Our whitewater rafting experience puts you against the roaring Arkansas River as it fights its way along the sheer rock walls of the Brown’s Canyon of the Arkansas. After receiving instruction from our certified river guides, your crew will join them for 1 or 2 days of exciting – often wet – whitewater rafting.

At a length of 1,459 miles, the Arkansas River is the 4th longest river in the United States and the 16th longest on the planet. The source of the river is near Leadville, Colorado on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The river flows in a southeasterly direction through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

River access points we use can differ depending on river conditions, but the following is a typical trip:

• Day 1: You will head down 12 miles on the Arkansas River from Fisherman’s Bridge through Browns Canyon and on to Stone Bridge. You will learn to navigate your raft, read the river and feel the power of whitewater rapids. You will get wet!! You will experience the famous “Browns Canyon Whitewater”, the most popular rafting section in the USA. You can expect to ride on Class I-III+ rapids in Brown Canyon. A filling lunch will be served at Hecla Junction, half way through your day, and an opportunity to take in the beautiful Arkansas River. After a well deserved break, you will continue on towards Stone Bridge where our staff will pick you up and return you to RMHAB for dinner and an evening of relaxation in the exhilarating natural surroundings of base camp.
• Day 2: After a night of great food & rest, your crew will be taken to the Bighorn Sheep Canyon section for more world class whitewater ranging from class II to class IV rapids (depending on stream flow). Your guide will stop for you to take a cool swim in the river. Be sure to keep a lookout on your river left for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep hanging out around the river and watch for all the fantastic rock formations.

This is a special offer from Rocky Mountain to allow crews a chance to challenge the whitewater thru the Royal Gorge.

This program is not part of our regular package. The Gorge offers VERY extreme water and we only take crews that have previous rafting experience OR have rafted the first two days with us and are age 16 and over. (Gorge trips are also dependent upon water flows, guide availability, and director discretion)

This is some of the best whitewater in the country and it has the stories to prove it. If you are looking for that supreme adventure scenario that is going to challenge your crew’s teamwork ability, this is the trip for you! There will be an extra charge of $75.00 per participant for the Royal Gorge trip. If your crew is willing to challenge the Gorge, see the program director or base director after check-in to arrange this trip. This is a limited program and is on a first come first serve basis and scheduling the trip may interrupt multi-day treks.

The challenge of the rugged Rocky Mountains still awaits your Crew. Our mountain program offers a diverse range of activities to meet the needs and desires of everyone attending RMHAB. There are five mountain programs options that your Crew can choose to participate in. Large groups (more than 13) may be asked to transport themselves to and from the trailhead for certain trips to be determined during check in or before the trip.

COLORADO TRAIL

Included with registration

This is a popular, moderate, backpacking trip intended for novice crews. You and your Venturers will participate in a 2 or 3 day trek into the Rockies with our mountain rangers along the Colorado Trail, hiking approximately 15 to 24 miles.

After receiving training in hiking, backpacking, and Leave No Trace camping, your crew will begin their trek with our guides. We provide your meals & snacks on the trails and can provide tents and cooking equipment. However if your crew does own such trail equipment, you can bring your own gear.

Remember to bring along a camera to help you record your Rocky Mountain experience.

WARNING

The Fourteener Challenge is extremely difficult and is intended for Venturers & adults in top physical condition.

THE FOURTEENER CHALLENGE

Included with registration

For Crews experienced in backpacking and seeking a highly challenging yet rewarding trek, we offer these mountains over 14,000 feet in elevation. These can be set up for a 2 or 3-day trek. If your crew seeks a longer backpacking trek, please contact the base director for additional details.

MOUNT SHAVANO

14,299 ft

This trek involves a 4-mile hike the first day to the base camp. You will wake up around 4:00 am the next morning to avoid thunderstorms, giving you the best chance of completing the 3 mile trip to the summit for a total of 14 miles and 5000 vertical feet gain. This is a wonderful hike that will challenge even the fittest of individuals, but the view is worth the trip.

MOUNT ANTERO

14,269 ft

This our most difficult fourteener trek due to its length. The first day you will hike 6.5 miles to base camp at Brown’s Lake. The next morning will involve a 4:00 am awakening to avoid thunderstorms along the 5 miles to the summit. You will then hike the 11.5 miles back to the trailhead for a total of 23 miles and 5,000 vertical feet gain.

*NOTE: This could be the most difficult but rewarding effort you will ever undertake, and due to such factors as weather and personal reactions to extremely high altitudes, we cannot guarantee that every person in your group will summit.

YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION FOR SELF-GUIDED TREKS.

Your crew may choose to take on a fourteener without being guided by one of our Rangers. We will provide all gear, food, maps and directions. Peaks near the Base include- Mt. Princeton, Mt. Ouray, Mt. Yale, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia, Mt. Oxford, Mt. Massive, and the tallest in Colorado, 2nd highest in the continental USA, Mt. Elbert.

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DAY HIKE

Mount Peck

*Additional fee of approx. $7.00 per person- Prices may change without notice.

For this low cost you can ride to the top of the Continental Divide in a gondola and spend the day hiking around the top of the world. The $7.00 fee is paid directly to the operator of the gondola. Your crew will have the opportunity to proceed down the beautiful mountain trail and over to Peck’s Peak. This activity is less physically demanding that the backpacking option and does not include an overnight on the trail. This activity typically last about a half day and is great to partner with another activity.

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TREK

The Divide Trek can be a two or three day trek. This trek will start at Monarch Pass. Your crew will drive to Monarch Pass where your trek will start at 11,312 feet in elevation. You will head south on the Continental Divide trail. Most of this trail is above tree line and has a beautiful view in any direction. It is a 10.5-mile trek to Marshall Pass. You may choose to camp anywhere on the divide trail or if you can make it to Marshall Pass, you can camp in a miners cabin. After a night of rest you will continue along the Divide trail south to the Silver Creek Trail and head downhill through many switchbacks and beaver ponds or you may decide to summit Mt. Ouray. This is a fantastic trek. This is another extremely demanding trek, due to exposure, and should be considered by only by
experienced crews.

FISHING TRIPS

*Additional license fees required.

For those who prefer to sample the magnificent Colorado fishing, we offer one and two day trips to several scenic mountain lakes (single day trips are self-guided while multi-day trips are guided). You can backpack from the trailhead to a mountain lake located just below the tree line.

Elevations of the lakes and hiking distance will vary depending on which trip you embark upon. Also you can be taken by vehicle to the mountain lake O’Haver, fish for one day or spend the night. There will be ample room to spread out your camp and then enjoy some of the finest mountain fishing in Colorado. There is an additional Colorado Parks Pass per vehicle required for this option. Fishing permits will be required for fishing on any Colorado waters. Youth 15 years old or younger are not required to have a fishing license while fishing with a licensed adult. RMHAB does not sell fishing permits however they are available only 15 minutes from camp in Salida.

5-Day Backpacking Treks

Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base will take your crew on a 5-day backpacking trek. Rocky Mountain furnishes all gear such as tents, cook gear, water filters and food. All you need to bring is your personal gear. We will guide you on the Colorado Trail and summit 14 thousand foot mountains such as Mt. Antero, Mt. Shavano and Mt.
Tabaguache. On the way you may choose to summit any or all of the 14er’s.
Rock Climbing /Rappelling
(Included in fees) This program will be offered
to a limited number of participants. This number
depends on the availability of suitable climbs
and number of guides. In the past we have
been able to accommodate all requests for
climbing. Our climbing is on pure solid Rocky
Mountain Granite. The climbs and rappels
range from 30 feet to 120 feet in height. Due to
the challenging nature of
the activity, the climbing program is typically
done as a one day program option.
Mountain Biking
You may choose, as part of your program, a mountain bike experience. We provide
mountain bikes with guides available for ½ day rides, or you can take your Crew out on
their own bike trek. Most treks are ½ day excursions. Note: Your crew will be biking at
between 7,000 and 9,000ft + elevations and the terrain will vary between uphill and
downhill sections. Bicycle experience is necessary for more strenuous trails. There are
a number of terrific mountain bike treks that may be adapted specifically to your crew’s
needs and experience level. Make sure you pack some gloves to ride with. Sections we
are permitted to guide are, Poncha Loop, Methodist Hills, Arkansas Hills and sections of
the Rainbow Trail. You can find information about each of these areas online.
Custom Treks
Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base has an open mind. If there is a trek that you
would like to try other than the programs discussed, give us a call and we will try to
design a trek that will fit your crew’s needs. Offer ideas and we will try to work it into the
schedule

Your trip to Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base does not typically allow for sightseeing, however we can build it into your program. The Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City, Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, The Great Sand Dunes in the San Luis Valley (this is a very popular trip), St. Elmo Ghost town are just a few attractions that can be seen in a one day trip. Let us know how we can help you and your Scouts plan these activities.

These trips are self-guided and transportation is not provided.