9 Must-Visit Colorado River Tubing Destinations

There may be no better way to beat a hot Colorado summer day than floating a mountain river. River tubing here can mean a relaxed scenic drift through town, a splashy ride through a whitewater park, or a surprisingly lively run filled with waves, rocks, and playful drops.

The beauty of tubing in Colorado is the variety. One river might feel like a lazy float in the morning and a moving adventure by afternoon. Another might shift from rafting water in early summer to perfect tubing conditions just a few weeks later. That’s part of what makes it so fun—no two seasons, or even two days, are exactly the same.

The key is simply choosing the kind of experience you want: mellow and social, or a little more splash and excitement.

2026 Update: An Expanded Look at Colorado River Tubing

For 2026, during a summer shaped by historic snow drought and unusually low runoff, we took a fresh statewide look at Colorado river tubing and expanded this guide beyond its original nine destinations.

The updated list includes long-established floats that deserved a place in the original article, rivers that might normally be rafted through much of the summer rather than tubed, and newer river parks, rental operations and commercially supported experiences. This unusual season also reminded us how fluid the line between rafting water, tubing water and water that has simply become too low to float can be.

We have also distinguished between shuttle-supported tubing trips and walk-back or self-shuttled floats. That difference matters. A commercial shuttle can eliminate vehicle staging, long walks with equipment and uncertainty about where to enter or leave the river.

Conditions and commercial availability can change quickly during a drought year. Follow the links throughout this guide for current river information before building a road trip around a particular float.

Where Is the Best River Tubing in Colorado?

The best Colorado river-tubing destination depends on the experience and logistics you want:

• Best complete shuttle-supported experience: San Juan River in Pagosa Springs

• Best downtown resort-town float: Yampa River in Steamboat Springs

• Best mellow shuttled float near Denver: South Platte River in Littleton

• Best whitewater tubing near Denver: Clear Creek in Golden

• Best long group float: Colorado River near Dotsero

• Most unusual tubing combination: Rails to Rio in South Fork

• Best repeat whitewater-park laps: Eagle River Park

• Best river tubing paired with hot springs: San Juan River in Pagosa Springs

• Best high-country village float: Gore Creek through Vail

• Best desert river park: Las Colonias in Grand Junction

• Best newer Southern Colorado river park: Waterworks Park in Pueblo

• Best under-the-radar Western Slope option: Lower Gunnison and North Fork Valley

Shuttle-Supported River Tubing in Colorado

A true tubing shuttle does more than save a walk. It connects a known put-in with a known takeout, reduces parking complications and lets visitors experience a longer section without staging two vehicles.

Some operations provide the tube, life jacket, footwear, route information and transportation as one package. Others offer an optional shuttle separately from the rental. Read the details carefully: “tube rental available” does not automatically mean transportation is included.

San Juan River — Pagosa Springs

Best for: A complete, personal tubing experience with downtown whitewater, mountain scenery and hot springs.

The upper San Juan runs directly through downtown Pagosa Springs, where a connected public corridor includes parks, the Riverwalk, geothermal soaking areas and six constructed whitewater features. The experience is far more active than a lazy-river float. Tubers encounter moving current, rocky shallows, surf waves, pools and splashy drops as the river winds through town.

Pagosa Outside offers two ways to experience it. The Deluxe Whitewater Tubing Trip is the full-service option, with scheduled transportation, commercial-grade tubes, life jackets, river shoes, changing rooms, lockers, route information and complimentary digital photos. Capacity is limited to keep departures personal and organized.

The Pagosa Springs River Tube Rental is the flexible walk-back option. Pick up a tube downtown, walk upstream along the Riverwalk and choose a float that fits the day’s water level and your available time. The popular Cotton Hole-to-Centennial Park route makes repeat laps easy, while longer floats can extend through more of Pagosa’s approximately two-mile public river corridor when conditions support them.

Tubing usually begins when spring runoff settles below rafting levels. Because the San Juan is free-flowing, the exact transition changes every year. The Pagosa Springs tubing page carries the current status of both shuttled trips and standard rentals.

Yampa River — Steamboat Springs

Best for: A classic point-to-point float through one of Colorado’s best-known river towns.

The Yampa River passes directly through Steamboat Springs, connecting parks, restaurants, trails and downtown gathering places. At typical tubing flows, the trip combines mild rapids with longer relaxing reaches and the unmistakable feeling of floating through the center of a mountain town.

Backdoor Sports provides direct river access, tube and life-jacket rentals and transportation from the downstream takeout back to its downtown shop. The commercial route covers approximately two miles and usually takes a little over an hour, depending on river level.

Steamboat also takes an active role in protecting the Yampa. Commercial and private tubing can close when flows, water temperature or dissolved oxygen reach levels that place additional stress on the river. Check the current status before traveling specifically to float.

South Platte River — Littleton

Best for: A mellow, organized float close to Denver with a brewery at the finish.

Only about 20 minutes from downtown Denver, the South Platte offers a surprisingly natural float through the South Platte Park corridor below Chatfield Reservoir. The approximately 2.5-mile trip is primarily gentle water with one small-to-medium chute adding a little energy along the way.

Adventure West’s South Platte tubing package includes parking at Breckenridge Brewery, a commercial river tube, life jacket, route briefing and transportation to the upstream put-in. Guests then float back toward the brewery, eliminating the usual two-car shuffle.

This is one of the easiest Colorado tubing trips to turn into a complete afternoon: arrive, park once, take the shuttle, float back and finish near food and drinks.

Clear Creek — Golden

Best for: Technical whitewater tubing and repeated laps close to Denver.

Clear Creek drops out of the foothills and runs through downtown Golden with considerably more gradient and energy than a typical urban float. Colorado’s first constructed whitewater park concentrates that current into waves, drops, eddies and fast-moving channels.

Adventure West offers tubing transportation that saves a long walk to the upstream access points. Rental and shuttle packages can vary during the season, so check the current offering before arriving. Walk-back laps are also possible along the paved Clear Creek Trail.

This is adventure tubing rather than a passive float. Helmets, life jackets, secure footwear, strong swimming ability and current local information belong in the plan. The appropriate section and participant recommendations change significantly as Clear Creek rises and falls.

Colorado River — Dotsero

Best for: A longer group float beneath open skies and high-desert canyon walls.

Dotsero sits where the Eagle River joins the Colorado, at the transition between the Vail Valley and Glenwood Canyon country. Local legend traces the town’s unusual name to “Dot Zero,” a reference point on an early railroad map. Today, it serves as a convenient base for long Colorado River floats.

Compared with Colorado’s compact whitewater parks, this is a broader and more committing river experience. The stretches around Dotsero pass through open canyon country where public access points are separated by miles and much of the riverbank is private.

Sage Outdoor Adventures rents individual tubes, multi-person party tubes and other river craft. It also offers transportation to established upstream boat ramps, allowing guests to float back toward Dotsero without arranging a second vehicle.

This is a wonderful social float for groups that want more time on the river, but wind, distance, cold water and limited places to stop make local route planning especially valuable.

Rio Grande — South Fork

Best for: Combining a scenic rail-bike ride with a supported river float through the San Luis Valley.

South Fork offers one of the most distinctive river days in Colorado. The Rails to Rio experience begins with a six-mile guided rail-bike ride beside the Rio Grande and Coller State Wildlife Area. After returning to South Fork Station, guests transition to a five-mile tubing trip with equipment and river instruction provided by Rocky Mountain Ski & Raft.

The complete rail-and-river experience takes approximately four hours, dividing the adventure between pedaling beside the Rio Grande and floating on it. It is a clever combination that feels less like renting a tube and more like a complete San Luis Valley excursion.

Travelers who want to build their own river day can rent tubes and arrange seasonal transportation through Narrow Ridge Outdoors. All Rio Grande trips depend on current flows, making South Fork another place where a quick call to the local operator is worth the effort.

Walk-Back and Self-Shuttled River Tubing in Colorado

These destinations are generally based around repeat park laps, a riverside trail or a route that requires visitors to manage their own transportation. Some have onsite rentals; others require bringing a river-quality tube.

A walk-back float can be wonderfully simple when the trail follows the river and the route is short. A self-shuttled float is different: it usually requires two vehicles, established access points and a clear understanding of where the public corridor begins and ends.

San Juan River — Pagosa Springs

Best for: A flexible downtown walk-back float with whitewater, hot springs and easy repeat laps.

Pagosa Springs belongs at the top of the walk-back list, too. Our downtown shop sits directly across Main Street from the San Juan River, the whitewater park and the Hippy Dips, making it easy to pick up a tube and build your own Pagosa-style river day.

The classic route begins at Cotton’s Hole, directly below the First Street bridge. From there, tubers enjoy a couple of mellower blocks before reaching the waves, drops and pools of the downtown whitewater park. The float continues past the Hippy Dips to Centennial Park, directly across from The Springs Resort. A connected walking route makes it easy to return to the shop or head upstream for another lap.

To extend the float, cross Main Street at the First Street bridge and continue upstream along the Riverwalk toward Riff Raff on the Rio. The best starting point and route length change with river flow, so we help rental guests choose a float that fits the day.

Pagosa Springs River Tube Rentals are available for three hours or a full day, with standard, XL and purpose-built double tubes. Reserve ahead and complete the online waivers before arriving, then simply give us the reservation name, grab the tubes waiting for your group and head straight to the river.

Colorado River — Grand Junction

Best for: Accessible river-park laps with a high-desert backdrop.

The River Park at Las Colonias transformed a section of the Colorado River into one of the Western Slope’s most approachable places to play in moving water. The park includes a gentler bypass channel, beach and wading areas, along with two primary river features that attract tubers, surfers, paddlers and spectators.

Rather than committing to a long wilderness float, visitors can choose short laps and spend the rest of the day enjoying the surrounding park. That makes Grand Junction a practical choice for mixed groups whose members may want different levels of river time.

For current conditions and rentals, Grand Junction Adventures is a helpful local resource, along with the city’s river recreation updates.

Uncompahgre River — Montrose

Best for: A long season and powerful whitewater-park laps.

The Montrose Water Sports Park occupies approximately 1,000 feet of the Uncompahgre River and contains six constructed features. An accessible riverside trail makes it possible to walk back upstream and run repeated laps.

The Uncompahgre’s hydrology is unusual. Water imported from the Gunnison River Basin through the Gunnison Tunnel supports agriculture in the Uncompahgre Valley and can help sustain flows later than many naturally dwindling Western Slope streams.

That dependable-looking water should not be confused with a lazy float. The park’s drops can produce some of the rowdiest tubing on this list, and knowing the correct exit is essential. Current updates are available through the City of Montrose.

Boulder Creek — Boulder

Best for: A lively college-town float with multiple choices of difficulty.

Boulder Creek drops out of the canyon, passes Eben G. Fine Park and continues beneath bridges and pathways through downtown Boulder. The upper portion carries more gradient, chutes and splash, while downstream access allows visitors to choose a less aggressive starting point.

The creek is famously cold even on hot afternoons. It is also highly responsive to snowmelt and storms, so the City of Boulder and Boulder County may restrict tubing when flows become too powerful.

Most tubers walk upstream along the Boulder Creek Path and float back toward town. Equipment and local information are available through Whitewater Tube Company.

San Miguel River — Telluride

Best for: A short, cold high-country float surrounded by Telluride scenery.

The San Miguel runs beside Telluride’s river trail beneath steep mountains and the free gondola connecting Telluride with Mountain Village. Multiple access points make it possible to inspect portions of the route from the trail before getting on the water.

This is one of the coldest and most seasonal floats in the guide. The same free-flowing river is better known for guided rafting when it has enough water, while lower summer levels can create a brief tubing opportunity through town.

There is no major full-service tubing operation attached to this route, so visitors should expect to bring appropriate equipment, manage their own logistics and confirm current access and river conditions locally. When flows favor rafting, San Miguel rafting trips offer a better way to experience more of the river.

Cache la Poudre River — Fort Collins

Best for: An active urban river park and experienced local tubers.

The Cache la Poudre is Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River, and its character changes considerably between the mountain canyon and Fort Collins. The Poudre River Whitewater Park, just north of Old Town, creates a compact place for tubing, kayaking, surfing and watching the river.

For current flows, access points and route guidance, Fort Collins river shops are the best resource. Local outfitters track daily conditions and can point you toward the safest and most enjoyable sections based on water level and experience.

Canyon sections such as Filter Plant belong in an entirely different category and should not be treated as casual tubing simply because someone has floated them before.

Poudre River — Windsor

Best for: Affordable rentals and an organized family river-park experience.

Farther downstream, Windsor offers a very different Poudre experience. The Eastman Park River Experience includes approximately one river mile dedicated to tubing, kayaking and other paddling activities.

The Town of Windsor operates seasonal tube rentals directly from the park, including single, double and multi-person tubes. Life jackets are provided with rentals, designated access points simplify the route and a tube-valet service reduces some of the usual carrying.

Windsor deserves separate recognition from Fort Collins because it is a purpose-managed tubing experience rather than an informal urban float.

Lower Animas River — Durango

Best for: A choose-your-own urban river adventure beside the Animas River Trail.

The Animas River is woven through Durango’s identity. Public parks, bridges and the paved Animas River Trail provide numerous places to see the water and connect with designated access points.

The river’s character changes substantially through town. Some reaches provide more relaxed floating, while the constructed features at the Durango Whitewater Park produce stronger waves and current. That variety is part of the appeal, but it makes local route selection important.

Mild to Wild offers seasonal tube rentals when flows fall within its operating range. Transportation is not included, so tubers should plan their access, takeout and return logistics before launching.

Eagle River — Eagle

Best for: Repeat laps through a purpose-built whitewater park near Vail and Beaver Creek.

The Eagle River Park includes four constructed river features that create waves, chutes, pools and splashy drops at suitable summer levels. Multiple downstream exits let tubers choose the length of a lap, then follow a short walking route back toward the park.

Eagle River Tubing Company operates at the park with commercial-grade tube rentals and included life jackets. Parking, restrooms and the compact walk-back layout make this one of Colorado’s most convenient whitewater tubing setups.

The Eagle is an undammed mountain river and is normally known for rafting during its stronger runoff. As the water drops, the park changes character and tubing takes over—an excellent example of how one river corridor can support different activities as the season progresses.

Gore Creek — Vail

Best for: A narrow, adventurous float through the heart of Vail Village.

Gore Creek provides a distinctly different experience from the Eagle River Park downstream. Instead of repeating constructed park laps, tubers follow a cold mountain creek beneath pedestrian bridges and through Vail’s landscaped village corridor.

The creek is narrow, rocky and surprisingly energetic. Depending on flow, a workable route may range from a longer float through several parts of town to shorter laps near Vail Village.

American Ski Exchange rents commercial river tubes with life jackets only steps from Gore Creek. There is no included river shuttle, so follow the shop’s current route recommendations and plan on walking or arranging your own return.

Gore Creek can feel more like creek boating in a tube than a lazy float. It is a memorable choice for capable swimmers who want something compact, cold and lively.

St. Vrain Creek — Lyons

Best for: Whitewater-park laps, swimming holes and a picnic between floats.

LaVern M. Johnson Park sits directly on St. Vrain Creek and combines constructed waves, swimming areas, lawns, shade and several possible float lengths. Ray’s River Rentals operates inside the park with tubes, life jackets, helmets and river shoes.

The shortest experience is based around repeat laps in Lyons Whitewater Park. Longer options continue downstream to Black Bear Bridge or October Hole, followed by an approximately 15- or 25-minute walk back.

Ray’s does not currently provide a shuttle. Lyons belongs firmly in the walk-back category, although its compact route and connected trail keep the logistics manageable. The Town of Lyons also uses a status system to communicate when St. Vrain tubing conditions are appropriate.

Arkansas River — Pueblo

Best for: Southern Colorado’s newest purpose-built tubing and paddling park.

Pueblo’s Waterworks Park opened in 2025 and added a new series of river features intended for tubing, surfing, kayaking and other paddling. Its design creates a recreational river corridor while improving access and river function.

The established Pueblo Whitewater Park downstream offers additional waves and drops through the city. These two areas make Pueblo a far more significant river-recreation destination than many Colorado travelers realize.

Both are real-river environments, and Pueblo posts flow-related restrictions for recreational use. Check current park information, identify the correct entrances and exits and expect to manage your own equipment and transportation.

Lower Gunnison and North Fork Valley — Hotchkiss

Best for: An under-the-radar Western Slope float with local equipment support.

The North Fork of the Gunnison and the lower Gunnison pass through orchard country, agricultural valleys and high-desert landscapes far removed from Colorado’s busier resort corridors. These rivers are better known for rafting, paddling and fishing, but selected lower-gradient reaches can provide seasonal tubing opportunities.

Western Slope SUP in Hotchkiss rents float tubes and other inflatable river equipment for exploring local waterways. Unlike a defined downtown tubing park, this is a build-your-own adventure that requires local route advice, appropriate access and a plan for transportation.

That extra effort is part of the appeal. For visitors willing to ask questions and handle their own logistics, the North Fork Valley offers a quieter view of Western Colorado river culture.

Why Shuttle Service Changes the Tubing Experience

Shuttled and non-shuttled tubing can look identical in a photograph, but they are very different visitor experiences.

A shuttle-supported trip generally gives you a known route, identified access points and transportation between the beginning and end. The best operations also provide river-quality equipment, life jackets, footwear, changing facilities, storage and current local information.

A walk-back float works beautifully when a riverside trail parallels a short section of water. Eagle, Lyons, Golden and downtown Pagosa all make repeated laps possible without moving vehicles.

A true self-shuttle requires more planning. You may need two vehicles, legal parking at both ends and a clear understanding of public access. Colorado property law and local access conditions are complicated; being able to see or float past a riverbank does not necessarily give you permission to stop there.

For first-time visitors, families and groups, transportation can be the difference between an easy vacation activity and half the group standing wet at a takeout wondering where the car is.

River Tubes Matter

Many of Colorado’s best tubing sections contain rocks, drops, wave trains and shallow channels. A lightweight pool toy may be inexpensive, but it was not designed to repeatedly scrape across a mountain river.

Our favorite purpose-built options include the SOL Water/Snow Tube, Rocky Mountain Rafts River Tube and Badfish River Donut. Quality tubes cost more, but their durable materials, dependable valves and usable handles make a meaningful difference.

Many rental operations also offer double tubes, larger tubes, life jackets, helmets or river shoes. Choose equipment for the actual river rather than simply grabbing whatever happens to be inflatable.

A Few Colorado River-Tubing Essentials

Ask locally before floating. River levels alone do not reveal every diversion structure, downed tree, construction project, closure or difficult exit. Local outfitters and river managers see the changes that a generic travel article cannot.

Know the route before entering. Identify the put-in, takeout, approximate float time and any mandatory portages. Also decide whether you are using a commercial shuttle, walking back or staging vehicles.

Dress for a mountain river. Secure footwear and a properly fitted life jacket belong on moving water. Helmets are appropriate—and sometimes required—on more technical whitewater sections.

Expect to swim. Colorado tubing involves current, rocks and the possibility of flipping. Participants should be competent swimmers who can manage themselves in cold moving water.

Keep valuables off the river. Car keys, unsecured phones and expensive sunglasses have a mysterious tendency to migrate toward the bottom. Use lockers, key storage, sunglass retainers and waterproof floating cases when available.

Respect access and leave the river cleaner. Enter and exit at established locations, stay off private banks and carry out everything you bring. A small dry bag is useful for keeping personal items contained, but every item should also be secured to prevent it from becoming river trash.

Finding Your Best Colorado Tubing Trip

Colorado river tubing ranges from a five-mile Rio Grande float paired with a rail-bike ride to quick laps through a downtown whitewater feature. Some trips are relaxed and scenic. Others are cold, fast, rocky and wonderfully humbling.

The best destination is not necessarily the biggest river or the wildest rapid. It is the place that matches your group, the current flow and the amount of logistical support you want.

If you are looking for a complete tubing experience with scheduled transportation, premium equipment and genuine whitewater in the middle of a mountain town, come see us at Pagosa Outside. If you prefer to build your own day, our Pagosa Springs River Tube Rentals put you steps from the San Juan River, the Riverwalk, downtown parks and the hot springs.

Whichever Colorado river you choose, check the current conditions, respect the people and places along its banks, and bring a tube built for more than a swimming pool. We’ll see you somewhere downstream.

 

Original post- 9 Must Visit Colorado River Tubing Destinations

In order to beat the summer heat while enjoying some of the most scenic rivers in the country, check out some Colorado river tubing, which has become one of the state’s most popular activities. It’s a fun, low-key activity that requires very little equipment. Colorado river floating is great for families, groups of friends, you name it! It’s vital to do your research before simply hopping in a tube on a river that looks tame. A good rule of thumb is to check with a local river outfitter for information on water levels and any potential river obstacles before setting out on your float. To help you with your research, we have created this list of the most iconic and user-friendly Colorado river tubing areas. It’s almost guaranteed that you will want to float them all! 

1) Colorado River, Grand Junction

For a bit more of a desert view in your Rocky Mountain journey, float the Colorado River in the town of Grand Junction.  The newly opened River Park at Las Colonias includes a lazy, lengthy and accessible water channel, two whitewater water features, a beach and wading areas.  These amenities are accessible to a wide range of ages, ability and experience levels. 

Rent tubes onsite at Grand Junction Adventures.

2) Colorado River, Dotsero

Not far downstream from Vail, at the confluence of the Eagle and Colorado rivers, lies the tiny town of Dotsero.  Theory is that the name came from the ”0” starting point on an old railroad map, “dot zero.”  Nonetheless it is the epicenter of some epic Colorado River tubing adventures.  This section of river doesn’t have many rapids so the river tube of choice is a giant 4+ person tube.  Make sure to not bring glass or styrofoam coolers on this leisurely Colorado river float and respect the private property by not stopping on the side of the river during float trips.

For rentals and shuttles check out Sage Outdoor Adventures for river Rentals

3) Uncompahgre River, Montrose

Montrose Water Sports Park was completed in 2015 and consists of 1000 feet of river channel with 6 different man-made whitewater features.  Walk back up the ADA accessible trails and take as many laps as you can.  This whitewater park boasts one of the longest tubing seasons in Colorado due to its location below diversions that bring water for irrigation from the Gunnison river.  Check water levels and know where you should get out of the river because this can be some of the rowdiest and best river tubing in Colorado.

All sorts of river rentals available nearby at Montrose Surf and Cycle

4) Clear Creek, Golden

 

If you’re near Denver and looking for more of an adventurous river float, you will want to head to the Clear Creek Whitewater Park in the outdoorsy town of Golden. This section is especially nice for cooling off on those hot summer days in Colorado’s Front Range. For your Colorado river tubing experience, you’ll get some exciting drops through Colorado’s first man-made whitewater park. Since this section is a bit more exciting than other lazier rivers throughout the state, it is advised that all tubers wear a life jacket and helmet.

Rentals and shuttle available through Adventure West.

5) Boulder Creek, Boulder

Start at Eben G. Fine park for a nice long, exciting Colorado tubing experience on Boulder Creek. The creek starts in a canyon and winds its way downtown under the Boulder Public Library bridge. While you’re there, you may also consider swimming, rope-swinging, and kayaking. The creek is icy cold year round, but feels great on a hot day. If you want to avoid the chutes and splashes of the upper creek, start your Colorado river float at the library. Reasonable folks wait to tube until Boulder Creek is flowing at 300 cfs or lower and the City shuts down all tubing at over 700 cfs.

Rentals available at The Whitewater Tube Co.

6) San Juan River, Pagosa Springs

The headwaters of the San Juan River begin near the beautiful town of Pagosa Springs and continue on through three states and 383 miles. Head downtown to sample just a piece of the river on your Colorado river tubing adventure. Depending on where you start, the trip can be anywhere from very lazy to pretty adventurous if you choose to tackle any of the 6 man made whitewater features!  Wait until the river flows are below 400 cfs which normally happens midsummer when the snowmelt subsides.  If the water is higher, jump on a guided raft trip.  Be sure to wave at people soaking in the free riverside hot springs, or hop in yourself after your float! If you are looking to try something new, try your hand at Pagosa Springs paddleboarding or Pagosa Springs kayaking. 

Pagosa Springs tube rentals and shuttled tubing trips available at Pagosa Outside.

7) San Miguel River, Telluride

 

When the summer heats up in the picturesque Colorado mountain town of Telluride, cool off on the San Miguel river in water that was snow just hours ago.  The San Miguel has many entrance and exit points along the river trail that runs the entire length through town.  It’s easy to get a birds-eye view of the entire town and river tubing section on the free gondola that connects to Mountain Village.  If the San Miguel is too cold or high to tube, check out the raft trips available on the San Miguel River. 

8) Poudre River, Fort Collins

Tubing on the Poudre River is a quintessential summer activity in Fort Collins.  This is your classic lazy Colorado river floating. Float right through town but don’t miss the mandatory portage around a dam at the bottom of Legacy Park.  For the experienced floaters, the Filter Plant Run has plenty of whitewater tubing thrills. Wait until July, when spring runoff is done, to tube the Poudre.

Rentals and information at Rocky Mountain Adventures

9) Yampa River, Steamboat Springs

 

When the Yampa River, that runs through the resort town of Steamboat Springs, drops below 700 cfs it’s time to tube!  This local-favorite must-do activity takes you right through downtown where you can make stops at parks and restaurants.  Leave your car downtown or at the Community Center and ride the bus upstream to put-in for a 1-3 hour float.

Rentals and shuttled trips available at Backdoor Sports

River Tubes Matter!

Using the appropriate equipment is important as many of the best river tubing in Colorado stretches feature rapids, drops and boulders. You don’t want to be stranded when your river tube goes flat. Our recommendations for the best quality river tubes are the SOL Water/Snow Tube, RMR’s River Tubes and Badfish River Donut.  These might be more expensive than the cheap river tubes you can find at your favorite big box retailer but you’ll know that they will hold up on your river tubing adventure and it won’t end up in the dumpster after a few uses. These high quality river tubes can also do double duty as snow tubes in the winter!

A few basics for safe and fun river tubing in Colorado

-Secure footwear and life jackets are just common sense on most Colorado river tubing trips and in many areas they are required for river tubers 12 and under.  

-Check the river section, flow rates, and what they mean.  Some rivers in Colorado are never appropriate for tubing and others need to be below certain levels to be floated. Know the put-in and take-out locations and the amount of time your river float trip will take and respect private property which can include the river bottom in some sections.  

-Don’t take your car keys, cell phones, and expensive sunglasses, they’ll end up at the bottom of the river. Most tube rental outfitters in Colorado sell floating phone cases, sunglass retainers and have a key holder service. 

-Leave your towels and dry clothes in a vehicle for when you’re done tubing.   

-Leave no Trace! Be sure to take everything you bring with you and properly dispose of trash.  Small dry bags are great for keeping your personal belongings contained.  

-Lastly and most importantly, rely on the businesses that tube the rivers in Colorado everyday.  These folks know their local rivers, understand changing flows, and can help you choose the right section, gear, and timing for a better day on the water.

We hope we’ve provided some quality suggestions about where and how to get the most out of your Colorado river tubing adventures!  If you have a favorite place to tube in Colorado that deserves recognition, let us know! If you make your way out to Pagosa Springs, be sure to checkout our custom Pagosa Springs tube rentals. Have fun out there!