THRILLING AND FUN!!! What a rush! Our driver Kya picked us up at our hotel then headed to the boathouse to meet up with our guides Elaine and Anna. We were so fortunate to have them both as our guides. These ladies were pros. So knowledgeable, so strong and so fun!!! They gave clear instructions and guided us through the waters with such professionalism. They would explain interesting facts about the Shoshone River as we floated along certain parts, also on the bus ride they would explain fun facts along the road. Lunch was provided back on the bus which Kya drove like a champ. Highly recommend for anyone looking to have a thrilling Colorado adventure! read more

Lakota Guides - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

See all

We did the Shoshone whitewater River excursion (15 minutes of class 3 followed by 1.5 hours of class 2&1) which was perfect for novices like us. Very good communication and guidance during the sign up process and good information provided prior to arrival. The river experience was excellent. Our guides (Anna and Kaitlyn) were informative and entertaining during our 45 minute ride to the drop in near Glenwood Canyon. Our family felt very safe in their hands and we had a lot of fun on this trip. Anna was a fantastic guide and boat captain. After the excitement of the rapids we spent about another 1.5 hours floating and sometimes swimming. Highly recommend for people who haven't done it before. read more

Lakota Guides - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

Kaia was our guide and was fantastic. Very personable and an excellent raft driver. Our group of six sat back and let her do all the work. Terrific time on the river. read more

As a group of 9 friends looking for a way to enjoy a day in Vail, Lakota Guides offered the perfect day! Connor was our lead guide along with Margaret and Heath - all were hard working, professional and fun. Connor had so much knowledge about the environment- he made it interesting as well as fun! We highly recommend this company. read more

Lakota Guides - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

See all

Group of 6 took the lower eagle tour, with 5 of the 6 being on white water for the first time. With us were Anna, Kevin, and Paul. They were all super helpful in helping us get set up with wet gear due to the temperatures this early in the year and instructions on padding as a unit. This part of the river was class 3 rapids so there were some pretty exciting sections mixed in with some 5-10 min breaks of flat sections. We had one swimmer go overboard (first of the year I'm told) and the crew got him back into the boat quickly and safety. Overall a great experience and would definitely take another tour with Lakota if in the Vail area again. read more

Lakota Guides - Lower eagle river - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

We did a rafting trip with these guys this week. The 2 guides that stand out were Colton and Joe. Joe was our "bus entertainment" and info guy and Colton was our raft guide. They were both extremely fun but we felt very safe. We would recommend them to anyone. read more

We had a great experience doing Brown's Canyon after heavy rain. Class 3: Fun, not too scary, only almost fell out once. Good for early teens through mid-60's in good health. You have to row so it's a bit of a workout. Wolk was our boat captain, he was very good and we had confidence in him. All the guides were good natured and seemed to know what they were doing. Would recommend. read more

Lakota Guides - Almost got dumped. - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

This place is first class. We did the Lower Eagle tour and it was a perfect day. The satff were very kind, professional, and thrurough. They got us the right gear, made sure it fit and was safe. It was a short 20 minute ride to the put-in spot. Informational talk and safety brief on the bus was comprehensive, but not overwhelming. Safety points made us aware, without adding more worry to the trip for us beginners. Brian was such a positive leader. Our guides were outstanding. Very qualified and personable. They made the trip entertaining and enjoyable. Kate, Shea (sp?) and Sam all were great. The trip itself was the perfect combination of relaxing and exciting with about 4 different Class 3 rapids. We were well prepared (thanks to our guide Kate) and those rapids were fun and not fearsome. The scenery was unmatched. The mountains and landscape was breathtaking and we some some amazing homes and at least 5 bald eagles. I would recommend this to anyone. Couldn't ask for a better afternoon or a better group than Lakaota Guides. read more

We had the best day with Lakota Guides!!! The staff are ALL so lovely - super helpful, super friendly, super patient, and super fun!!! We did the half day Shoshone whitewater rafting trip and had a ton of fun! Highly highly recommend this trip and this company!!! Thanks so much everyone!! read more

I would have given five stars but they tricked us lol. I signed up for Class I rapids but they decided we needed more so took us down another part of the river with Class III rapids, which was fine, except my daughter and sis were wearing contacts and weren't prepared for the onslaught. Our tour guide was good tho and equipment clean, I just prefer the rapids further west (i.e. Aspen). The optional pix you can buy are pretty pricey for what other rafting companies give you, but at least you get some ok shots, worth documenting the memories in my opinion. And the local scenery is great, just be prepared for the heat and volatile thunderstorms that have a tendency to pop up in CO. ;) read more

Lakota Guides - Class III Rapids: Explore the rapids of the Arkansas River on a raft raft with a professional guide - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

Great day on the river with our guide Kevin! Highly recommend Lakota Guides for your next river excursion.

Fun guides! Gives a lot of information and makes sure everyone knows the jargon of white water rafting! Definitely recommend:)

We had a great time doing the lower eagle rafting trip. It was a good balance of some short rapids and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery. All the guides were very personable and even humorous. They did a good job of pointing out landmarks, wildlife such as the bald eagles and nests, along with some history of the towns and river. We plan to go back and do a class IV rapid guide next time. Good experience with the guides and company. Guides were professional and safe as well making sure everyone enjoyed the river along with the scenery. read more

Everyone we spoke with was very nice and getting ready was easy. They have everything you need and they explain everything up front. Wolk was a great guide. We did the Class II rafting and it was suitable for any age. We will try the Class III next time for a little more adventure. read more

The guides were very knowledgeable about the river we rafted. Our guide Sam was super cool and gave us a great experience on the river. He was extremely knowledgeable about the river and the surrounding area. He made our overall experience on the raft extremely fun. I would recommend this company for anyone looking to have a great time on the river. read more

My son and I enjoyed a great whitewater rafting trip with our guide, Bella, and driver, Lauren! They were knowledgeable about the area, funny, and kept us safe on the river. We will definitely be back to raft Brown's Canyon next year! read more

I went on the 9am Shoshone trio with my 13 yr old. It was both lovely and thrilling. The guides have a rated dad jokes and makes the long drive very enjoyable. While it seems intimidating at times it's honestly a very family friendly adrenaline rush. Also, the guides let you know all about the history of the canyon and points out cool scenery so you can really immerse yourself in your adventure even if you are just a pseudo outdoorsman that only went because the kids made you. read more

Lakota Guides - Soshone rapids - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

So glad my family pestered me into joining the group for a rafting adventure. They picked up our group at the Vail Transportation Center and drove us a few miles to their normal departure point. Upon arriving we were ushered into a room to fill out waiver forms. From there we all picked up our PFDs and then congregated for the safety discussion; then it was onto the long ride to our launch point. Joe ( not Daryl ) was very entertaining, my guess is if I went again it would be the same jokes. Nevertheless, it helped pass the time. The tail end of the ride is bumpy! We reached the launch point after about an hour and 15 minutes. Decided up into boats of 8 and debarked and began leisurely floating with the current. The trip topped out with a few level 3 which was enough to get wet. For the most part you are just going with the flow. There was a brief stop for the adventurous members of the group to cliff dive! At first I wasn't into jumping into such cold water, but as we sat watching folks jumping I decided I had to do it. So glad I did, it was a lot of fun. After the cliff diving we made our way to our lunch destination. So you never know what you're gonna get on the trips, lunch was delicious. Either Orlando or Jenessa did a great job preparing a yummy fajita lunch. Lunch wrapped up and we continued our float down the river. There was one stretch with a steady pace of lvl 2 rapids. Rob, our guide seemed to have it in for me and consistently made sure the biggest splashes were on my side of the boat. After that the rest of the trip was very mellow... They took us all back to the transportation center instead of bringing us to the main office area to drop off the rafts. If your group has pre-teens or seniors, this mellow float is ideal. If you decide to go, you won't be sorry! read more

Last minute adventure planned for my wife and I and we were not disappointed. Had an amazing time with Wolk as our guide. The entire team led with a professional yet fun approach. A free shuttle picked up and dropped off in vail. 100% would pick again for future trips and would recommend to anyone and everyone. read more

Lakota Guides - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

Our family of four just did this rafting tour on the Colorado River. Lakota Guides is a super class act! We were so happy with our trip. Our guide, Chase, was as fun and informative and professional as they come. We have two younger children, ages 9 and 11. Chase made them feel completely comfortable and welcome, and what's more, my kids can't stop talking about what an amazing experience they had. We are so happy with our rafting experience and we will definitely choose Lakota Guides for our next adventure. Thank you all so much. The Woods Family. read more

We had originally planned to raft a class 3 but due to the mud slides we were unable to. They called us in advance to let us know and we ended up going a class 1-2 with Pete as our tour guide. He was awesome and made it an incredibly fun time. Class 2 is perfect for families with young kids. Safe, fun, but doesn't require a lot of work from the passengers. We'll definitely be back again! read more

We did the half day Arkansas river trip out of Buena Vista and it was absolutely amazing! Our guide, "Keeper" was very experienced and was funny throughout the trip! The river was unusually high for July 5th so the rapids were quite larger than normal! It was such a blast and I would do this trip again in a heartbeat! read more

See all

We had a large group for horseback riding here three weeks ago, including children. I am an experienced rider having grown up with a horse. Most of the horses were fine but I ended up with a horse that was extremely skiddish. I found out during the ride that they leased this horse and had only had him a short time. He spooked on the ride and nicked me off. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt but I could not in good conscience recommend this place for trail rides. We have been many times with Bearcat Stables and had great experiences. I understand that horses can be unpredictable but we had several horses that were a little more to handle than I would expect on a family ride with small children. read more

On June 24, 2021, the forecast called for severe weather, so before leaving our condo, I called to inquire if the trip was going forward. I was assured everything would be fine. When we arrived, we were greeted by our early 20s "guide" from Oklahoma who had been working at the ranch for only a couple of weeks. Not surprisingly given this background, he was anything but the "interpretive tour guide" who was a "local expert with extensive safety training" we were told to expect. He had no clue about basic details and couldn't answer simple questions let alone help us "learn of history, geology, flora and fauna" as we were promised. At one stop, he pointed toward a number of mountains and told us there were three ACTIVE volcanos in the distance but was not sure which of the mountains fell into this category. He took us to the original homestead but could not tell us anything about it, including when it was built. I could go on. But as uninformed as he was, I must give him credit for getting us safely home in the driving rainstorm that cut our tour short. Despite the weather forecast, the tour went forward. Before we could finish the tour, it became obvious we needed to turn back. Our guide first stopped to get out what he thought was a roof for the back of the jeep. It turned out to be giant tarp that didn't attach to the jeep. We later learned the ranch expected the guide to put the tarp over the entire jeep and wait out the storm. Fortunately, he didn't know to do that or we likely would have had to spend the night in the jeep with no cell service because no one came looking for us despite the fact that we were more than an hour late getting back. When the rain came, it turned the dusty road we had been traveling on into a slimy, muddy trail that the jeep could barely drive on. We drove at less than 5 miles an hour the entire way back, hugging the side of the mountain and frequently having to come to a complete stop to cease our sliding towards the sheer cliff on the other side of the road. While all of this was going on, my wife and daughter were in the back, in the same seat because only one of them had a functioning seat belt, huddled under the tarp trying to keep dry and avoid the mud being thrown into the passenger area as the wheels spun. Despite the tarp, they were soaked and we all had mud on our clothes by the time we finished our harrowing journey back to the site of the dinner. When we arrived, our driver hopped out of the jeep, went to the table and immediately began eating while we struggled to get out of the jeep with our belongings without slipping and falling in the slimy mud where he parked. By the time we got to the table, he was nearly done shoveling food into his face as fast as he could. After we finished our lukewarm dinner (given that it had taken us more than an hour longer to get back than planned), eaten with a handful of staff and only two other customers who had taken an ATV ride because the horseback rides had wisely been canceled despite the fact that we were sent out to cheat death, we were waved on our way without so much as a casual "sorry you got soaked and muddy and your trip was cut short". This was truly the worst experience we've ever had on a vacation. We sent these notes to Lakota, but have not received a response. A simple apology and assurance they would fix the seat belt for the next group would have been enough. read more

Vineyard was a totally legit guide and the trip was awesome! I had never gone white water rafting and was kinda terrified but I felt totally prepared and not like I was gonna die while still getting some thrills and some views! Easy peasy and fun for grandpa behind us and his grand daughter Leilei- both of these people used to be strangers and now we are one with the boat. read more

My group of friends and I booked a last minute rafting tour with Lakota and they were very accommodating with answering questions and fitting us in. Leah was our tour guide and she made the experience one we will never forget! They give you all gear you need from water booties, to wet suit+jacket, helmet and snacks at the end! We did the lower eagle at high water and will definitely be returning. read more

We took the Upper Colorado Family Adventure today. The staff was good-natured, humorous, and helpful. On the bus ride to the entry point, staff member Dave provided anecdotes and useful insider information about this region of Colorado. I learned a lot that you wouldn't learn in a guidebook or online. This excursion is extremely family friendly. We went over a few rapids that sprayed some people in the raft but nothing too extreme. It was a very nice introduction to rafting. The guide in our raft, Crosby, was the kind of person who really loves his job. He provided great descriptions of the area's wildlife. When people like what they do for a living, it rubs off on you. read more

Lakota Guides - This is Lakota Guides' s business location in Avon. It's a short drive by bus to the river we drafted on. - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

My husband and I did both a rafting adventure on Eagle Creek and a sunset horseback ride at Beir Ranch with the Lakota Guides and we couldn't be more impressed. The staff, facilities, and safety measures were top notch. For our rafting trip, I was nervous as I hadn't whitewater rafted before. The Lakota team gave a thorough safety briefing and overview of the equipment and the commands we'd be following. We did an intermediate part of the river - Mid Eagle - just outside of Vail and our guide, Erica, put our entire boat at ease. Erica told us that conditions on the river were top notch due to the rains and snow melt, and she was an expert guiding us to just the right rapids. We even did some Class IV's (which were the MOST fun!). Her jokes (What do you call a bear with no teeth?) also cracked me up. Later in the week, we drove about an hour from Vail to Glenwood Springs, CO to do a sunset horseback ride also hosted by Lakota Guides. Despite having part of the group arrive late, our horseback riding guides Tom and Grace were professional, kind and kept everyone safe. The horses were well-cared for and patient with the varied levels of horsemanship in our large group. When we arrived on horseback to the dinner spot a few hours into the ride, the Beir Ranch team was grilling steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and baked beans. The food was SO GOOD and honestly the steaks were some of the best we'd ever had. I'd highly recommend doing a sunset ride with Grace and Tom. It was a really memorable experience! read more

First time in Vail and first time whitewater rafting! The entire team was excellent with Bryan being a first rate guide...we will be back for sure! read more

I was impressed... I did not raft with Lakota, my family did, I was benched for medical reasons. Curtis a guide who had taken my family down the river flagged me down in the parking lot. I was picking up the family. He brought me to my family and we had a great conversation. I went from being benched to being apart of the experience; he showed me the pics and described the experience. Thank you. And your cookies are great! read more

My family and I had a very good time white water rafting. We chose Lakota Guides based on Yelp reviews and that they were located in Edwards, close to where we are staying in Beaver Creek, meaning just a few minute drive from Avon, and Beaver Creek. We signed up for the morning 'Shoshone' trip which is an intermediate run, with category III rapids in spots. It was nice that after reserving our spots, they send an email not only validating the reservation, but also a link to sign the necessary waivers online (it was nice to take care of this online, so you don't have to fill out a bunch of paperwork when you get there). After showing up, it was a rainy cool morning (50's and windy!) they provided wetsuits for everyone, and then we loaded into a van for a 25-30 minute drive to our drop off on point on the Colorado river. The drive itself is beautiful, and the guides were funny and friendly during the drive without being obnoxious. Once there, we helped carry the rafts down to the river and were on our way pretty quickly. The rafting is approximately 10 miles long and last about 1.5-2 hours. We had a great time, including our seven year old daughter who couldn't stop smiling the whole time. The rapids were fun, and scenery is breathtaking. Our guide was great, and had knowledge of the area, and has been a guide for 15 years. After arriving at the end of our trip, there are picnic tables, and the driver had laid out food for everyone. Fajitas, chips, cookies, etc. One tip would be to pack a bag of clothes to change into, as were we a bit cold and it would have been nice to have something warm to change into before the drive back. I would definitely go rafting again with these guys. read more

Lakota Guides - Rapids on the Colorado! - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

What an amazing rafting trip! We've done 5 other trips in north Carolina as well Colorado and this was hands down the best. Our guide Erica was witty and a bit of a bad ass. So knowledgeable. Felt completely comfortable that we were in great hands if something went wrong ( it didn't!!) Can't wait to come back!! Highly recommend the middle eagle run. Lots of activity the whole way! read more

We had a great time on the Colorado River. Mike Wolk was our guide. He was knowledgeable and entertaining.

The whole family (10 of us) booked Lakota Guides for a day of white water rafting and it couldn't have been more epic! Not only was the experience incredible and the scenery unlike any other... but the guides were well-trained, knowledgable, and hilarious. If you're looking for a trip full of cutting edge adventure and unmatched guidance - Lakota is for you! If you are able to request guides Lombardi and Mark - I can promise you will be in great hands! Thank you for a great day! read more

Super helpful when booking! The drive from Beaver creek to the location was an adventure in itself. Did the 1/2 day Brown Canyon raft trip. We had a very experienced guide. We felt safe yet had an adventurous exciting trip. Highly recommend! Side note! Ride back was very cold! Bring a sweatshirt and dry clothes to ride home in! And save time by registering in line. read more

Lakota Guides - Lakota rafting trip! - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

See all

The boats, rivers, and rapids are all the same on any given day. At Lakota, they know that the staff and the guides make the difference. The Lakota guides are the ones that other guides would be willing to ride with. We felt totally safe, well prepared, and had the time of our life. The Lakota staff is professional and friendly. We will never ride with anyone else. read more

Terrific river rafting experience. Our family has taken two trips with this group in two years. Both were excellent! Note that they moved their boathouse from Edwards to Avon before the 2016 season. read more

Lakota Guides - Boating Near Me - Avon, Colorado

The best experience. Staff is excellent Wish it was longer bit still a lot of fun. Guides are entertaining and informative. I will use them again when I return next trip. read more

We did a half day rafting trip with our 4 teens. Parker was our guide. He was awesome, super friendly and we felt confident in his rafting skills. I would use this company again for another rafting trip for sure. read more

We had an amazing 4th of July float on the Upper Colorado with our guide Connor. All of our guides were fun, knowledgeable and made the experience enjoyable for everyone, young and old. Perfect way to spend a day celebrating our beautiful country! Highly recommend read more