How to Go Winter Rafting
This article within this link above was written by and is the property of Rocky Mountain Rafts. In no way does Jones Guides claim ownership nor title to the ideas presented within the article linked.
Maybe the snow is not great this year, and you just don’t want to ski. Or perhaps you have the itch to keep rafting well into the winter after everyone else has put their rafts away for the season. Or you’re a numbskull like me and want to do something rad that others wouldn’t dare to do.
I get it!
Rafting in the winter is a top-notch way to spend your time and find pure solitude on the water.
In the article linked in the top photo, Rocky Mountain Rafts details ways to prepare for your time on the water during the winter and be safe.
So what do you need to start winter boating, you ask? The list of gear is not short, unfortunately. Nor is it inexpensive.
A dry suit, plenty of fleece (like, A LOT of fleece), insulated boots, river gloves, and a tolerance for being wet AND cold are some of the requirements, to name a few.
Per Rocky Mountain Rafts, one of the key pieces of gear you need is a dry suit.
A dry suit is a water-tight outer piece that keeps you dry with its neck and wrist gaskets as well as its waterproof zippers. For lady river rats, a women’s specific dry suit is recommended because of its zippered butt flap that allows for going #1 and #2 with ease.
Rafting in the winter isn’t always easy (nor warm), but with the right gear and mindset, it can be done! In this image, Casey Jones of Trail Made Designs grinds through some flatwater of the Grand Canyon on March 7, 2022. Her fleece hoody piece is from Bri Moore Creative and is called a Snoid Hood.
Click here for Rocky Mountain Raft’s article on why Winter Rafting is AWESOME and how to prepare for a safe and fun time on the river.
A Go Pro still shot from paddling a Rocky Mountain Rafts Taylor IK-126 down the Poudre River near Fort Collins, Colorado, during an April 2021 winter storm.
About the Author:
Dan Jones, author, owner and founder of Jones Guides, is a Crested Butte angling guide and a fanatic about adventuring in the mountains and on rivers.
From whitewater paddling to overnight expeditions to fly fishing some of Colorado’s best trout streams, you can always find Dan smiling when he’s on the river.
For more information about fly fishing in Crested Butte with Dan this year, contact him via email at trout@jonesguides.com.