The Eagle River runs two very different rafting trips, so pick the one that fits your group

Most people drive past the Eagle River at 70 miles an hour on I-70 without noticing it is one of the valley’s two big summer draws, the warm-weather flip side to the fishing the river is known for. When the snow up high starts melting, the river fills and two very different rafting trips open up.

The first is the Lower Eagle, downvalley toward the town of Eagle. It runs mostly Class II–III, which is the splashy, family-friendly end of whitewater: enough waves to soak you and get the kids shrieking, with calmer water in between to catch your breath and look up at the canyon.

The second is the Dowd Chute, a short, steep stretch near Dowd Junction between Vail and Minturn. It is only a few miles long, but it packs tight, fast Class III–IV rapids one after another. This one is built for fit paddlers who want their hearts pounding, not for first-timers or young kids.

Both sections depend on snowmelt, so the season is short, usually late May into early July, and fades as runoff drops. The Bureau of Land Management manages much of this stretch and is the place to start when you are weighing flows and which trip suits your group. Check the BLM Eagle River Recreation Management Area page before you book.