FAQ: Cherry Creek Rafting Trip

Cherry Creek is not a casual rafting trip. The most important factors to consider are physical readiness, comfort in moving water, and your ability to work well as part of a team.

You should be:

• Active, not overweight, and physically capable
• Comfortable swimming in moving water
• Within an appropriate height–weight ratio
• Willing to take direction and contribute as a paddler
• Excited by adventure and ready for a challenge

If you’re unsure whether Cherry Creek is right for you, we encourage you to read When Are You Ready for Class 5 Rafting?

Yes. You must be able to swim confidently. At a minimum, you should be able to easily swim the length of a public swimming pool. Early in the trip, you will complete a required swim practice that includes:

• Swimming a short distance across the river in small Class II waves
• In calm water, holding your breath and swimming under the raft from one side to the other

If you are unable to complete this practice, you will not be able to continue the trip, and refunds are not provided.

You need to be ready to paddle hard and respond quickly to guide commands, but you do not need to be a triathlete to have a great trip on Cherry Creek. Many of Cherry Creek’s Class V rapids are followed by pools or eddies where we can regroup and rest before tackling the next series. That said, this is a physically demanding day on the river. If you are anywhere near 250 lbs, please call us before booking so we can talk through whether this trip is appropriate.

On Cherry Creek, staying balanced and staying in the boat is especially important. The rafts we use must be handled precisely in technical whitewater, and guests need to be able to maintain stability and move efficiently within the boat.

Guests who are very large - due to height, weight, or both - often:

• Have difficulty fitting comfortably in the raft
• Struggle to stay balanced in complex whitewater
• Have a harder time re-entering the boat from the water if needed

This also increases the difficulty of assisting them, placing additional strain on fellow paddlers and guides. For these reasons, 250 lbs is the maximum weight we are comfortable taking on Cherry Creek, and we strongly prefer guests to be well below that limit. If you have questions about your specific situation, please call us.

No. Cherry Creek requires current physical readiness, not past athletic experience. If you’re not actively in shape right now, even if you were very fit years ago, this is not the right trip at the moment.

You should have prior rafting experience or other relevant whitewater or watersport experience.

Cherry Creek is much more than a day of challenging whitewater. Our guides love this river for its rare combination of whitewater, striking natural beauty, and the chance to genuinely connect with guests - something our guests consistently tell us they value as well. Our approach to rafting is rooted in sharing a deep appreciation for beautiful places and high adventure. And because only two companies are permitted to commercially guide Cherry Creek, each trip feels private and unique.

All-Outdoors is one of the most experienced whitewater outfitters in California.

• Commercial rafting since 1962
• Running Cherry Creek trips since 1988
• Cherry Creek guide team has worked together for over a decade
• Guides have experience on rivers throughout the U.S. and internationally
• Team members have lead first descent expeditions, train newer guides, and act as company mentors

Owner Scott Armstrong has been rafting for over 40 years and often personally guides Cherry Creek trips. As a company, AO routinely operates advanced rivers like the Tuolumne across a wider range of flows than other outfitters.

Every Cherry Creek trip includes a dedicated guide boat or cataraft running in the lead position. On a river as demanding as Cherry Creek, this improves the guest-to-guide ratio and provides experienced assistance positioned below each rapid, along with added support both on and off the water - something our guests consistently appreciate.

Meeting the evening before allows the trip to start smoothly and on time. Years of experience have shown us that a same-morning meet is simply too rushed - meeting at 6 am, reaching the put-in by 7, eating a quick breakfast, and launching by 8 leaves little room to slow down and prepare. The evening meet gives guides and guests time to get to know each other, review important information, and prepare for the day ahead. This approach sets the tone for the trip and ensures everyone starts the river day focused, confident, and ready for the best possible Cherry Creek experience.

Cherry Creek trips are very resource-intensive and require our most experienced guides. They include:

• A dedicated guide boat or cataraft
• A very low guest-to-guide ratio (often as low as 2:1)
• Wetsuits, paddle jackets, two meals, and snacks

These elements are essential to how we operate Cherry Creek trips.

Yes. There are two rapids that are walked around. These portages do not have established trails and involve moving over and around boulders of varying sizes.

When you reserve a Cherry Creek trip, we assume your skills and abilities meet our stated guidelines. We allocate guides, boats, and resources specifically for you. If you are unable to complete the required swim practice or decide not to continue at the river, refunds are not provided.