A Family Overnight Trip on the Upper Colorado River

Posted by on May 30, 2014 in Colorado River Trip Stories
A Family Overnight Trip on the Upper Colorado River

Want to get on the river but don’t want a guided excursion?

Colorado River Rentals has what you need to make it happen.

The Stand Up Paddleboards kept the kids thoroughly entertained.

The Stand Up Paddleboards kept the kids thoroughly entertained.

A trip on the Upper Colorado River is sure to please the kids, relax the adults and help you all unplug and reconnect. Rent some river gear for a short half day trip, a full day adventure, or an overnight trip with friends or family. The Upper Colorado is packed with scenic canyons, wildlife, fun river rapids and great camps. Just 2 hours from Denver, this is seriously a world away but so close to home!

An Inflatable Kayak Rental (aka “Duckies”) or Stand Up Paddleboard Rental is perfect because both of these river toys require no previous experience. Just hop in or on them and get going! You’ll get the hang of it in no time. If you tip over or fall off, you just get back on. Easy peasy!

You can always ride the Stand Up Paddleboards on your knees.

You can always ride the Stand Up Paddleboards on your knees.

Last summer we took a family trip on the Upper Colorado River from Pumphouse to Rancho del Rio. We did the 11-mile trip as an overnight with a camp stop above Radium near the Hot Springs. We had 7 kids ages 4-13 and they had a blast! No one ever asked for an iPad or said they were bored.

Fun toys!

Fun toys!

Both the kids and the adults played on the paddle boards, fooled around in kayaks, hiked around the rocks at camp, fished at dusk, enjoyed S’mores over the campfire under a million stars, and we all went to bed tired and happy as we slept peacefully to the sound of the river.

We even had a father and son on our trip who had never been rafting, but Dad rented a raft and rowed the boat down with no problems!

An overnight river trip does require a fair bit of planning and gear – but Colorado River Rentals can hook you up with almost everything you need to make it happen. Previous experience with rafts (or friends with experience) is helpful (but not required) if you are rowing or paddling a raft down the river.

Get on the river soon – with the help of Colorado River Rentals.

Scenic shot a few miles downriver from where we camped.

Scenic shot a few miles downriver from where we camped.