Highly recommend this crew! Every person we interacted with--the wetsuit fitters, bus driver, guides--was friendly and had great energy. We were a family of 12, and our two guides, Rylee and Izak, made the rafting experience memorable! You can't help but smile around the guides, because they have so much fun. We did level 3 rapids at the Cache le Poudre River. I would go again and use Rapid Transit every time! Level 3 is good for first timers! read more

Cade was awesome. Immaculate guide. The bus driver was awesome as well. Pros: great for first timers, low chance of any danger. Cons: not a ton of time on the river versus how much time you spend on the bus and putting the rafts in and out. Overall glad I did it but took up most of my day for just a little while actually on the water, with easy rapids. read more

We did the full day raft trip, and would highly recommend this ride on the Colorado river for a more chill day. Our driver, Gunter, had an incredible knowledge on the Rocky Mountain national park, and the surrounding areas. (We even stopped halfway through the drive for a rest stop) Our raft guide Gabby made the ride fun and she also had a lot of knowledge for the area. The sandwiches they had were delicious, the drive in was breathtaking. This was a great first rafting trip, and seems very suitable for families. Definitely would recommend. read more

Rapid Transit Rafting - The drive in - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Great experience with Rapid Transit Rafting. Our guide Rob, hands down a G. Rob made us feel super safe and comfortable with the experience

They made us pick up another group which took an extra hour. It was 27 kids and 3 adults. I basically paid 200 dollars for me and my son to be apart of someone else's field trip. They also have this thing where if you don't pay 20 for a wet suit, which is not a wet suit, then someone calls you and strongly suggests that you get one. If it's an 80 degree day you don't need one. It's a scam. read more

Logan was our guide and was amazing. Ask for him or Kumar! Both experienced and fun to be with on the river. read more

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The rafting guides were all very friendly and helpful. Our bus had to detour a much longer route on the way there and on the way back due to a nearby forest fire, and the bus driver and tour group as a whole were very accommodating. Although it was low water season, the guides managed to still make rafting a fun time. My raft guide's name was Brandon and he was incredibly funny, so definitely request him if you can! The only downside was that we did this at the end of July and the bus did not have AC, so we rode there and back with the windows down. It was pretty toasty on the bus. Also, be sure to pack a lunch to eat on the way back after rafting! read more

We had a great time on our rafting trip With this company. They were so accommodating to our big group. Guides were knowledgeable and skilled. Very enjoyable and memorable part of our trip and would Highly recommend. read more

So much fun, we didn't want it to end! We went in completely nervous but instantly felt at ease thanks to our amazing guide. The views on the river were amazing and even though the water was 42 degrees it was comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

Rapid Transit Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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This place is top notch from the folks on the phone through the guide on the raft. I want to acknowledge 2 people in particular. The first is Gordon. He was the driver that took us from Estes Park to the river. He could easily have just been a driver, but he was much more. He entertained us all the way to and from the river with his knowledge of the area. He pointed out interesting things along the way, and would add interesting stories. He also kept us laughing with his humor. The second is Leo, our guide for the trip. This guy is amazing. He can handle that raft and make it do what he wants. As I sat in the back of the boat with him, I got to see how hard he really worked. The people sitting in front don't have any idea about how hard he works to make sure they have a great trip. Besides all his hard work, he has a wealth of knowledge about the river. He is also a very funny and entertaining guy. Ask to be on his raft. The trip itself is over way too fast. We covered 9 and a half miles in about 2 hours. It was so much fun that everybody in our group wanted to do it for a full day. Things that make it such a great trip include the beautiful scenery and the exhilaration of the rapids. Rapids exist for nearly the entire trip. Most of them fall into class 2 or 3. However, class 4 and 5 also exist. Due to the experience level of our group, we had to go around the class 5 rapids. Our group did a lot of fun things on this trip to Estes Park. However, everybody had the white water raft trip as the most fun of all the things we did. read more

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I have always wanted to try white water rafting. Rapid Transit did an awesome job. It was so much fun. They did a great job of explaining all the safety rules, what to expect, and how to handle every situation that may come up along the way. Lauren was our guide and she was outstanding. She made our younger children feel more comfortable and the trip was a blast. Thank you Rapid Transit and Lauren for making my first rafting trip so memorable. read more

Had SO MUCH FUN rafting the poudre over 4th of July weekend. Great guides & unforgettable experiences. read more

Rapid Transit Rafting - Be prepared to get wet. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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We chose the COLORADO RIVER trip thinking we would get more rapids than we actually did, but the scenery was so beautiful that did not matter. Our guide driving was John that gave us so much information about the wildlife, local history and recommendations while visiting Estes Park. He made that 2 1/2 hour road trip go by quicker. Our boat guide was Ben. Definitely two individuals with a wealth of knowledge about the area and terrain/water. One of the advantages of the full day trip, you do get an awesome lunch spread on the river. If you are looking for real rapids to paddle through, you may want to choose the 1/2 day trip they offer. CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER is a 1/2 day trip. We will probably do that next year. read more

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We are a family of 5 that travelled with a family of 4 with the kids age ranges between barely 7-14. We all had so much fun. It was a wonderful first time experience. I was a bit nervous at first because of the kids, but both our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. We had Kumar and his expertise showed he kept us safe the entire time and was clear in his instruction. My 8 year old had a hard time following instructions at first and Kumar was very patient, understanding, and encouraging. She eventually got the hang of it. Our bus driver was also amazing and an awesome driver. The entire RTR team was very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend RTR to anyone but especially if you are doing the rapids with kids. We will definitely do it again!! read more

When we arrived to the river access we were greeted by a handsome figure drifting through the sky. What was this figure you may ask? It was none other than the mystical, dashing, macho, and most of all, charming river guide Logan being escorted by a flock of three of the most patriotic and charismatic bald eagles this country has ever seen. As the eagles landed and dropped off our humble guide, the gave him each a salute as sign of the utmost respect for the mountain man. I believe I even saw the eagle shed a tear of happiness as he flew away, an effect Logan has on many animals, people, and even emotional plants on occasion. Once Logan had landed by the humble river van, my group and I approached to start our trip. Before we made the 50 foot journey from our car to the van, Logan had finished his workout consisting of 3 sets of 200 curls for each arm. We greeted the man and I must say, I have truly never been graced by the presence of such a humble, respectful, and kind man. Suddenly, as we were exchanging pleasantries and backstories, a rogue grizzly bear approached and it was obvious he was looking for a fight. It was clear the bear was intimidated by Logan and felt the need to challenge the alpha male. Before the bear could strike, Logan jumped on his back, gave him a slap or two on his bottom, kissed his forehead, rode him like a horse around the parking lot and finally sent him on his way without skipping a beat. Rumor has it Logan and the bear are pen pals to this day. Despite this debacle, Logan never ceased our conversation and continued on thanks to his superhuman ability to stay calm during stressful situations. We set out on our excursion and were met by not only the best tour guide, but also a world class historian. I had already learned about his world championship in snake charming but to find out he's also a champion local Colorado river historian was almost too good to be true. If I didn't know any better I would think that Logan has perfected time travel and was actually born centuries ago, giving him first hand experience to all of his stories on the river. Now, I'm not saying that happened, but it wouldn't be the craziest Logan story I've ever heard. The rest of the journey was marvelous and consisted of great rapids, numerous animals encounters, and beautiful scenery, all of which had been hand crafted by Logan. I simply do not have the words to express all of the joy this trip and our guide have brought me and I hope to be blessed by his presence once more. read more

Rapid Transit Rafting - Raftin - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Myself and two family members went on the half day experience. Our raft guide, Nate, was absolutely fantastic! A rock knocked me from our raft and into the rapids of the river. While it was a scary experience to say the least, our raft guide Nate was calm and helped me feel safe getting back into the raft. While I was hesitant to row afterwards and stayed towards the middle of the raft, overall the experience was a 10/10! After we were back with other guides, they all were also checking in with me to see that I was okay and encouraging me to not feel bad. Thank you so much to Nate and Rapid Transit Rafting for turning what could have been a terrifying memory into one I can look back on positively! read more

We did a full day Colorado trip on 7/14. This operation is the BEST! Kelsey was our driver and she was great, we met some of the other drivers and they were all so helpful and nice. Neil was our boat guide and he was AMAZING! Especially great with the 7 and 10 year olds in our party. We did the Colorado full day and it was mellow, def family friendly. It's a long drive but very scenic and went by faster than we thought. We heard the Pudre is more intense if you're looking for more rapids. read more

Our trip was 10/10, we did the full day. Neil was our guide and he was THE BEST, made the trip so fun. We Had lots to do and definitely would recommend the full day. The drive is very scenic, saw 3 moose and lots of elk, Carl the bever and some bald eagles. read more

Great trip. Our guide Woody was super knowledgeable about the wildlife, history and terrain of our route. Very fun, full of jokes, great with safety and encouraging us to try new things. Food was perfect, they were even able to accommodate a gluten free request. The drive from Estes park is a little long- a bit over 2 1/2 hours- our driver, Art was also a wonderful guide pointing out wildlife & historical facts and stories along the way. Thanks for an amazing day!! read more

When booking a rafting trip in Estes Park, Colorado, you have options. Read this review before choosing RAPID TRANSIT RAFTING. We lost $400, a half day of our vacation, and endured stress and conflict that negatively impacted our time in Estes Park. A recap of our experience: We were to meet the van at 6:45 a.m. at Estes Park High School to begin our trip. However, the meeting place was changed the afternoon before our scheduled trip. Having not arrived until evening, we didn't see the email until early morning and I had erred in one digit of my phone number and didn't receive the text. We arrived minutes late to the new meeting place to see the van pull out of the parking lot. There were 2 remaining Rapid Transit vans for other rafting trips in the parking lot. We immediately spoke to the drivers who couldn't contact our van driver (certainly a safety concern), however the driver urged us to drive to the location where the trip would begin, assuring us that we would make it in time. He put the location in my phone (Google Maps), and said he'd call the manager to alert them that we were in route. Ninety min. later, having exceeded the speed limit, we arrived at a dirt road with no water in site - clearly not the meeting place. Frustrated and disappointed we returned to Rapid Transit Rafting to tell them our experience and ask for our refund of $400. We were in CO for a wedding and had no availability to reschedule should that be offered. We were met with opposition and told that the manager, Craig, would contact us. He did not. Three days later as we left Estes Park, we again went to Rapid Transit Rafting, spoke with the same unhelpful, defensive employee. Again, we were told the manager would call us. He did not. I am not one to leave poor reviews. We made several attempts for the company to rectify the situation, but they've done nothing. This experience exemplified poor customer service and was anything but "the highlight of our Estes Park vacation" as their website touts. read more

Rapid Transit Rafting - "Arrived" after 90 min. of travel. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Rapid Transit Rafting was an awesome experience! We had Bryan as our guide and he was knowledgable, funny and friendly. He answered any questions we had and was patient with us newbies. I recommended RTR 100%!! Our bus broke down on the way back and a new bus came to get us within 30 minutes. For the delay they compensated with free photos. WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! read more

We decided to roll the dice with a raft trip during a pandemic and boy, we are so glad we did! Don't miss the opportunity to have an authentic trip down the river with experienced guides. The full day trip starts with a 3 hour (yes, 3 there AND back, so 6 total) bus ride on the amazing scenery and heights of Trail Ridge Road to the drop in point. Our driver Art was charming, funny and full of knowledge of the area sights and history. I felt safe the entire time, but do beware the highway may disturb some with fear of heights! We learned so much in 6 hours and saw so much beauty. Art's corny jokes will leave your rolling your eyes and snickering the whole way. Our raft guide Tom was the real deal. We chatted and laughed our way down 12 miles of mild rapids and calm beauty. Tom's rafting skill and lively conversation kept us entertained and having fun all day. I'm not usually a tour kind of traveler, but I'm so glad we did this one. It was worth every penny and every minute. Do yourself a favor and sign up if you're considering it! Be sure to tip your guides! Sorry no pics. We were busy on rapids and chatting our faces off with Tom! We had a BLAST! read more

During a family vacation at Estes Park, Colorado, my cousin gets the idea to go rafting down the Colorado River. The rafting site was over 2 hours away, so our group of 4, and two more families, piled into the Rapid Transit Rafting van at 6:45 am to began our trip the rafting site. The trip to the rafting site took us through Rocky Mountain National Park along Trail Ridge Road. Our driver/guide was a retired geography teacher and kept us entertained with random facts about Colorado and the park during the entire trip. It was cool driving by the beginnings of the Colorado River, where it was no larger than a few feet across, and then finally seeing the "real" river. Plus we got to see Moose in the park! (Is Moose plural, there were a few?) Before reaching the rafting site, our driver also gave us a quick explanation of what we would expect at the rafting site. When we finally made it, we were given life jackets, and then a short explanation of what to do and what not to do. So far, the 4 rafting guides were all very nice and answered a bunch of individual questions about the trip. On our trip there were 4 rafts in our group and each raft had about 9 or 10 people. The rafting trip down the Colorado River was about 12 miles. We made two stops on the way. One at a hot spring and another stop for lunch. On the trip we encountered class 2 and 3 rapids. At one point, I was sitting in the front/middle of the raft. I thought this was the best seat until going through rapids caused me to flip back into the middle of the raft. Which is much better than falling out of the raft! After lunch, I switched positions ( front/left side of the raft). Having an oar, and helping to paddle through rapids was much more fun than just sitting and watching. There were two things about the rafting trip that I definitely wasn't expecting. They were "raft rodeo" and water fights. Raft rodeo was kind of like bull riding with a raft instead of a bull. Someone would stand on the front of the raft (with one hand holding a rope) and everyone else would paddle to make the raft spin, trying to knock them off. Although interesting, the raft rodeo paled in comparison to the epic water fights that we had on the trip. We were armed with our oars, buckets, and water gun/cannon things (I'm not exactly sure what they were). On the calmer sections of the river, the 4 rafts in our group battled it out to see who could drench the other rafters with the most (cold) water. Since it was a very hot and sunny day, being drenched in cold water was actually not that bad. Just as we had an excellent driver/guide, or raft guide was also great. If you're in Estes Park and want to go rafting, then you should definitely try out Rapid Transit Rafting. read more

Our family had a fun time rafting. There were a couple of level three rapids on the course that made for an exciting ride! The guides we met were also very knowledgeable and nice. It was also reasonably priced at $59 for the half-day trip. The reason I took off a couple of stars was the fact that we had to constantly get on and off the bus. There were 50 people on the school bus, so every seat was packed with two adults, including bags and lunches. Several of the windows were also not working, so you can imagine how sweaty and smelly it was, especially on the way back. This was a breakdown of the bus schedule: 1.5 hours to drive to rafting safety debrief 15 minutes to put on life vests/helmets 20 minutes to load the bus and drive to rafting site 30 -40 minutes rafting 20 minutes to load the bus and drive to second rafting site 30 -40 minutes rafting 1.5 hours to drive back Overall, we had a good time when we were rafting, but you should be prepared to spend a lot of time on a crampt school bus. read more

We did the all day rafting trip. It started at 6:45 in the morning with a 2.5 hour drive from Estes Park through Rocky Mountain National Park to the site where you begin your trip. I highly recommend eating breakfast before going or feel free to bring it on the van. It was 12:30 before we stopped for lunch. No masks were required on the van. The van driver was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Once you got to the site, you were given time to apply sunscreen and get ready to raft. You were given a quick safety talk and then loaded up. You could put things in the guides dry bag, but only smaller items or nothing bigger than a Walmart sack. The trip was nice. It was very peaceful and our guide was friendly and willing to share info about the river and mountains. There aren't enough paddles for everyone in the boat but you can switch spots anytime you want. There are a few small rapids down the 11 mile raft trip. I would consider this more of a float trip than white water rafting. We ended the trip around 2:30 and got back to Estes Park around 5:30. Overall it was a fun time and great way to see the mountains and enjoy nature. This is perfect for families or those who want to raft without the big rapids! read more

First time in Colorado, first time river rafting! This was such an amazing experience for our whole family! We had 2 adults; 2 grandparents in their 60's, 3 children; ages 11, 9, & 7 in our party! (Did I mention 2 non-swimming adults?) What were we thinking?!?! We were all a little apprehensive about this but had read such great reviews we decided to go for it! (Even the locals from town recommended Rapid Transit Rafting!) So glad we did...this was a very well-organized river rafting company. We did the whole day trip with the milder rapids (well that's what they call it!) which included a shuttle (thanks Richard), lunch (very yummy), equipment (life jackets) and an awesome river guide-Woody (yay us!). We could not have asked for a more perfect guide; he was strong, funny, smart, knowledgable, athletic and worldly (fluent in Japanese-say whaaaat?) He kept us so engaged and entertained yet we felt safe because he knows the Colorado River rapids like the back of his hands. The trip alone through the mountains to get to the river was so worth it; breathtaking and beautiful. A little scary if you don't like heights, driving at the edge of a mountain, or especially when it's raining; so having an experienced driver like Richard to drop us off and pick us up was perfect! So glad we did this and that we chose the Full day trip. I highly recommend this and remember to bring cash for tipping! They deserve it! read more

Had an awesome time rafting especially with our guide Bryan who made the two-and-a-half-hour ride to the river entertaining, funny guy. The scenery was breathtaking, the rafting was very enjoyable along with the scenery. We took the full day trip and it was mild this time of year. Next time we'll take the more advanced trip and will request Bryan again. If it's your first time and you're nervous I would recommend the mild trip to start with, but if you're ready for some adventure then take the more advanced trip. Bryan pointed out interesting facts about the area along the river so I highly recommend requesting Bryan. He rocked!!! Merrill & Isabel M read more

I went on the full day Colorado River rafting trip with RTR on July 13th. John was our guide for the both the 2.5 hour drive to the starting point and for the rafting trip itself. John was a wealth of knowledge and humor, and had an unbelievable eye for spotting wildlife. I'd venture to say that just the drive through the park and across Trail Ridge made the trip worth it, as we spotted amazing wildlife that I would not have seen driving on my own. The raft trip itself was very scenic, but was not at all difficult for me (23 yrs old) and the others, which ranged in age from young children (~10 yrs) to older folk (~50 yrs). If you're looking for intense rapids, this isn't the trip for you. But RTR fully discloses that so there shouldn't be misaligned expectations. Would highly recommend for a beautiful, educational, and fun rafting trip! read more

This is a very professional group from the time they pick you up until your return in the evening. Our driver, Richard, was very courteous, fun, and funny. His admittedly bad jokes (that only got worse as time progressed) were thoroughly entertaining for the five hour round trip ride. Most importantly, Richard kept our family safe while driving the narrow roads that go over the Rockies. We never felt uncomfortable at all. Our rafting guide, Phil (aka Geico Caveman), was thoroughly entertaining and well versed on the Colorado River. A very down to earth, unabashed, and fun guide who kept us involved during the 5+ hour ride. It's not easy to keep 8 strangers entertained for 5 hours doing something for which they are unfamiliar, and have fun doing it. I salute you Phil!! Definitely recommend RTR. read more

Our rafting experience was amazing!! All the staff/guides were friendly and fun. Our family did the full day trip and we didn't want it to end! Our guide, Jon, was THE BEST. The water was at an all-time low so it was a bit calmer than it would have been but we still enjoyed the thrill of going through the rapids. Jon was great at guiding us through any tough spots and kept us motivated to work as a team (although I am sure he was doing most of the work lol). If the full day trip was this fun I assume the half day would be too, if you don't have time to commit to a full day. We would recommend anyone staying in or near Estes to use Rapid Transit Rafting! Thanks again for helping our family make some great memories, we will be back for sure! read more

Our guide Scott was great. As was our bus driver. Everyone has safety as a top priority which is important to us! Someone on our trip complained about the hour and a half bus ride but I don't know how you could book this trip and not be informed of the drive. Whether you do a full day on the Colorado river or a half day on the Poudre- there will be a bus ride. The river was low as it normally would be at this time of year but they made sure we got our money's worth by bringing us down the river twice. This is the second time we used this outfitter and we would never go with anyone else! Speaking of the bus ride- we had our driver narrate some points of interest and then on our way back up the canyon we saw some bighorn sheep!! read more

This was our first foray into rafting and our first trip to CO. We loved the entire trip and these guys were the major reason. The trip was very reasonably priced, considering they are not just providing equipment, guidance, safety, but also transportation over a distance longer than you would want to drive after such a trip. Our guide Becky was awesome! Such a rush, we caught the bug and can't wait to return! read more

This place is awesome! We did the 4 hour rafting trip. They can took us all the way through Trail Ridge Road and down backroads to get to the Colorado River. Our guide, Ben, was hilarious, funny, but very knowledgeable. Lunch was provided. We had homemade bread, homemade chicken salad, chips, brownies, veggies, and water. We were able to see eagles, a bear, and mountain goats. It was me, my husband, and my 13 year old daughter. We all had a wonderful time and we highly recommend doing this read more

Fantastic fun and a great guide - Kyle! We booked a 1/2 day trip which was perfect for first time rafters. It was class 3 rapids for about 1/3 and mellow rafting for the balance. We did the 6:45 am which is early but was perfect weather and not a lot of other rafters. I liked that PTR drives (buses) you from Estes Park to the river. You get two trips down the river. We would both do it again and again!!! read more

Our second time with RTR on the Colorado--we did the full day, which includes a long ride through the Rocky Mountain National Park. Saw bear, elk, moose, marmot, eagles, and more. The ride was enjoyable, and the rafting was skillfully done. Great lunch from local legends "The Donut Haus" served streamside. You will get a bit wet. Suck it up. John was our driver/guide/storyteller/paddler. He rocked. Tip your guide. Seriously. read more

I rarely leave reviews on Yelp, but wanted to give Rapid Transit a great review. They pick you up and take you to where you'll be rafting. I was really nervous because we were taking my 8 year old daughter on this trip. RT reassured me that the half day trip would be perfect for our group, and they were right. We went on level 3 rapids. They were enough to make us have tons of fun while still feeling like the kids were safe. Jason was our guide on our trip and he was AWESOME!! Very competent, safe and a lot of fun. Ask him about the plate in his head!! Highly recommend Rapid Transit. My only complaint is that the trip was not long enough:) read more

Rapid transit was very fun and family friendly. My parents (in their 60s) enjoyed it immensely. My mom had a bad hip and it was not strenuous physically read more

Loved John our tour guide and driver. He was incredible, made us feel safe and taught us so much about the area! The full day trip is the way to go! Saw all the animals! read more

We decided to do the half day rafting trip and we had a great time! Adam was a wonderful guide! It was a lot of fun and the scenery was gorgeous!! We will be back. read more

The guide and whitewater are great! The transport and actual time spent on the water are really bad. Here is a recap: 1.5 hour bus ride Unload off bus 5 min Safety meeting / put on terrible smelling life vests and helmets on 30 min Reload bus and drive to location 10 minutes Unload and help put rafts into water 15 minutes Raft 35 minutes Help load rafts and get back into bus 15 minutes drive to 2nd half of trip 15 minutes Raft for 20 minutes Stop and Swim in ice cold water 25 minutes Raft 25 minutes Help load rafts10 minutes Running late. Ride bus back in wet clothes. 1.5 hours. Complain about experience of 80 minutes of actual rafting and over 4 hours on a bus.....Reply is that we would have told you if you asked in advance, offer $50 of free digital pics... Yes pics are $50. Priceless. Actual trip details above should be on their website so expectations and experience are the same. read more