The Roaring Fork
The Roaring Fork River runs 70 miles from Independence Pass through Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale until it reaches its confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. During its journey the waters drop over 6,000 feet in elevation, more than the Mississippi River drops in its entire length!
The Ute Indians called it "Thunder River" no doubt from the roaring sound it makes during spring runoff. Many species of wildlife rely on the river corridor for their survival, making it a great place to view elk, Bald Eagles, osprey, great blue herons, moose, mule deer, and more.
The Roaring Fork River offers abundant recreational opportunities including white water rafting, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and fishing. Gold Medal trout waters can be found within the section between Basalt and Glenwood Springs. Call us for your shuttle!
Credit: roaringfork.org
The Colorado
The Colorado River starts in Rocky Mountain National Park along the jagged edge of the Continental Divide at over 12,000 feet of elevation. The river cascades, flows, tumbles, and rumbles through 1,450 miles of mountains, canyons, high plains, and low deserts on its journey to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. The entire Southwest United States completely depends on the Colorado River and its tributaries – the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, and California use the river’s water for farming, drinking, growing lawns, and generating hydroelectric power.
Thirty million people in the Southwest use the Colorado River’s water for their material sustenance; millions more use the river itself for recreation and spiritual enjoyment. The river quenches our thirst, feeds our souls, and enlivens our senses. And we are not the only inhabitants using this river – its waters, canyons, and habitats provide a vibrant but deeply threatened ecosystem for untold numbers of plant and animal species. All of these competing demands make the Colorado River one of the most contested and controlled rivers on Earth.
Credit: savethecolorado.org
