Trout fishing is most challenging in the spring, once the warming temperatures trigger a rush of melting snow out of the mountains, swelling rivers into a torrent that brings out the whitewater junkies and anyone else whos game for a wet and wild ride.

The rafting season begins in May for most outfitters and runs through late August or early September, but certain stretches can only be run on a seasonal basis, so check with an outfitter to find out whats available when you want to go.

While options for a whitewater rafting trip abound, local rivers offer a couple of memorable rides. The Roaring Fork River, when its running high enough just below Aspen (spring and early summer), offers the legendary Slaughterhouse Falls a Class IV, white-knuckle drop to be sure.

The rollicking Shoshone Rapids on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon is arguably the most popular section of local whitewater.

For experienced and fit paddlers, a number of guiding outfits offer Class IV and V trips on the Pine Creek and Numbers sections of the Arkansas River (the faint-hearted need not apply). Keep in mind, a trip to the Arkansas involves a shuttle drive over Independence Pass east of Aspen (a scenic outing in itself).

If a less intense float is more your speed, take a trip on the lower Roaring Fork or enjoy the Colorado via the Grizzly Creek-to-Two Rivers Park route, taking in part of breathtaking Glenwood Canyon. Later in the summer, try a ducky trip on the Roaring Fork a cooling float in an inflatable kayak.

Following is a list of local guiding outfits for both whitewater rafting and fishing.