What's New in 2010

  View Our New Video on YouTube!

Our new building is up and we've moved in. We now have the best rafting facility in Northern Colorado. Our new building has a large retail area, nice restroom/changing facilities, shower availability, large park for hanging out before and after your trip, and the largest parking area, by far, for tour buses, RV's, and passenger vehicles. Come and enjoy the sun or shade in our park!

We have opened a new office in Downtown Estes Park! You can find us downtown at 215 Park Lane (downtown on the Park!). Stop in for information or to book your exciting rafting adventure while you're downtown or while enjoying the music in Bond Park.

A-1 Wildwater, Inc. Receives 2009 Best of Fort Collins Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- A-1 Wildwater, Inc. has been selected for the 2009 Best of Fort Collins Award in the River Trips category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on QUALITY, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

Other News...

We are very excited to start our 29th season of providing high quality river adventures. We are looking forward to a great season with the melting of a tremendous snow pack coupled with a cool spring.  2010 should be one of the best water years in about 15 years.  We have 20 returning guides for 2010, far higher than any other company on the Poudre.  We also have our bus drivers, office staff, manager, and photographer (superb) and owner (29 years as owner, 38 years on the river) back for another summer.  Our guides won the prestigious Poudre races for the last 2 of the 3 years that the race has been run.  The race is a pitting of all the company guides against one another for a wild ride through the most challenging section of whitewater rafted by the various companies.  The annual race was once again held on the solstice during the high water season adding an extra level of challenge and intestinal fortitude to the race.   To maneuver a raft down the river at full speed near peak flows requires quite a high level of skill and knowledge.  Our guides won handily with about a 30 second lead over the next closest company.  So for the best and most experienced guides and staff, go with us.  For full race results and more on the races see the “Race results section” on the webpage.

We are currently constructing a new building and doing many site improvements such as a park and new parking lots on the new site we acquired in May of 2007. The new building will include offices, an enhanced retail area, spacious changing rooms including modern bathrooms and shower facilities. The existing building on the site will be used for gear storage and a warehouse.   We’ve got almost 4 acres and will have a new parking lot with lots of room for all types of vehicles including RV’s and tour buses.  Our close proximity to the Canyon means you’ll have only a short ride to the exciting and beautiful Poudre River.  We’ll also have a nice outdoor park for our guests to enjoy before and after their adventures.   There will be other new amenities also on the site.  We are very excited to be in the construction phase of our project after spending many months navigating the truly harrowing waters of the county site review process.  But when all is said and done our new facility will be far and away the nicest, largest, most easily accessed, and modern facility available for rafting on the Poudre River.  Please excuse the ongoing construction we are experiencing presently. 

We are especially excited about the higher water levels expected for the 2010 rafting season. The abundant snowpack and cool spring will extend the season and the higher water levels make the ride down the canyon even more fun and exciting than normal.  Safety is our primary concern but our guides are also known as the most fun on the River.  We are the only company that uses 3 different sizes of boats on the river so you’ll be insured of the safest and most enjoyable ride down the canyon.   When the water is high we use our rafts with enhanced tube diameter and self bailing capacity as an extra safety measure.  These boats are more stable and bail water much faster than the boats our competitors use.  When the water is at a medium level we use our midsized boats to give you the best and safest ride.  When the water is low we use our small boats which keep the ride exciting and challenging.  We often have a safety kayaker and/or cataraft boater or both who accompany our high water trips as an added safety measure.  Our major safety feature is the experience of our guides, however.  We look forward to seeing you on the River during our 2010 Rafting Season!