins: The most advanced section on the Arkansas River begins in the little mountain town of Granite, which quickly fades away as you enter the exciting Granite Gorge. These Class III and IV rapids are merely a warm-up for what comes next. Get ready to paddle hard as you journey through the Rite of Passage, the gates of Pine Creek, where the river narrows by half. Here you'll encounter the most continuous rapids in the state. This is where the river becomes a creek and its gradient drops an astounding 200 feet with a must-make crux move. You barely have time to catch your breath before starting on The Numbers. Each Class III-V rapid is punctuated by continuous whitewater in between, including a steep ledge drop into No. 5. This run demands good physical condition and a minimum age of 15 years is required. Hot gourmet lunch included. (AVA reserves the right to change minimum age requirements depending on water levels and individual qualifications.)
