Stand Up Paddle Board Tours in the Colorado Rockies
What’s up with SUP?! Stand up paddle boarding is taking over and for good reasons. This fun activity involves standing or kneeling on a long thick floating board with a paddle and can be done on a lake, pond, or river. Many places now offer SUP yoga, a true test to balance. It is a great activity for anyone over the age of ten that can stand or kneel for two or more hours at a time. A great idea for a family activity, solo adventure, or for a date! Get a new view of the Rockies and get a workout too! All the while testing your balance and engaging your muscles in a whole new way.
When to SUP in Colorado:
Paddle boarding season starts in May and usually goes to September or even October if the snow doesn’t start to early in the season. Paddle boarding is the ideal activity for spring, summer and even fall in the Colorado Rockies.
How to dress and what to bring:
You will want to wear comfortable clothes. Think yoga clothes, swimsuits, board shorts, rash guard for sun protection, wetsuit or drysuit depending on the day and weather. Bringing or wearing layers is always a great idea in Colorado because the temperature can change in minutes just from the sun moving behind a cloud.
Sun protection is important as you will be outside at high elevation. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, a hat and towel are all great things to bring with you when stand up paddle boarding.
Where to SUP in Colorad0:
There are many places to go stand up paddle boarding but there’s no better place to go then the Rocky Mountains! With beautiful mountain scenery and high elevation makes this a truly unique experience and a great work out.
The Upper Colorado River: For an exciting adventure, we highly recommend a SUP trip down the Upper Colorado River. This fun and splashy river has some class II rapids that are fun tackle on a SUP, but don’t worry if you lose your balance and fall in, it is definitely something you can swim though.
The Dillon Reservoir: This huge reservoir has 3,300 acres and 27 miles of shoreline. For rentals head over to Frisco Bay Marina the staff, they will be more than happy to help you with all your rental needs. There are lots of campgrounds, restaurants, bars and cafes close by which makes Frisco Bay Marina great for a weekend trip with the family.
Grand Lake: This lake offers 500 surface acres, is surrounded by the Rocky Mountain National Park and is the largest natural lake in Colorado. This makes Grand Lake a great spot for stand up paddle boarding and other water sports. Grand Lakes also has a beach you can relax at and a marina with several shops for rentals. This spot has a lot to offer with breathtaking views, and lots to do this is a great place for for anyone to stand up paddle board!
Maggie Pond: Breckenridge is a hot spot for SUP, and Maggie pond is calm and perfect for first timers and families to try stand up paddle boarding and is surrounded by beautiful views of the ten-mile mountain range. Many places in Breckenridge offer stand up paddle board classes Meta yoga studios, bhava yoga studio, and the Breckenridge recreation center are just a few that offer classes. You will want to prebook/register for these classes ahead of time as they can book up.
If SUP is not on your summer plans, then we highly recommend making time for this fun, rejuvenating Colorado activity. Whether you are looking for a more exciting trip or just to relax on the beautiful lake, you will not be disappointed when you try your hand at stand up paddle board.