Blue Sky Adventures

What Blue Sky Adventures does

Blue Sky Adventures, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned adventure tourism company founded in 1975 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, operating under the d.b.a. brands Blue Sky Rafting, Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op, and Glenwood Canyon Rafting. The company provides guided whitewater rafting and scenic float experiences on the Colorado River (Glenwood Canyon / Shoshone section) and Roaring Fork River, with a product ladder spanning mild family floats (Class I-II) to high-intensity Class III expeditions such as the Double Shoshone and Mini-Max trips. Its equipment stack consists of standard commercial-grade rafting gear—Hyside inflatable rafts (10.5', 13', 16'), NRS Type 3/5 Coast Guard-approved PFDs, Carlisle oars, helmets, and complimentary wetsuits/booties—operated by CPR/First Aid and select EMT-certified guides.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer outfitter with distribution across its own website (raftbluesky.com), phone reservations, walk-in traffic at the downtown basecamp, and the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op aggregation platform (hanginglake.com). Pricing is unit-based per person or per boat, ranging from $64–$159 for individual seats on guided trips, $794 for fully private half-day experiences, and $60–$274 per day for self-guided equipment rentals. Ancillary revenue streams include river photography, gift cards usable across the Co-op ecosystem, and group/private bookings for corporate, school, reunion, and wedding segments. Operations are gated by Special Use Permits from White River National Forest and the BLM, alongside a Colorado Parks and Wildlife commercial permit, creating a regulatory entry barrier for new competitors.

Name

Blue Sky Adventures

Legal name

Blue Sky Adventures, Inc.

Website

https://blueskyadventure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Sky Adventures is a family-owned Glenwood Springs, Colorado outfitter founded in 1975 that operates guided whitewater rafting, scenic floats, and equipment rentals on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, serving families, tourists, and group events via its Blue Sky Rafting brand and the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing Outfitters (THAAADAB)

Keywords

• Whitewater rafting trips
• Scenic river floats
• Guided rafting tours
• Outdoor adventure services
• Raft equipment rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenwood Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Rafting Trip Fees: Primary revenue from guided whitewater rafting and scenic float trips on the Colorado River and Roaring Fork Rivers. Pricing varies by trip type, duration, and season (per person rates ranging from $64 to $159).
2. Equipment Rentals: Revenue from renting rafts, packrafts, inflatable kayaks, and river gear (wetsuits, booties, waterproof cases, NRS river shirts/shoes).
3. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold for use across the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op ecosystem, Blue Sky Rafting, Glenwood Canyon Bikes, and Glenwood Canyon Rafting.
4. Private/Group Adventures: Private half-day trips at $794/boat with private transportation, photographer, and guide. Group discounted rates available for corporate, school, and reunion groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blue Sky Rafting sells guided whitewater rafting and scenic float trips on the Colorado River (Glenwood Canyon and Shoshone section) and the Roaring Fork River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The product line ranges from family-friendly Class I-II scenic floats to Class III whitewater adventures, with options for private boat charters, full-day trips with catered lunch, combined raft-and-kayak experiences, and self-guided equipment rentals of rafts, packrafts, and inflatable kayaks.

Product overview

Blue Sky Adventures operates as the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op, offering a comprehensive portfolio of whitewater rafting and outdoor adventure services on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. The core product lineup centers on guided rafting experiences ranging from mild scenic floats to intense rapid-filled expeditions, including Half Day Rafting, Full Day Rafting, Mini-Max, Raft & Kayak, and Double Shoshone adventures. These are complemented by equipment rental services (rafts, packrafts, kayaks), professional river photography, and gift cards. The company also serves as an aggregation platform offering partner activities including e-bike rentals, hot springs access, skiing, and adventure park visits through the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Half Day Rafting Adventure The most popular Blue Sky Rafting trip: a 1.5-mile descent through Class III Shoshone Rapids followed by a 10-mile scenic float through Glenwood Canyon on the Colorado River, with optional swimming. Geared toward first-time and novice rafters and families with children age 4 and up. Pricing $74-$78 per person.
• Early Bird Rafting Special Discounted early-season half-day rafting adventure with the same Shoshone Rapids and scenic float experience as the standard Half Day trip, positioned as the company's best-value option.
• Private Half Day Rafting Trip Fully private raft experience for a single group of up to 8 guests, with private transportation, personal photographer, and dedicated guide. Priced at $794 per boat.
• Mild & Scenic Half Day Trip Relaxing 10-mile scenic float from Grizzly Creek through Glenwood Canyon on Class I-II water, designed for families with young children (minimum age 3) and guests preferring calmer conditions.
• Mini-Max Raft Trip Thrilling small-group adventure in a 10.5-foot Mini-Max raft for up to 4 paddlers plus guide, offering an active Class II-III experience through Shoshone Rapids. Minimum age 13.
• Raft & Kayak Adventure Combined experience that begins with rafting through Shoshone Rapids and then transitions participants into single or double inflatable kayaks for the remaining 10 miles of downstream journey. Minimum age 8 (15 for single kayak).
• Full Day Rafting Adventure Extended 18-21 mile river journey covering Shoshone Rapids and the Glenwood Canyon float, with catered riverside BBQ lunch at a private river park and optional inflatable kayak addition for the afternoon section. Priced at $159 per person or $1,272 per boat.
• Double Shoshone Rafting Adventure Rapid Repeat Expedition running the Class III Shoshone Rapids twice, with named rapids including Baptism, Tuttle's Tumble, The Wall, Tombstone, and Man-Eater. Minimum age 13; minimum 4 participants.
• Raft, PackRaft & Kayak Rentals Self-guided equipment rentals including 16' and 13' Hyside rafts ($249-$274/day), single and double inflatable kayaks ($60-$90/day), and NRS packrafts ($70/day), with PFDs and paddles included. Restricted to experienced boaters.
• River Photo Package Professional photography service capturing approximately 20-60 photos per raft during each guided trip, available for purchase after the adventure.
• Gift Cards Gift certificates redeemable for any activity or rental offered by Blue Sky Rafting and the Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op partner companies, with no expiration date.
• Group Rafting Trips Customized whitewater rafting experiences for corporate groups, schools, family reunions, weddings, and military parties, with discounted group rates for 8+, multilingual guides, and free gear rentals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12 miles of river covered on Half Day Adventure through 1500' Glenwood Canyon walls
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hanging Lake Adventure Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky Rafting is an Official Partner of Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op, a multi-activity adventure platform in Glenwood Springs. The Co-op unifies booking for rafting, biking, hiking, off-road adventures, and local attractions. Blue Sky Rafting is branded as part of the 'Co-op Family' alongside Glenwood Canyon Bikes, Colorado Overlander, and other partners.
• Glenwood Canyon BikescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in the HLA Co-op Family. Offers complementary biking activities (e-bike rentals, trail access) that can be combined with rafting adventures for extended Glenwood Springs vacations.
• Colorado OverlanderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOff-road vehicle rental partner within the HLA Co-op ecosystem. Provides overlanding adventures with rooftop tent packages that complement the water-based activities.
• Glenwood Canyon RaftingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated operating entity (d.b.a. Glenwood Canyon Rafting) under the same ownership. Offers additional rafting capacity and trip options, operating from the same HLA Co-op Basecamp location.
• White River National ForestcoreOthersOperates under Special Use Permit from the White River National Forest. All or part of operations are conducted on Public Lands under permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
• U.S. Bureau of Land ManagementcoreOthersPortions of river operations conducted on public lands under special permit from the BLM. Equal opportunity service provider permitted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
• Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge & PoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNearby hotel (within 2 blocks walking distance) that Blue Sky Rafting markets as a convenient accommodation option. Cross-promotional relationship as part of local tourism ecosystem.
• Hotel ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric hotel (within walking distance) recommended as convenient accommodation for rafting guests. Part of the local tourism partnership network.
• Glenwood Caverns Adventure ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNearby attraction (3 blocks from basecamp) marketed as a complement to rafting adventures. Glenwood Caverns is 'America's Only Mountain Top Theme Park' with cave tours and rides. Cross-promoted as part of a complete Glenwood Springs vacation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• OARS: National whitewater rafting outfitter offering guided multi-day and single-day trips across U.S. rivers including Colorado, comparable guided-trip product mix and target family/adventure customer.
• AVA Rafting & Zipline: Established Colorado outfitter operating rafting and zipline trips across multiple rivers (Clear Creek, Arkansas, Colorado) with broader portfolio and larger geographic reach than Blue Sky's single Glenwood Springs base.

Direct peers

• Glenwood Canyon Rafting: Operates from the same downtown Glenwood Springs basecamp under shared ownership with Blue Sky Adventures (d.b.a. Glenwood Canyon Rafting), offering overlapping rafting trips on the same rivers. Most directly comparable peer in product, geography, and customer.
• Adventures in Whitewater: Direct competitor offering guided rafting trips in Glenwood Springs on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, serving the same family and tourist segments with comparable trip structures and pricing.
• Rock Gardens Rafting: Long-standing Glenwood Springs rafting outfitter operating on the same Colorado River sections as Blue Sky, competing head-to-head for hotel-driven walk-ins and family visitors.

Others

• Glenwood Canyon Bikes: Co-op partner under Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op offering e-bike rentals and trail access in Glenwood Springs; complementary rather than competitive, but operates from the same basecamp and cross-sells to Blue Sky's guest base.
• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park: Mountain-top theme park 3 blocks from Blue Sky's basecamp, cross-promoted through Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op as part of a complete Glenwood Springs vacation for families.
• Colorado Overlander: Off-road vehicle rental partner within the HLA Co-op ecosystem offering rooftop-tent overlanding packages; complementary adventure offering that bundles with rafting for multi-day Glenwood Springs itineraries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hanginglakeadventurecoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-sky-adventures-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blue Sky Adventures