This was our first snowshoeing trip and it was perfect. Matt was an exemplary host and guide. We had the best weather with light snowfall and majestic scenery all around us. I highly recommend Matt's tour when coming to Colorado. #ApexEx read more

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Having experience, trust and fun in a guide company is really important. You want them to show you things that you haven't seen before, and lead you to places you might not have found on your own. You also want to see through their guiding how your safety and fun experience is their first priority. Ryan and Matt did an excellent job of all of this. They also took the time to explain about the terrain, the environment and fun trivia to keep the hike interesting. Having a little fondue and cider at the top of the hike was a neat touch as well. They were especially helpful in making sure that I was ok during my Asthma attack, and held up the pace when I struggled on the last climb. These guys were amazing guides and we would definitely use them and recommend them anytime. read more

Booked a beginners 1/2 day and intermediate full day rock climbing course with APEX and got a LOT out of it. Colin was an excellent instructor-patient, knowledgeable, and really wanted me to get the most out of our day together. He was willing to spend time working with me on things I wanted to learn and explained them in ways that were easy to understand for a beginner. I highly recommend this course for people wanting to learn how to climb. It made me excited about the next step. I'll be requesting Colin for any other adventures I book with APEX! read more

Apex Ex - Intermediate full day climbing course with my instructor, Colin, was a GREAT experience - Hiking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Great experience snow-shoeing! We took our 16/17 year old teenagers and they enjoyed it as well. The steepness of some parts of the Longs Peak trail were a little bit of a challenge us "flat landers" from Texas. : ). But we made it!! Definitely will do more snow-shoeing in the future. Great fun!!! read more

*******THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE WHITEWATER TUBING******** This was not enjoyable in any way. The tubes provided by ApexEx were huge and miss-shapen. I am a 6 foot, 195 pound man and it was impossible for me to reach around both sides of the tube to hold on, let alone paddle with both arms at the same time. I bit it after almost every rapid because there was no way to hold on to the tube. My wife, and about 7 others in our group had an even harder time because they were even smaller. My wife is a tiny athletic woman who was flipped and dragged under the rapids after each waterfall. She had to kick on her back to get out from under the suck of the rapids while holding onto the tube because while sitting on the tube her arms and legs did not reach the water. When she said this to our "guide" he shrugged his shoulders and didn't seem to care that there was no way she could navigate the creek on such an over sized tube. After being tossed under several times and getting quite banged up, a group of us got out of the creek and hiked the trail that followed the creek back to the library where we started. We were glad we did. Our guide told us that the "worst" rapids were up on top where we started. This was not true. There were far worse, rocky, rapid moving steep waterfalls further down. There is no way the smaller people in our group would have been able to make it down without injury, since they couldn't hold onto their tubes. The only possible way this would have been remotely enjoyable were if the tubes provided were the proper size for the person riding them and if they had handles...maybe even a foot leash to prevent the run-away tube. Our guide told us before we entered the creek, that the people who don't enjoy the experience are the one who didn't listen to his tips. This wasn't true in our group. Each and every one of us listened and followed his advice. We assumed "an athletic stance" while sitting on our tubes, leaned back, and engaged our core. Since we were incapable of growing another 2 feet of arm length we were screwed from the get-go. In all fairness, I will try the snow shoeing and climbing adventures with ApexEx in the future, but I have now officially crossed Whitewater Tubing off my bucket list. read more

My husband and I went snowshoeing for the first time with Apexex. The location at Lily lake was beautiful and the fondue and warm cider was an added treat. The guides, Corey and Gavie, were great and I appreciated their patience as I was bringing up the rear on the uphill climbs....every single time! I've already referred them tonight and look forward to some other adventures with them too. read more

Apex Ex - One of the beautiful views. - Hiking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Matt was very easy to communicate with and was very knowledgeable of the environment. He also taught me new techniques and shared some useful survival information. I couldn't of gone on my hike alone and Matt helped make me more than comfortable during our hike. I even accomplished tasks that I did not think I could do! I highly recommend Apex Ex. A new business that is going to grow quickly! read more

My 16 and 18 year old daughters had an amazing full day climbing class with Jack. They'd done some indoor climbing, but this was their first time outdoors. They were exhausted, but super excited by the end of the day. My husband and I watched the first climb and felt very comfortable leaving the girls with the instructor for the rest of the day. Highly recommend. read more

My parents and I had planned on doing some hiking and exploring in Rocky Mountain National Park during a recent visit, but with the floods that became impossible. So, we looked around for alternatives and found Apex Ex, which offers hikes around Boulder (also closed for flooding) as well as the Red Rocks area near Denver. Red Rocks sounded awesome, so we booked a half-day trek. Our guide, Colin, was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the area, as well as the geology and even some of the plants and animals in the region. He presented us options and tailored a hike based on our interests and skill levels. It turned out wonderfully. When part of our trek lost our interest, he came up with other ideas so we still got our four hours of exploring/hiking in. For a half-day adventure, we couldn't have asked for more. It's clear that, at least for Colin, hiking and biking and climbing are a true passion and we're lucky he was so willing to share that with us. We'd choose Apex Ex again in a second. read more

I really didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Lots of fun, great guide that stopped us along the way to talk about the wildlife and fauna which also gave us a break to catch our breath. Highly recommend it. read more

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Back in January, my husband and I decided to take a weekend and go up to Estes Park. We found a deal through Amazon Local on a guided snow shoeing trip with fondue to cap it off with the great people at ApexEx. (It was a happy coincidence that the snow shoeing trek began at Lily Lake, where we got married!) I am kicking myself for not writing this review sooner because I cannot remember the name of one of our two guides now, but one of them was named Tyler. They were both fantastic, personable, and knowledgeable. It was the first time snow shoeing for either of us, and we had so much fun, it certainly won't be our last. I highly recommend these folks for your outdoor adventures! read more

I did a rock climbing trip with ApexEx a few months back when I was new to the Boulder area. The trip was designed for beginners and I'm not a beginning climber, but I wanted to get to know the area and where some potential good climbing spots were as well as meet some new people. The trip with ApexEx met all of my expectations! The trip guides were knowledgeable and friendly and were great at teaching beginning climbers the skills they needed. They also gave me some great tips on good climbing spots in the Boulder area. ApexEx: mission accomplished! read more

Excellent trip. I did their rock climbing adventure and it was above an dbeyond what I expected. We went to a great spot where there was enough varied terrain for all skill levels. The staff was really in touch with what they were doing and helped me learn about safety and beginner climbing. Also, I made it to the top of the "run" that I was working on, a pleasant surprise! A great experience, these guys know what they're doing and I'm sure you'd enjoy it. Worth the trip to Boulder-area. I would check out their other trips next chance I get. read more

Had a chance to do the basic rock climbing class over the weekend. Small group, 3 other climbers and Spencer from Apex Ex. What a great experience. 1/2 hour of instruction and we were belayed and climbing. Felt safe, secure and confident all afternoon. Climbed cliffs below summit of North Table Mountain. Day was great, views spectacular, instruction just enough and fellow climbers a blast to get to know. I'm 55 years old and was climbing with 20 somethings and had the absolute best time. I want to do it again! read more

My wife and I went out for the snowshoe and fondue with Ryan and Vanessa and it was a blast. The guides are informative and keep a good pace that almost anyone can keep up with at 9500' above sea level. The fondue was delicious and the scenery was fantastic. We even saw a moose which was a little exciting and a little intimidating. Great trip and great fun. read more

We spent New Years Eve Day with Apex Ex snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Our group consisted of three couples (age 50+) and it was perfect. Colin is very personable, knowledgeable of the area and gave us plenty of breaks along the way. He kept the groups goals and time limitations in mind and gave us plenty of options for routes along the way. The cheese and chocolate fondue at the top, chased down with hot apple cider, made this a day we'll always remember. He took great photos of the group that we had before we got to our hotel rooms that night. Awesome experience!! read more

Apex Ex - New Years Eve Day 2016 Rocky Mountain National Park - Hiking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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My boyfriend and I went out with Ryan and Venessa for the fondue snowshoe trek this past weekend and had a blast! Ryan was primarily our guide and was a fountain of knowledge for the surrounding topography and foliage, so it was a combo of exercise, chowing down on delicious cheese and chocolate and learning. Can't lose with that :) I highly recommend these guys and look forward to going out with them again the next time we're up in RMNP. Thanks for the fun day, guys! read more

First time in Colorado, and wanted an adventure. Booked a biking expedition through another company, and when I called to confirm, they said they didn't have that date open. Needless to say, we needed a plan b. A friend recommended Apex Ex, we got to talk to Colin, and our problems we're solved. Even calling for a mountain biking tour for the next day, he was very accommodating. Set it all up over the phone, and we were good to meet the next morning. Colin laid everything out with us morning of, took some practice laps around the parking lot and we were ready to go- or so we thought. We had contemplated our ability level, and while Colin didn't outwardly laugh, I'm sure he was laughing about what we two southerners were getting into. Never mountain bikes before, and we had a great time!! Plenty of appropriate breaks- all requested. The views were great, the route was amazing, the intro into mountain biking was second to none. After my longest review ever, I'd recommend this group to anyone and everyone. read more

We had an excellent time with Vanessa and Garret snowshoeing RMNP Longs Peak route. They were very professional from the arrangements to the execution of the trip. They ensured everyone had a good time, the pace was perfect, the conditions given the winter we are having were superb - they picked a great route (enough off trail to give a taste of back country) to give us the snow experience we were desiring. And the fondue was just the best. We met some really great people on the trip, learned a thing or two, got outside for some exercise and will definitely book another adventure with Apex Ex. I highly recommend them. read more

I was in the area and wanted to do mountain biking, so I looked these guys up. The trip could not have been better. Guide was awesome, trail was perfect and the equipment they brought was top notch. The trip was a bit more challenging than us sea level bikers anticipated, so the guide even gave us the rest of his water halfway through so we'd make the entire journey. If back in the area, I look these guys up in a heartbeat! read more

My mom and I went on a snowshoeing and fondue excursion in Rocky Mountain National Park at the Longs Peak trail head. The guides were so knowledgeable accommodating and personable. I really enjoyed them and would recommend checking this company out to anyone. They'll work with you to give you the experience you want!! If I could rate them 100 stars I would! read more

The short version: Apex Ex is great. The staff are smart, receptive, kind, knowledgeable, extremely safe, and they all appear to love what they do. Take a class or sign up for a trip - I did both - and you will be incredibly happy with the experience. The long version: I took the Avi I course with ApexEx and signed up for a guided backcountry trip in Rocky Mountain National Park with some friends. The Avi I course was well organized and I was impressed with the staff's approach to teaching. In addition to just being incredibly nice people, they were clearly well versed in avalanche safety and all had a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. The guides in my group, Andrew and Eryka, were kind, thoughtful, and seemed genuinely interested in teaching the group about how to have fun safely in the backcountry. Moreover, they repeatedly checked to make sure that everyone was comfortable and okay with the pace we were moving at. I would highly recommend the class to anyone who has any interest in winter backcountry travel. The backcountry guided experience surprised me by being even better. Our guide, Colin, managed to gauge our pace perfectly, while still getting us to challenge ourselves within our limits. Along the way he explained what he was watching out for in the snow pack, the location of other backcountry skiers in the area, terrain issues, and weather, which made for an educational, as well as an incredibly fun experience. Colin was equally comfortable with silence or with chatting, making the entire trip feel natural and as though we were traveling with someone we had known for a long time. He's also just a really great guy, so I can't recommend him enough. I plan to go on a guided trip again soon! read more

We did a full-day snowshoeing trip to Rocky Mountain National Park's Emerald Lake. Gavi, our guide was wonderful. We had tried this hike alone before and got lost. Gavi went ahead and scouted the tricky part of the trail and we ended up at our destination. The fondue was surprisingly good and the cider was nice and hot. read more

Apex Ex - Fondue on a snowshoe trip with Gavi, our guide. - Hiking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Took a guided snowshoeing trip with Apex. It was a great info to snowshoeing and we had a good experience on the mountain. Have not used any of their other services, but based on this experience I would recommend them! read more

Such a great experience. Matt and Ben were great guides and taught us good shoeing techniques and took time to show animal tracks and point out other natural observations. read more

I booked a 3-day climbing trip (two half days and a full day), and it was awesome. I worked with my instructor to create a list of skills I wanted to learn/improve, and we covered all of that and more. My instructor had lots of expertise in the skills she covered with me (placing trad gear, climbing multi-pitch climbs), and she was an amazing instructor. I would definitely work with Apex Ex again the next time I climb in Colorado. read more

One word: MAGICAL! My fiance proposed to me on the Chautauqua Classic Hike, after we ran the famous Bolder Boulder Race in the morning. Ryan was extremely hospitable, and even took professional photos of us all along the way!! We ended the hike with drinks at the St. Julien Hotel and an experience of a lifetime! Thank you Apex Ex for the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! read more

My boyfriend and I went on a beginner rock climbing trip last weekend. We were impressed! We are new to the Boulder area and had never attempted climbing. Cory was our instructor and he was amazing. Withing 20 minutes we were belaying and climbing. We were confident in Cory's skills and felt safe the entire time (50 ft up a mountain.) The group was really small and we all learned the basics quickly. We had lots of time to climb at our own pace. Cory's calm demeanor made the climb seem much less intimidating then it could have been. He was a great instructor. I would highly recommend Apex Ex to anyone interested in climbing for the first time. We will be planning another rock climbing adventure very soon. read more

We all had such a great time and workout too! Perfect way to burn off all the fondue calories!

I did the avalanche backcountry course and it was unbelievable. If you're at all thinking of doing any backcountry explorations from skiing to snowshoeing/camping I would suggest you take the class. Our instructor, Colin, was amazing and very knowledgeable. Pay to stay at the YMCA! We were in a private cabin with a fire place and full kitchen, plus it was fun to hang out with other people doing the course. Also take your ski stuff with you even if you are snowshoeing in because you will ski out. read more

Went on the Avy course and our entire group had an amazing weekend! Colin, our guide, was so knowledgeable and passionate about the topic that it made the learning fun. I highly recommend it! read more

Fantastic snowshoe trip on a date day with my wife. The beer cheese and chocolate fondu made a great break for the short hike. The guides were great on a perfect weather day. Thanks for the great time!!! read more

We had clear communication with Colin and Matt, our guide, prior to meeting up for our half-day excursion--they really took our skill level into account when choosing a location and we were completely blown away by Lookout Mountain where we climbed. Matt was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and made us feel welcome and (more importantly) safe and secure while we were climbing. We had to wait for a little bit for a route to open up about halfway through the day, and Matt graciously extended our time an extra 45 minutes-hour at no additional cost to us and we never once felt rushed. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would certainly do it again the next time I'm in Colorado. read more

This company has made promises that have not been kept and lies so they don't have to make good on their commitments. Last year, I went on a climb that got snowed out. The instructor said he would reschedule the trip, however, I contacted him many times to reschedule and he never did. He finally left the company. Eventually, I got to talk to Ryan the owner who stated that he would offer me a refund or a trip credit for 2012. I choose to take the credit because I believed in the company's purpose and I wanted to give them another opportunity to make good on their promise. When I tried to schedule this trip this year, Ryan told me he no longer worked for Apex Ex. However, Ryan is still listed as the Executive Director. No business should be run this way. read more

I did a private 1 on 1 rock climbing and it was great. My guide, Collin, was awesome. I felt comfortable with him and he really knew what he was doing. He was great at explaining anything or answering questions I had. ApexEx was also great with coordinating to meet my needs. I would use them again. read more

I did an Apex Expeditions trip two weeks ago. We rock climbed up in the Boulder Canyon, and let me say quite an experience it was. Being my first time ever rock climbing I didn't know one thing. Of course I was frightened when looking straight up the rock wall, but with the assistance of a talented team I was able to make it to the top. The Apex Expeditions team is knowledgeable, helpful as well as sincere. I plan on doing another trip in the future. Thank you Ryan and Rich on the Apex Ex team, that was an awesome experience that I will not forget. read more

Jess was our climbing guide and he had the perfect balance between fun climbing and also educational instructions.

We went on the Snowshoe and Fondue morning excursion in Rocky Mountain National Park. This guided hike is perfect for beginners - like me, who had never tried snowshoeing before. If you are more experienced at this sport, this particular hike might be too tame for you. read more

Colin is amazing! He took my two boys (actually men) and I out rock climbing in Boulder. His knowledge and love of the sport made us all feel we were in good hands. I would highly recommend Apex Ex to anyone looking for a knowledgeable guide who won't hold you back but will keep you safe. Can't wait to go back and explore another site with Colin and my boys again next year! read more

I only saw one tubing rating on here, so I thought I'd add something. My group of 6 did white water tubing this last weekend in Golden with Apex. The Apex guy gave us tips for having fun on the water (helpful). Long story short, we had a blast! We were thankful for the life vests and helmets. Yes, the tubes were fairly misshapen unlike other tubes I've seen. However, I think the poor shape made it easier to reach the water (but easier to hit rocks with your bum) than some of the giant & evenly round tubes I've seen. The tubes held up to being smushed and caught on rocks. They also had ropes on them for makeshift handles, which was VERY helpful when we fell off. Apex had various tube and helmet sizes. The Apex guy stayed out there for a few hours so I was able to exchange my helmet when I needed to. Overall, it was a great package for $20. I plan to do this again, and hopefully other things, with Apex. read more