FLOAT PALISADE RAFTING
Float down the beautiful Colorado River and take in the western slope scenery. It’s a great trip for those who want to relax with no stress. Class I rapids make this a gentle float. Your experienced raft guide will lead through the Grand Valley’s most serene section of the Colorado River. Drift past orchards and vineyards while taking in the beauty of the Bookcliffs, Mt Garfield and the Grand Mesa.
Start the day by meeting your guide at the put-in. We go over basic river safety, answer all your questions and outfit everyone in your party with a PFD (flotation device/lifejacket). Once you’re in the boat, get comfortable and we will head slowly down the river, enjoying gurgling ripples and gentle rapids. The scenery through Palisade farmland is spectacular, from peach orchards, sandstone cliffs and waterfalls to water birds, birds of prey, and even bald eagles if you’re lucky.
The easiest way to book is to call!
WE KNOW WATER
Brooke Ranney, Owner of Centennial Canoe
Brooke grew up in the Smoky Mountain region of east Tennessee and North Carolina and has a background in Anthropology. As an anthropologist, she traveled to many regions around the world to study rivers and the ways different cultures interact with them. On one trip, she spent six months living with an indigenous tribe on the Amazon River in Brazil where she developed her love of river guiding.
When she returned to the U.S., she left her job in anthropology to complete training and become a guide on several rivers in Tennessee. Her passion showed and after a few years she was promoted to operational manager of one of the largest rafting companies in the area. After guiding in the east for five years and heading up all operations of the guiding business, she decided to leave for Colorado to experience new rivers and landscapes.
She worked as a guide and photo boater on all sections of the Arkansas River for four years and ventured to new rivers and creeks as often as possible during her free time. She managed photo operations on the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River for three years and after seeing the issues surrounding water in the west, she became a steward of river health and began working as a projects and events manager at a Watershed Council on the western slope. She currently sits on the Colorado Basin Roundtable and owns Centennial Canoe Outfitters. When she isn’t on the river, you can often find her on the banks pickin’ her banjo or walking her dogs.
WE KNOW PALISADE
Dave Smith, Owner & Tour Guide
Dave has roamed the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the White Mountains of Arizona and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico for over 25 years. A move from Pennsylvania in the early 90’s lead him into a career in the ski industry. Adventurous by nature, he fell in love with playing in the snow in the winter and doubling down when it melted in the spring and summer. He has logged many river miles on the Colorado, Green, San Juan and Deloris Rivers, to name a few.
Dave moved to Palisade in 2014 to work on the Grand Mesa and started Pali-Tours, a wine and agri-tourism business, in 2019. The “behind the scenes” workings of Palisade’s Orchards, Wineries and Farms intrigues him.
Dave loves showcasing the adventure opportunities in the Grand Valley and is happy sharing them with you.
