Colorado Bold

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Colorado Bold

Trip Resources
Destination

Colorado
Utah

Current Grades

9th-11th

length

14 Days

view dates and prices
Airports

Arrive: Denver, CO (DEN)
Depart: Denver, CO (DEN)

Head to Colorful Colorado and the Salt Lake State for the most fun two weeks of your summer! Float down the Colorado River for three days of rafting in Westwater Canyon. Walk beneath the world’s most remarkable rock archways in Arches National Park, and then mountain bike your way up the world’s largest flattop mesa. Rope up and learn technical rock climbing skills as you problem-solve your way up beautiful granite and quartz crags, and then bounce down Browns Canyon of the Arkansas River, one of the country’s most exciting sections to whitewater raft. Spend a day restoring trails with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative before enjoying the splendor of Rocky Mountain National Park on different day hikes.

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Colorado Bold Itinerary

Day 1-4: Whitewater raft the Colorado River

Start off your adventure with three days of rafting in Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River! You’ll be surrounded by dramatic Utah red rock, with bald eagles soaring hundreds of feet above you. You’ll start off with calm water, where you’ll get to cool off with splash wars and cliff jumps. You may even get to paddle a stand-up paddleboard! The river starts to pick up with class II and eventually class III rapids. With names like Big Hummer, Surprise Rapid, and Funnel Falls, you’ll want to hold on tight! We’ll take breaks from the boats every few miles with special hikes to historic Native American sites.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 5: Explore Arches National Park

After we hop off the river, we’ll head to Moab and Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 of the world’s most beautiful sandstone arch formations. We’ll wake early for a special sunrise hike to the famous Delicate Arch before visiting Double Arch—where parts of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed!
Accommodation: Camping

Day 6-7: Mountain bike on the Grand Mesa

Next, it’s back to Colorado for two days of mountain biking on part of the largest flattop mountain in the world—Grand Mesa! More red rock formations contrast sharply with lush meadows as you cycle toward Long Slough and Flowing Park reservoirs. Though you’re in the desert, more than 300 small lakes populate Grand Mesa National Forest. We’ll stop and admire miles-long views of western Colorado along the way and make sure to cool off in creeks and mud puddles!
Accommodation: Camping

Day 8: Community service on a Colorado 14er

We’ll give back to the areas we’ve visited by volunteering for the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps protect fragile mountain ecosystems, build trails, and educate hikers about sustainable outdoor practices. About six hours of our day will be spent restoring trails, where we’ll learn from and work side-by-side with the full-time trail crews to understand more about how great trails are maintained.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 9: Rock climb near Buena Vista

It’s time to change course—this time toward vertical endeavors. Spend a day learning the ropes at the Pump Station, where routes from beginner to advanced await on this granite and quartzite crag. You’ll have spectacular views of the Collegiate Peaks to the west, and Pike and San Isabel National Forests to the east. After you’ve had your fill of climbing, tie in for a unique rappelling experience!
Accommodation: Camping

Day 10: Whitewater raft the Arkansas River

Among the great Collegiate Peaks, the renowned Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River awaits another day of adventure. Browns Canyon offers the perfect mix of calm stretches (did someone say splash wars?) and exciting rapids—hold on tight for Zume Flume and Big Drop! You may see a few golden eagles and peregrine falcons as you gaze up toward the 14,000-foot-high mountains.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 11-14: Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park

A trip to Colorado wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. The first day, a section of the famous Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a 3,100-mile route from Canada to Mexico, takes us to Cascade Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for moose, deer, elk, and interesting species of birds (like hummingbirds and woodpeckers) on the way. Vibrant wildflowers will line your path as you make your way toward the almost-50-foot-tall waterfall. The next day, explore a different region of RMNP—this time from the top of 12,713-foot Hallett Peak. As you climb up the mountain through scenic aspen groves, you’ll gain views of Longs Peak, Pagoda Peak, and other prominent Colorado mountains. Bonus: Before you reach Hallett, you’ll reap the additional summit of Flattop Peak, where you can gaze for miles with 360-degree views!
Accommodation: Camping

 

*Listed above is Bold Earth’s intended itinerary for this trip. All itineraries are subject to change in order to provide the best possible program quality.

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Dates and Prices

Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/29/21
  • Return Day
    07/12/21
  • Grade
    9–11
  • Price
    $3,888
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure 2
  • Departure Day
    07/15/21
  • Return Day
    07/28/21
  • Grade
    9–11
  • Price
    $3,888
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure 3
  • Departure Day
    07/31/21
  • Return Day
    08/13/21
  • Grade
    9-11
  • Price
    $3,888
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure Day Return Day Grade Price Availability
06/29/21
07/12/21
9–11
$3,888
limited
07/15/21
07/28/21
9–11
$3,888
limited
07/31/21
08/13/21
9-11
$3,888
limited

Accommodations & Service

Community Service: Approximately 6 Hours
  • Colorado Fourteeners Initiative: Trail work on Colorado’s iconic 14,000 peaks.
Accommodations:
  • 13 nights of camping. Bold Earth will provide comfortable 3-person tents.

Community service: 6 hours

Hiking

Mountain biking

Rock climbing

Sightseeing

Whitewater rafting

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Trip Instructors

Colorado Bold

Hannah Bartlett

Senior trip leader: Colorado Bold

Casey Hayes

Senior trip leader

Sully Kiley

Trip leader

Reviews

Jennifer Chadaloff, parent from Montclair, NJ
2019

Michael and I cannot boast enough about our daughter’s Bold Earth experience. The program takes personal care to make sure parents are kept informed and up to date on all aspects of the child’s experience. Hands down awesome experience! The easy registration process and timely follow-up made it clear that this program and all involved are not only committed but truly care about making everyone’s experience top-notch. We already have and will continue to sing the Bold Earth praises.

Bridget Kachel, parent from Fayetteville, AR
2019

We were very pleased with the entire experience. Everything was communicated in advance, and the trip was executed as expected. The trip leaders were very friendly and had great positive attitudes. They were great role models!

Jonna Sharp, parent from Rohnert Park, CA
2019

Cat talked about the trip non-stop when she got back; she had a great time. Everything she said about the leaders was positive, and the itinerary seems to be well planned. I appreciated all the communication before, during, and after the trip.

Whitney Lou, parent from Richmond, VA
2018

Bold Earth was really great with communication, information, and our introverted daughter had a great time thanks to her caring trip leaders. I think if Sara had not been there or if she had had a less experienced leader, it would have been easy for Sophie to check out and not participate in things. I credit Sara and Zach for Sophie’s successful trip!

Anne Oh, parent from New York, NY
2018

Despite Max’s initial reservations, he had a great time. He was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed his time with Sara and Zach, who were wonderful, fun, approachable leaders. They were the highlight of his trip! I love that it was an intimate group.

Alexandra, student from Paris, France
2018

I loved the overall group atmosphere and feeling. The activities were great. I’ve recommended this to my friends many times!

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