IW is hands down the best rafting experience in Salida. All the staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable about the river. We felt safe and entertained in the hands of our guide John and safety kayaker Joe. Highly recommended!! read more

The first time i used Independent Whitewater was over 10 years ago. Since then i've gone rafting down Clear Creek and the Arkansas with other rafting companies and thy don't compare. Indep Whitewater guides are very knowledgable, skilled and experienced with the river and with rafting and i had a great time while feeling like someone who knew what they were doing was guiding us. Other companies have young kids with little experience and that's not the case here. My group was especially impressed with DeeDee, who was our guide on the river and with the guy who drove us up to the drop off point. He gave us a brief history and geography lesson of the mountain ranges which our entire van found fascinating. One of the benefits of going with this outfit is that they don't get out at Hecla Junction like others. You get an additional 2 miles on the river with a few extra rapids before getting off on the side of the river and having a small drive back to their location. Finally, they now have a food and beer truck on their premise, right by the river. We were starving and had a filling lunch with some cold beer. The guys that run the food truck were super nice. Now that i live in Salida full time I will be bringing more out of town guests to Independent Whitewater for rafting trips. The next trip i want to do is the trip towards the Gorge. read more

Had the best experience with Independent Whitewater. We did a half day and as a newbie to whitewater rafting, this was the perfect intro level for me. It was splashy and fun, and made me want more! I went with my husband and we had the raft all to ourselves, along with Bubbs who was an amazing guide. They have their own drop off and pick up areas and the views between rapids are breathtaking. Highly recommend. read more

I took a group of teens and my 8 year old son on the Brown's Canyon bonus half day. Joe was our guide and he was amazing! He paid special attention to my 8 yr old, even exchanging kid jokes with him. By the end of our day, my son was calling Joe his new best friend. Everyone was highly professional yet engaging and entertaining. Even the bus rides to the drop in and back to base were fun. I highly recommend them! We go every year and this is our 2nd time with Independent and will definitely not be our last! read more

Excellent! I've taken my kids rafting with Independent Whitewater 2 years in a row, and we're already planning our adventure next year! Our river guide, Wilson, kept us safe and entertained, and we couldn't have had more fun splashing through the rapids! See you next year! (maybe sooner :) read more

Ellis is a fantastic guide! It was my six year old's and my first time on the river. Ellis was experienced, confident, has fun stories, and gave us great tips about where to travel to next. Totally exceeded our expectations! read more

Took a trip down the beautiful Arkansas with Logan as our guide. Had a blast on Class 3 and 4 rapids. Logan did a great job and everyone had a super time. Don't go anywhere else! read more

Locally owned, with a private take out further down the river that adds a really nice extra rapid descent to finish the day. Paul was personable, knowledgeable and really handled the raft exceptionally well. Observing other rafting companies as we floated down the river, their abilities did not seem to be on the same level as Independent's leaders. Safety was paramount along with having fun on the river. read more

We had a great time with independent white water rafting! All of the staff from the minute we got there was helpful, exciting and uplifting on our vacation. We had Wilson as our rafting guide and it was one of our highlights. He made us feel comfortable and got us excited about the rapids. He also recognized us by name versus a number and asked questions to get to know each one of us along the journey. It was also a bonus getting to go on two extra Rapids that other companies do not get to. We would highly recommend this company, just do it! It is smaller than the other Walmart companies but go with the local Grocers of rafting it's much more fun and more bang for your buck. read more

This company is small-scale and doesn't seem so commercialized as their bigger competitors. The office and the staff who work in it are really cool and laidback. Our guides not only provided a safe and fun ride, but also shared a lot of their knowledge about the local area's geography, history, etc. Super friendly, too. If you raft Brown's Canyon with them, they will also take you down Seidel's Suckhole and Twin Falls for no extra charge, as they have unique access to a small takeout downriver. I used to work at a nearby summer camp and would go rafting with river-expert friends sometimes. In the commercial realm, this is probably the closest you'd get to that rafting-with-your-friends experience. It was basically a chill day on the river and we enjoyed it a lot. read more

Our first time rafting and it was a blast! Perfect for families with middle school aged kids. Bible was a great guide. Would definitely do it again in the future! read more

I can't say enough great things about the crew at Independent Whitewater, especially our guide, Maddie!! I was a little nervous about taking the trip as it was my first whitewater experience. But from the moment we stepped into the IW boat and gear house I felt completely safe and in great hands. We did the 1/2 Day Brown's Canyon trip which actually includes a few extra rapids than the other rafting companies do (YAY!) and our take out point was on private property which was awesome! No crowds or chaos trying to get back to the transport vehicles after spending 3.5 hours on the water. If we ever find ourselves back in Salida we will absolutely take another river trip with the folks at IW!! read more

Great day whitewater rafting! Bubby our guide was excellent. Small group (one raft) with my wife and one other couple. Hardly ever any other boats in sight, like we had the river to ourselves. Would like to come back for high water in June. read more

My wife and I went yesterday. We were paired with another couple and their 2 young children. Our guide, Swanney, was outstanding. He made that family feel safe, and positioned the children so that they would not fall out when we were in rapids. He told of the history of the area we were paddling through, and pointed out landmarks on the way. The river was running at a relatively tame 700 CFS, but we still hit some good rapids. It was a blast. I highly recommend. A tip, though. If it is hot out, there is no need to get a wetsuit. We did not, and we were glad. This is semi-strenuous, so we were plenty warm. Earlier in the season, a wetsuit is probably a good idea. read more

What an amazing day river rafting with Bubbie and the gang. Professional , fun and experienced ! The two extra runs the company has access to were fun, my husband and daughter were front row and they disappear in the white water, they had a blast! We bought all the pictures so we have them to analyze how no one flew out of the boat!! The landscaping of the canyon and the rock formation were crazy beautiful! Shout out to Bubbie and his brothers mom, way to go , great boys! See you guys next year...go Rage Cage!! read more

We had a great time. We were able to book a same day half-day river cruise for out party of 4, two adults and two children ages 4 1/2 and 7 1/2. What a great adventure. It was precisely the right time and speed. The river guide gave us a ton of interesting information and kept the kids interested through out with a positive attitude. They also have a fantastic cafe with the best food and drink on the river. Would 100% highly recommend!! Our guide was John. read more

We wanted a local, small business for our rafting adventure and boy were we in for the treat of a lifetime. Our guide was absolutely amazing, I felt completely safe in the crazy, overwhelming rapids that we rode through. He was knowledgeable, funny, polite and you knew when he meant business as we hit some very demanding and challenging sections of the river. It was a high-water time of year and there were absolutely some dangers to be aware of but everything was gone over ahead of time and we spent time at the start practicing some of the rowing and safety maneuvers that would be required. Honestly, this would be difficult for folks who have a fear of water and limited swimming ability or have no rowing experience. WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE!! Thank you Independent Whitewater!!!! read more

Our family of 3 had an amazing first rafting experience! Bubby, our guide, expertly led us on a 2.5 hour raft ride that we will never forget. Highly recommend!!! We also recommend that you follow whatever suggestions they have about renting outerwear. Their wetsuits and booties came in handy because we booked this excursion at the last minute and did not pack appropriate clothing. The staff are friendly and professional and we could not have asked for a better experience. read more

These guys are LEGIT! Don't waste your money with a big commercial company that contracts the guides who don't know what they are doing. Go with Independent White Water. They have been doing this a long time and their guides know these waters intimately. That have been rafting this river for decades and you will feel very secure in their abilities! No gimmicks or tricks to get more money out of you. Just honest business with a local family owned and operated Rafting company! I can't wait to go back...Already planning our trip for next year! read more

We had such a good time! Dennison was an awesome guide and it was a memorable trip. I felt safe the entire time but still had enough adventure to have a blast. Highly recommend the Brown's Canyon Half Day trip! read more

This was the coolest experience I've had in Colorado yet! The guides were so cool, nice and genuine. We had Dan (who was the man) and he really did an excellent job of keeping us in the best Rapids. Would recommend the brown canyon trip to anyone looking for a good adventure. read more

Very knowledgeable and friendly guides. Definitely recommend for fun and simple nature views!

We visited Salida in July and decided to raft on the Arkansas. It was the first trip for myself and my 9 year old daughter. We chose the 1/2 day Brown's canyon trip and it was awesome. The guides are fun and knowledgable. They put you to work which is what we wanted, making it truly our own adventure. I highly recommend these guys and will be back again for another trip! read more

Safety-minded, fun-loving whitewater group. River has a few big thrills, but is slow enough for all ages. Guides are knowledgeable of the local area and augment the trip with historic tidbits of local lore. Great customer care. read more

What a great experience!! We took our children, ages 9 and 5, and the staff was excellent with them. Brown's Canyon was an awesome trip. Would go rafting with these guys any time. read more

We had two hours to take a float trip and these great folks made it happen. Throughly enjoyed our trip and hit some great rapids. Brown's canyon is spectacular from the river. Will definitely be back for a longer trip later. read more

I was solo in Salida for the weekend and jumped on a Saturday morning 1/2 day trip to Brown's Canyon. This was the perfect trip! Check-in was easy, all of the equipment was ready, and my guide was great! It was the perfect blend of an easy float and some great rapids. The best part: this company offers 2 more rapids than the other local companies which means a little more time on the water! I will be rafting here again as soon as I can! read more

John the guide is the absolute best and very professional while also being hilarious. Super fun ride through the rapids, would definitely do again. read more

This was our second trip with Independent--we did "Numbers" last year. We were equally as pleased with both trips and couldn't recommend Independent more highly. Booking is so easy, either online or by phone, and the staff is knowledgeable and efficient in making sure you get the experience you want. Guides are awesome and entertaining with their humor. More importantly, they are professionals who know the Arkansas, its flow, its notable landmarks and its rapids. We were totally confident in our guide's ability to navigate us safely through the rapids and direct us throughout the run. Bonus was the extra two miles and more rapids we got to ride with Independent versus any of the other rafting companies. We're sold on Independent and wouldn't book a rafting excursion with anyone else in Chaffee County. Oh yeah, the "Drift Inn": Your reward at the end of an awesome Independent Whitewater excursion. Located right on the river at IWW, the Drift Inn is the place to hang with your crew at the end of the run. Nicole makes the best margaritas in Chaffee County, and there's a good selection of beers and other thirst quenchers. Good food too. Best of all, the Drift Inn's location--just an extension of the great views you had all day on the river with plenty of seating, a tiki bar and fire pit. A must-do stop before heading home. read more

My six year grandson and I had a fantastic time on their family-friendly trip. Everyone at Independent Whitewater is friendly, personable, and professional. Our guide Zach was outstanding! We had plenty of thrills, wonderful rapids perfect for a six year old, and just plain fun for the entire trip. We couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more! read more

Such a good experience here. I did the half day Browns Canyon trip 6-19-19 and it was tons of fun! Lots of fast moving water that kept the entire trip exciting. Bubs was a great guide. read more

Family of 4 took the 1/2 day down Brown's Canyon and we couldn't have asked for a better time! Bubba was our raft guide and was exceptional! He was informative and entertaining! We had our 10 and 12 yo with us and they also had a great safe time! This company dropped us off at our campground as well!! Incredible customer service! Will definitely use this company again!! read more

We had an amazing time whitewater rafting with Joe, Craig, and Adam. Super fun day with super friendly instructors! Will definitely be back!

If you only have time (or the energy!) for a half-day trip, you can't beat IW's Browns Canyon trip. I got a big "attaboy" from my group of 11 for doing my homework and finding the best rafting company on the Arkansas River. Thanks to our guide Tiffany and all the crew there for making our run safe and fun! Looking forward to coming back earlier in the season next time for a full day trip. read more

This was my first time ever whitewater rafting and it will not be my last. The employees at IW were very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I recommend this place to anyone who wish's to have a exciting and safe whitewater rafting trip. read more

Was referred to this organization from the owner of our resort house. WHAT AN ORGANIZATION THIS IS!! We were a group of 7 with an elderly handicapped individual. John Allen and Mr. Foster went above and beyond for her to have an awesome trip. We never felt like we were inconveniencing them at all. The Browns Canyon trip was fabulous and breathtaking! I highly recommend this outfitter for your whitewater rafting trip in the Salida area!!! read more

Charity, our wonderfully peppy guide, led my wife, niece, three strangers and I on the "Snot yacht" through beautiful Brown's Canyon on Sunday, July 14th. Along the way, the alleged strangers became teammates as the Charity's personality brought the sarcasm out of all of us. It was a great time on the water and it was clear that Independent Whitewater was the right outfitter to use and Charity is the guide of choice. Don't waste your time with the pretenders! read more

Getting yelled at for 3 hours while you paddle hard isn't very fun, but if that's your thing, then by all means.. enjoy yourself. I will definitely never come back here, our guide was insanely rude and disrespectful to me. He would NOT stop berating me on what a horrible rafter I was. Okay, well how about you TEACH SOME TECHNIQUES before shoving us off into the rapids?!? Seriously! He later had to stop and teach us maneuvers because he said he "forgot." So while this man was "forgetful", myself and my friends are being yelled at to do something we don't understand because we haven't been told yet... WTF. Very POOR communication. And then when we finally had some peace and quiet, he wouldn't shut up about his personal life when NOBODY was asking! Very unprofessional. Just wanted a day of fun with friends but instead got stuck on a raft for hours with an unpleasant person. Sucks. read more

We had a terrific time on our rafting trip. First had lunch at their food hut and was delicious food. Our guide was so fun and made everyone feel safe. Ended with cocktails at the hut! Thanks for making it a great day! read more

We had an awesome experience. Our guide was Dan, super cool, friendly, knowledgable and remained professional. Spend the money and get the wet suit. Would totally do this again. Beautiful and thrilling. Go now!! read more