Rafting, Tubing, & Paddle Boarding
The Vail Valley area boasts some of the most exhilarating river activities available in the country, as well as family-friendly float trips. Guided tours are available on a variety of rivers including the Colorado River, Arkansas River and Eagle River. You can even tube or raft through Vail Village on Gore Creek!
Family Fun Whitewater Rafting Trips
Lower Eagle River Rafting
Class II – III (May – June)
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This whitewater rafting trip offers moderate level rapids with wonderful scenery. Only 20 minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek, this is a great family rafting trip that requires no previous rafting experience. As you set sail, the excitement begins almost instantly as you’re greeted by a class III rapid, and two other class III rapids along the way will keep you on your toes. Over 10 miles long, you’ll have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy some great scenery along the way!
Upper Colorado River Rafting
Class I – II Full Season (May – October)
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A rafting float trip with light rapids on a beautiful & isolated section of the Colorado River. Rafting this section of the Colorado is suitable for the entire family and both trips include a snack. Known as the “Upper C” by locals, this mellow stretch of the Colorado River will allow you to relax and soak it all in on an 8 or 10 person raft, you might even be able to take a dip along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and remnants of old mining claims in the area.
Shoshone Rapids – Colorado River Rafting
Class II – III (July – October)
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A winding stretch of the Colorado River, Shoshone Rapids are one of the most scenic canyon rafting trips offered in Colorado. Carving their way through Glenwood Canyon, Shoshone (shoh-shoh-nee) Rapids offers a great blend of excitement and relaxation for the whole family. Get ready to paddle, because Shoshone offers some great class III whitewater rapids right off the bat. Mellow out with some class II white water rapids and enjoy the beautiful canyon walls on both sides of the river. With our morning trip, enjoy a riverside lunch along the way. Children 7 and under can skip the initial rapids portion and rendezvous with the group halfway down.
Brown’s Canyon Arkansas River Rafting
Arkansas River Class II – III (Late June – August 15)
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This is arguably the most popular whitewater rafting trip in Colorado. Brown’s Canyon offers adventurous rafting for all experience levels with beautiful mountain views and magnificent canyon scenery! If you’re looking for a great blend of adventure and scenery, you’ll enjoy more than 15 fantastic rapids and views of some beautiful 14,000 foot peaks surrounding the area.
Upper Colorado River Tubing Trip!
Turtle Tubing is Colorado’s Premiere River Tubing Service, offering adventurous river floats the Vail region!
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Reservations Required
Includes: Towable Tube, PFD, Paddle, Experienced Guide
PLUS Round trip transportation on our Signature “Turtle Bus” from Vail Valley
Tubing on Gore Creek Through Vail Village!
Available depending on water flows, generally late June – July.
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Have your own Huck Finn adventure tubing through the heart of Vail Village! Come to the Sage Outdoor Adventures’ Lionshead Shop, put on your wetsuit gear and helmet, and grab a tube. This is ADVENTURE tubing. You will bounce off rocks, run Class ll rapids, and possibly get flipped off your tube in a pretty good current. Minimum age approximately 11 or 12 years old. Transportation and personal river gear provided.
Intermediate and Thrill-Seeker Trips
Upper Eagle River Rafting
Class III – IV (May – June)
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If you have previous rafting experience and are looking for some exhilarating whitewater, hop on board an Upper Eagle rafting adventure. Just 15 minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek, the Upper Eagle provides some great, non-stop action. An awesome way to spend just part of your day, you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep after an Upper Eagle trip! Must be 14 years or older and physically fit.
Triple Whammy – Shoshone Rapids – Colorado River Canyon Rafting
Class II – III (July – October)
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This is the rapids-only portion of the Shoshone Trip. This whitewater is so much fun that we do them three times in a row! Starting like a regular Shoshone Rapids trip, we’ll surge through the upper rapids and then rather than continuing on through the Canyon, we’ll load up the gear and head back up for another run, and another!
Numbers Arkansas River Rafting
Class III-IV (Late June – August)
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This is a thrill-seeker’s dream! Named for the actual rapids, you’ll put in at rapid Number 1. Get ready for some intense whitewater, taking you all the way through Number 6. Don’t anticipate relaxing on this trip as these rapids come in succession and demand everything you’ve got. Enjoy lunch with both of our tour offerings on the river. Guests must be 16 years or older. All guests must be in good physical shape and know how to swim.
