Gunnison-Crested Butte see best rafting season ever for Gunnison River Festival

The community raft race at the Gunnison River Festival. This year's event takes place June 23 – 26.

Just as what goes up, must come down, Colorado rivers are rushing with whitewater after record snowfalls this past winter and local outfitters in Gunnison-Crested Butte are expecting one of the best rafting seasons ever due to snow pack in the Taylor River Drainage that is approximately 150 percent of normal levels.

Not only is there great rafting and kayaking, ranging from Class I to IV for guided trips on the Gunnison and Taylor Rivers, but you’ll see amazing tricks at the Gunnison Whitewater Park, the annual Gunnison River Festival which takes place this year June 23 – 26. Some of the toughest kayaking in the United States is on the Crystal River in Marble, ranging from Class II to V+.

“We’re really excited about the water levels and should have great levels all year long. It also opens up some routes for the Upper Upper Taylor in an area we call Lottis Creek, with Class III and IV water that hasn’t been doable for the last couple of seasons,” says Matt Brown, co-owner of Scenic River Tours with offices in Gunnison and seven miles up the Taylor Canyon, www.scenicrivertours.com.

“We are now offering raft trips every day.  The Taylor River is running higher right now than all of last year and summer flows may be at the highest level we’ve seen in 14 years.  Some think this is scary, but it actually makes the river less technical and smoother to navigate since the rocks are under water and it’s more fun because of the bigger waves,” adds Mark Schumacher, owner of Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting in Almont, www.3riversresort.com.

Gunnison River Festival, June 23 – 26
For a unique blend of hardcore and lighthearted outdoor recreation for all ages, don’t miss the ninth annual Gunnison River Festival.  Where else can you find a mix of USA Freestyle kayaking, a costume river parade, downriver raft race, hooligan race, kayak enduro, raft rodeo, foam boat and Strider Cup bike races for kids?

Gunnison Whitewater Park, redesigned in 2007 and 2008 and with a new feature and footbridge added in 2010, serves as home base for the festival at the corner of Highway 50 West and County Road 38.  Add in Taylor River near Almont and Oh-Be-Joyful Creek near Crested Butte and there is serious fun to be had on area waters.

The USA Freestyle Kayak (USAFK) tour returns to the festival in 2011 with a national point series. Classes include cadet (youth), open men/women and pro classes.  Also, National Whitewater Rafting paddlers will join the North Bridge Paddle Race.  “This brings a new element of great kayaking and rafting to our event as we are now part of the pro tour.  Freestyle kayaking is making an effort to become an Olympic sport by 2020,” says event organizer Angie Mauldin.

For costs, information, and registration forms, visit www.gunnisonriverfestival.com or call (970) 596-7094.

The following schedule is subject to change.

Thursday, June 23
• Go With The Flow Yoga on the River, 6:45 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Event registration and live music by “Red Lady String Quartet,” 5 – 7 p.m. – IOOF Park

Friday, June 24
• Vendor’s Arena/Demo Expo, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Sunset Concert with live music by “Better Late Than Never,” 6 – 8 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Go With The Flow Yoga on the River, 6:45 p.m. – Whitewater Park

Saturday, June 25
• Registration Booth, Opens at 8 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• Community River Parade, 9 a.m. – Northbridge to Whitewater Park
• Downriver Raft Race, 9:30 a.m. – Northbridge to Whitewater Park
• Opening Ceremony, 10 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• SUP Downriver Race, 11 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• USA Freestyle Kayak Races, all day – Whitewater Park
• River City Fun Zone for kids featuring interactive and educational activities to understand watersheds and underwater life, foam boat races and a Strider Cup bike race. Opens at 11 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• SUP Surf Comp, 2 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Raft Rodeo, 2 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Hooligan Race (competitors race in boats made from non-boat materials such as inner tubes, kegs, barrels, etc.), 3:30 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Live Music by “Simpler Times,” 4 – 6 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Raft Sprint Race, 5 p.m. – Whitewater Park

Sunday, June 26
• Registration, Opens at 8 a.m. – Almont
• Taylor Canyon Endure, 10 a.m. – Whitewater Put-In to Confluence
• Upper Taylor Downriver Race, 10:30 a.m. – Whitewater Put-In to South Bank
• Lower Taylor Family Float, Noon – 5-Mile Put-in
• Barbeque and live music, 4 p.m. – Almont Resort, Almont

Adventure Packages
Dinner Float Trip
Enjoy the area’s only dinner cruise, Rocky Mountain style!  Start out at Three Rivers Resort in Almont by 4 p.m. and enjoy a 10-mile scenic float trip on the Gunnison River to Garlic Mike’s Restaurant for a delicious Italian dinner. You will receive the float trip, vehicle shuttle and a voucher for Garlic Mike’s (tip is extra). The total time required is approximately three hours.  The trip is available seven nights a week with at least 24 hours notice and a minimum of four people.  For prices and reservations, call Three Rivers Resort at (888) 761-3474.

Lodging & Rafting Deal
Save on lodging and rafting when staying two nights or more at Three Rivers Resort in Almont from May 1 – June 10 and Aug. 15 – Sept. 30.  For only $100 per person, receive two night’s lodging in a lodge room or small, one-room cabin and one Upper Taylor whitewater raft trip each.  Price is based on two-person occupancy and does not include lodging taxes.  This offer is not valid with any other offers or existing reservations and can be booked by calling (888) 761-3474.  Other lodging options and custom packages can be arranged.  Visit www.3riversresort.com.

Rock & Raft Package
Scenic River Tours is offering a new Rock & Raft Package, featuring a full day of adventure that includes lunch by the river.  Participants will whitewater raft the Taylor River until noon, stop for lunch, and raft some more before stopping to rock climbing in a new area being developed by Scenic River Tours.  Wrap up the day with more time on the water.  For more information and the cost, call (970) 641-3131 or visit www.scenicrivertours.com.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about Gunnison-Crested Butte’s calendar of events and personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free number (800) 814-8893 or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines with flights from Denver.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options — from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.

Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area’s conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.

Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country’s newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

See more travel features at:

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www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

Rafting season opens on the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colorado

Chaffee County in Colorado is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, zip lining, swimming, tennis, golfing and horseback riding © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As the snow melts on the mighty Sawatch Range, the Arkansas River becomes the center of attention and action in Chaffee County. The Arkansas flows through the heart of Chaffee County, gracing the downtowns of both Salida and Buena Vista with her beauty and world-renowned whitewater, fly-fishing, scenery and river festivals. High water levels translate to the start of summer river rafting and kayaking fun up and down the county. The Arkansas River and specifically Brown’s Canyon is the most rafted area in the world. The great winter snows will make this rafting season one of the best on record.

Memorial weekend officially kicks off the Whitewater season with PaddleFest 2011 and the BV Pro Rodeo. Not to be out done by the Granddaddy of whitewater festivals, the 63rd Annual New Belgium FIBArk, June 15-19, 2011. Around these two events, rafters, kayakers, river strollers and fly fisher-persons come to Chaffee County because it is the perfect river community.

For rafting enthusiasts, Browns Canyon is sure to please as splashy class III whitewater winds through a dramatic canyon. The adrenaline junkie can head upstream to class IV-V sections like Pine Creek and the Numbers, where even the most seasoned boaters tremble in their booties. Or, if drifting in warm sun is more your style, try a mellow float trip. With more than 30 outfitters in the county, beginning May 1st, the rafting trip of your dreams can easily become a reality.

For play-boating kayakers, both Salida and Buena Vista have world class playholes right downtown. For those who prefer dry land picnic and strolls, the river walk in Salida and footbridge in Buena Vista have beautiful scenery and trails to wind away the hours.

Dropping a fly or line into the current more your speed? Indulge your need for solitude and sport on the cool waters of the Arkansas. Brown and rainbow trout lurk beneath stunning vistas and shady cottonwood-lined banks as the river sets an ambling pace from its headwaters near Leadville.

PaddleFest 2011 and the BV Pro Rodeo, May 27-29, 2011 starts the summer whitewater boating season Memorial weekend in downtown Buena Vista. Join a pro kayaker for a freestyle clinic, take a guided tour on the river, participate in a ‘how to’ clinic, show off your skills in a fun kayak competition in the new river park or relax and watch live music and videos. The entire weekend will also promote awareness and raise funds for all aspects of the Buena Vista River Park. This includes trails, open space, river access, climbing boulders, and instream river features. This action-packed weekend of fun, educational activities, demonstrations, pro kayakers and camaraderie is for all ages and abilities.

The BV Pro Rodeo will be the centerpiece of Paddlefest 2011 with the world’s top athletes battling it out on the new and improved Buena Vista River Park, Friday and Saturday. Winners will be crowned the king and queen of the Buena Vista Riverpark and will take home one of the largest cash purses of the 2011 Pro Rodeo circuit. For more information visit www.ckspaddlefest.com.

The Granddaddy of all river events belongs to Salida, this year the 63rd Annual New Belgium FIBArk will once again draw international competitors and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to the banks of the Arkansas in downtown Salida, June 15-19, 2011. This festival celebrates history, beer, wild boats, free music and mountain folk. Competitions in every aspect of boating is the history of the festival, but a parade, running hill climb, skate competition, new mountain bike race, Hooligan race, pancake breakfast and carnival are only a handful of the great fun that consumes Riverside Park in downtown Salida. A true local favorite, this is the oldest, most prestigious and perhaps toughest river competition in North America or the world for that matter! For more information visit www.fibark.com.

Whether you are rafting, kayaking, angling, hanging out at a festival or just relaxing by the river watching birds and clouds float above, the Arkansas and Chaffee County is the perfect place to enjoy time together or find the perfect antidote for the stresses of modern life.

ABOUT CHAFFEE COUNTY:

Chaffee County is located in Central Colorado, the Heart of the Colorado Rockies. As Colorado’s Headwaters of Adventure – it stars the small towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs as well as Monarch Mountain. Folks drawn here enjoy the welcome contrasts to the state’s more glamorous destination resorts. You don’t need the trendiest clothes or newest equipment to fit in with the locals. However, if you do have a thirst for adventure we have more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in. Twelve of the states 53, 14,000 foot peaks touch the sky here in Chaffee County.

In spring, summer and fall Chaffee County is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, horseback riding, zip lining, swimming, tennis and golfing. Winter sports fans can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Monarch Mountain, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Year-around visitors in the “banana belt” can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops in the historic towns of Salida and Buena Vista. Lodging options range from motels to rustic inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, beautiful campsites to guest ranches.

For more information and a complimentary brochure, visit www.NowThisIsColorado.com.