Colorado Discovery

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Colorado Discovery

Flights and Packing
Destination

Colorado
Utah

Current Grades

7th-9th

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! Enjoy the splendor of Rocky Mountain National Park while day hiking before volunteering at a community garden with the Youth Garden Project. Head south to whitewater raft the Arkansas River’s Browns Canyon section, and then rope up and improve your rock climbing skills on beautiful and beginner-friendly granite and quartz crags. Float down the Colorado River for three days of rafting in Westwater Canyon, and then hike in Arches National Park to the world’s most remarkable sandstone archways! Head on to climb your way up one of the only via ferrata routes in North America, and finish your western adventure having explored the most iconic part of wild Colorado!

Overview Image

Colorado Discovery Itinerary

Day 1-3: Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park

Start off your trip with three days in Rocky Mountain National Park. You’ll enjoy hikes with sweeping mountain views, cascading waterfalls, and some of the area’s most beautiful alpine lakes surrounded by aspen and lodgepole pine. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk these trails, not only are the wildflowers in bloom, the animals are out!  Moose, elk, big horned sheep, and other animals that Rocky Mountain National Park is known for are often sighted along these trails. 
Accommodation: Camping

Day 4-5: Climb a Unique Via Ferrata Route

Next, we’ll check out the Rockies from a different angle by climbing up the mountains themselves! We will spend the day climbing using the Italian-inspired climbing style for a different view of these beautiful mountains. Via Ferrata, meaning Iron Climbing Path in Italian, was created as a different way to move through the mountains using iron rungs and cable lines. Students will have the chance to climb, zipline, and traverse through the Rockies to experience long-range views and vistas of Rocky National Park. 

Accommodation: Camping

Day 6-8: Raft the Colorado River

We then head west for 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 9: Explore Arches National Park

After we hop off the river, it’s time for 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 hike to the famous Delicate Arch before visiting Double Arch (where parts of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed!).
Accommodation: Camping

Day 10: Community Service With Moab Youth Garden Center

We’ll give back to the areas we’ve visited by volunteering for the Moab Youth Garden Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps provide fresh produce for the local community in Moab. We’ll spend approximately six hours planting, tilling, repotting, and learning about sustainability while we work side-by-side with the full-time volunteers in the Moab community. 
Accommodation: Camping

Day 11: 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 12-14: Whitewater raft the Arkansas River

Among the great Collegiate Peaks, the renowned Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River offers 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

*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
    06/29/23
  • Return Day
    07/12/23
  • Grade
    7–9
  • Price
    $4,388
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    07/16/23
  • Return Day
    07/29/23
  • Grade
    7-9
  • Price
    $4,388
  • Availability
    Open
Departure Day Return Day Grade Price Availability
06/29/23
07/12/23
7–9
$4,388
limited
07/16/23
07/29/23
7-9
$4,388
open

Accommodations & Service

Community Service: Approximately 6 Hours
  • Moab Youth Garden Project: Garden upkeep in a local community space
Accommodations:
  • 13 nights of camping. Bold Earth will provide comfortable 3-person tents.

Activities

Community service: 6 hours

Hiking

Via Ferrata

Rock climbing

Whitewater rafting

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Reviews

Kira, student from Boynton Beach, FL

The entire trip was great. I don’t have only one favorite part; I really enjoyed being able to connect with everyone while surrounded by nature.

Iris G, parent from Castle Rock, CO

Halem had a wonderful time on his trip. He loved his trip leaders, and I believe he learned a better sense of self. He did a lot of challenging things on his trip; while it was adventurous, I felt he was safe at all times.

Holly L, parent from Boynton Beach, FL

This is the second child I have sent to Bold Earth, and I was thrilled once again. Bold Earth has amazing trip leaders, and the vibe of the program—from the physical activity to planning and cooking meals to playing games at the campsites—is wonderfully unique.

Chi G, parent from Atlanta, GA

We are extremely pleased with the experience Alex had on his trip. The change in his maturity level when he returned was noticeable not only by us, but also by friends and neighbors. I can honestly say that his experience was truly impactful. I definitely would recommend Bold Earth to friends, and we hope to send Alex’s younger brother on a trip soon.

Tinius, student, Englewood, CO

My favorite part was the social interaction: making new friends, helping each other out, and teamwork. All of the activities were fun!

Trent B, parent from Mobile, AL

Having had my daughter participate in wonderful Bold Earth programs the prior two consecutive years, I was confident about another successful experience for my son, no matter where I sent him. He made lifelong friends and learned new skills in places he had never been, all of which got him out of his comfort zone and gave him a huge boost of positive energy and confidence. He is still extremely stoked about his bike, hike and raft trip with Sara and Zach, and is totally game for a new Bold Earth adventure next year. Thank you so much for all you do to create amazing forever memories!

Matthew, student from Jacksonville, FL

Colorado was a great learning experience and helped me develop skills I know I can use in adult life!

Michael M, parent from Breckenridge, CO

This is an opportunity for your child to explore the outdoors and themselves in a small group of similarly aged kids. They get autonomy, but also work in groups to be responsible for different activities. It was an amazing experience for my teenager’s personality to shine and grow during a challenging time in their lives.

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