Miller Family's High-Flying, White-Water Rafting Colorado Adventure

The Miller family wrapped up summer with a thrilling Colorado road trip, braving the Royal Gorge's zip line, white-water rafting, and meeting a fellow Oklahoman guide along the way.

Wednesday, August 14th 2024, 5:01 pm

By: News 9, Bobbie Miller

COLORADO -

Wednesday is the last day of summer for the Miller kids.

They're all going back to school on Thursday, but News 9’s Bobbie Miller and her family had time for a last-second, final summer adventure.

The Millers beat the Oklahoma heat that first week of August and took a road trip to Colorado Springs and packed in some adventurous hiking and even a cave tour. There's so much to do in that state, but Bobbie says she wanted to highlight the wide range you can enjoy from mountains to river canyons.

One of the Millers' most memorable days was when they drove to Canyon City to walk the famous Royal Gorge bridge.

The family took a gondola ride over what's called the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River. Then zipped America's highest zip line 956 ft above that river.

The Miller Boys smoothly zoomed across.

However, there is only a picture of Bobbie before takeoff. “As I was petrified, I made it though. I'm shaking, I'm shaking. I thought it was so scary. Yeah. Well, I thought it was really fun,” Bobbie said.

Then it was time to get in the Arkansas River. The Millers chose level three white water rafting, which was perfect for first-timers. They paddled the gorge where scenery and splashes go together.

And while in Colorado the Millers met a fellow Okie.

“So I thought, you know what, let's do something fun in the summer times to fill the gaps. And I looked up online whitewater rafting jobs in Colorado on Google. And the first thing that came up was Echo Canyon. All right. Here we go,” said Jacob Stewart.

Seven summers later, Stewart is still a rafting guide and all over the map. A graduate of Edmond North High School and the University of Central Oklahoma.

Stewart loves his roots but the mountains and rivers were calling the water levels to change.

“The rocks pop in and out depending on the flow. I meet new people every day,” Stewart added.

Stewart makes sure that the rafts are ready for guests like the Millers to experience a wet ride and a one-of-a-kind piece of Colorado.