Any Colorado summer vacation isn’t complete without a whitewater river rafting trip.  You can visit the Royal Gorge on the Arkansas, or the mighty Colorado.  The attraction to fresh water thrills is shared among hard core kayakers and beginners make some enjoyable memories.  If the snowmelt fed rapids aren’t quite your thing, there are plenty of lazy float trips as a completely acceptable alternative.   Grab an inner tube, a cooler full of your favorite beverage, and some friends and you’re ready for some Facebook selfies.  While looking for things to do in Glenwood Springs, we were invited by Defiance Rafting to come down and experience the raging waters of the Colorado River on a hot sunny Friday afternoon.   

Now under new management

Defiance Rafting was formally known by many names, including Rock Gardens.    Long time river enthusiast and Ft. Collins based attorney Gregory Cowen along his wife/business partner Heather Cowen teamed up to purchase the white water outfit in late 2017.  Rock Gardens was sold by Kevin Scheidner, who also owns Colorado Adventure Center (CAC).  The rafting operation was only a portion of Scheidner’s conglomerate of outdoor activities.  After relocating the CAC base to Idaho Springs, Cowen approached Scheidner and proposed the transaction in late 2016.   Cowen’s stepbrother Jamie Linstrum was an employee of CAC at the time and instrumental in helping to make introductions.  A little less than one year later, the sale was made and ownership of the No Name rafting was complete.  

The name ‘Defiance’ is a throwback to the halcyon days of Glenwood Springs, Co.  Having a hard time adjusting to her new life in 1883, Town Founder Isaac Cooper’s wife Sarah persuaded her husband to change the name.  Her choice was Glenwood Springs, as a nod to her hometown of Glenwood, Iowa.  The name stuck, but some local businesses still choose to use the original moniker of Defiance.

Without making sweeping changes to the long running Glenwood business, there have been a few upgrades.  Website and social media overhauls, community outreach, featuring kid friendly rafting programs, and charity donations are all a part of their strategy.  Recently the couple donated a raft for the non-profit public transportation company RFTA as an end-of-season bonus.  Similar actions are quickly getting noticed among the residents of the Roaring Fork Valley.  

“Gregory brings a lot of hands on leadership to Defiance Rafting.  Kevin was great, but he was more of a business man. Gregory’s out there in the boats with the guides. He’s helping fit lifejackets and making sure people are comfortable. Whatever needs to be done, he’s around to take care of it,” said Linstrum. 

Low water levels

The 2017-18 ski season in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield Counties was lackluster to say the least. Snowfall in earnest did not arrive until Christmas Eve.  Although rebounds were made with some decent snowfall in February of 2018, the season was declared profoundly dead by closing day on April 15.  SkiCo, the corporation in charge of many ski resorts including Aspen, Buttermilk and Snowmass was hit hard financially.  There were even ‘soup kitchens’ set up for underemployed ski and snowboard instructors during the early part of the season to help feed hungry imported workers.  As a direct result of below average snowpack, the levels of tributaries peaked two weeks before Memorial Day.  Nearer the trip down Shoshone and No Name rapids the water levels were at an estimated at record low of 40% of their normal levels. 

Defiance Raft Trip Review

Getting to Defiance Rafting

Driving to the rendezvous point is just as scenic as the whitewater trip itself.  Cruising down Highway 70, past Grizzly Creek in Glenwood Canyon, cell phone service cuts out, and conversations in the car are rekindled.  Steep rock walls are carved with a maze of viaducts, tunnels and vegetation running alongside them.  While the river snakes along the bottom, across from the Highway you can see the train tracks leading all the way to Denver.  Without a doubt, this is one of the more scenic sections of Interstate Highway system.  

Exit at 119.   Finding the meeting point was easy, just follow the signs through the Glenwood Canyon Resort downhill.  Look for the freshly painted barn if the large red rubber inflatables weren’t enough to give it away.  There are also two very large school buses with the logo painted on the front.  If you drive into the Colorado River…. You’ve gone too far!

Defiance Rafting is subset within the Glenwood Canyon Resort.  Home to pristine waterfront tiny home rentals, plenty of RV and trailer hookups, a modern bathhouse, as well as larger cabins, the resort is popular stopping place for visitors to Colorado.  Lodge fees can swell during peak seasons, so check ahead for availability.

Raft Like a Local

Gregory and Jamie (Editors note: We met Heather Cowen later in the trip), greeted us at the counter and walked us through the release waiver.  White water rafting, while considered very safe, still has a risk element to it.  The waiver was easy to complete and done on a modern tablet.  The facilities are clean, and there is even a friendly old dog around to say hello to the kids.  His name is King Leonidas, aka ‘Leo,’ and he enjoys sleeping in the warm Colorado sun.  

The other people we were to share a boat with arrived.  They came from Texas and Tennessee and an authentic Colorado River adventure was a highlight destination for them.  Around this time our guide arrived.   Jeremy Comeau is an eight year veteran river rat.  He has been with Defiance Rafting (formally Rock Gardens) for four of the past eight years.  Confident without being cocky, Jeremy helped fit PFD’s (Personal Floatation Devices), helmets, boots, and helmets.  He accomplished this up close and personal task with a lot of good natured humor that set the tone for the trip.  

After everyone had been outfitted with properly sized gear, Jeremey led the group of seven novice rafters through a short but important safety briefing.   He set the group’s mind at ease by describing potential risks that we might encounter, and how to handle each one.  Basically, what happens if you fall out of the boat, or the craft gets stuck on a rock?  Identification of water hazards, proper ettiequte for waste disposal, and the opportunity to ask any questions was also a part of the briefing.  

Wasting no time, we took a brief shuttle ride up Highway 70 to launch our raft.  The commute was short, air conditioned, and easy.  Once at our drop-off point, Shoshone Rapids, Jeremy rallied the group to help carry the inflatable boat to the water.  It was a good team building exercise, and helped condition everyone’s mind to the fact that we need to work as a cohesive unit in order to steer the boat.  With six people lifting the boat, moving it was easy, even down the landing ramp.  Once at the water’s edge, we were finally issued our own paddles and given a crash course on how to hold them, when to paddle and, perhaps most importantly, when to stop! 

Throughout this entire introduction process, all the staff at Defiance Rafting really made an effort to make the guests feel at home.  ‘Raft Like a Local’ isn’t just a hashtag on social media profile for them.  From the top down, every employee wanted the raft trip (even if it was only a short 40 min splash ride) to be genuine.   It is paying off too, as one of the couples on the trip had merely stopped in to investigate the tour, and found themselves quickly deciding to take a trip down the river.  

Let’s get wet

After a few practice paddling commands from the skipper, Jeremy pulled over to an eddy on the side of the river.  Here, as we could finally see the Class III rapids of ‘Entrance Exam’ directly ahead of us, he gave the last chance for anyone to get out of the boat.  No one did and with the shout of ‘Forward’ we picked up speed.  Being pulled ahead with the river current, we splashed into the chilling water and rode the rapids.  It was thrilling for everyone onboard.  

The upper Shoshone rapids are Class III and II, unless unusually high river stages are reported.  Due to this fact, the rapids at the beginning of the whitewater tour progress quickly.   Although there is time to catch your breath between the turbulent parts of the river, the pace is fast-flowing.  None of the rafters fell out and the boat did not capsize.  At one point, Jeremy let rafters voluntarily jump overboard and feel just how cold the water actually was.  As ambient temperatures reached over 70 degrees FareFahrenheitnheight that day, dipping into the water was refreshing… after the plunge took your breath away on initial impact.  

The second, lengthier portion of the No Name rapids park was a relaxed float through Class II and I rapids.  This was a great time to get your photos and enjoy the beautiful Colorado scenery.  The calm water allowed us to switch seats in the boat.  Everyone who wanted a front row seat got the opportunity.  Also, one guest at a time was allowed to go ‘bull rider’ style and ride on the bow of the boat.  This is a prime location for great picture taking and catching a small wave to the face.  There was another option for swimmers, but one dip in the frigid waters was enough for most. 

While we occasionally paddled to keep some blood flowing, most people dried out in the warm sun and listened to Jeremey share lore about the Glenwood Springs canyon.  We waved at friendly locals as we stopped by Grizzly Creek rest area, finally making our way back to the Defiance Rafting headquarters. 

It’s time to say goodbye

We took out at the Glenwood Canyon Resort, where our trip had started about 90 minutes prior.  Once again, working as a team, we lifted the boat out of the river and loaded it onto a waiting trailer.  A two minute ride later we were back at the boat barn and Gregory, Jamie and Leonidas were waiting for us.  As guests peeled off wet life jackets and helmets, Jeremey did his best to talk rookies into drinking the river water sloshing around in their neoprene boots.  No one fell for it.  

A professional photographer trailed us on her bike during the rafting trip.  Her photographical wares were available for purchase after the trip, and I do believe one of the couples (on their honeymoon) purchased some memories.  There was also a bar and grill open for anyone whose stomach was growling.  While at the eatery, we ran into Heather Cowen. She was organizing a complete line of hats, t-shirts and other must-have souvenirs. Even if she had heard the same stories a million times before,  Heather was excited to hear about our trip and interested in our experience,

“Raft like a local”… Defiance Rafting might be on to something here. 

Still not convinced white water rafting is the right thing for you?  Have a look at some FAQs.