Breckenridge: Colorado River Float & Rapids with Pickup

Float the Colorado River's Gentle Section Without Fighting the Current

You get picked up at Kremmling, driven to the river, and guided through a 2-3 hour float from Pumphouse to Radium with time to swim and relax between small rapids. All gear — helmet, wet suit, splash jacket — is included, and the guide handles navigation and timing. Two daily departures mean you can choose morning or afternoon without rearranging your whole day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day Colorado River float trip

• Check in at Kremmling Outpost
• Gear up and meet your guide
• Load vehicle for shuttle to river
• Float from Pumphouse to Radium
• Enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and relaxing

The Experience

You wonder if a "relaxing" float trip actually exists, or if that's just what outfitters call the ones where you don't flip. Turns out it does — at least on this stretch of the upper Colorado. The Pumphouse to Radium run is the kind of section where you can actually see the Gore Range instead of gripping the raft, where small rapids feel more like rhythm than threat, and where stopping to swim or just drift for a minute doesn't throw off the whole day. The Colorado River float here winds through mountain ranchland and narrows, but nothing that demands white-knuckle focus.

The day starts at the Kremmling Outpost, where you check in, get fitted with a helmet, wet suit and splash jacket, then load into a vehicle for the 30-minute drive to Pumphouse Recreation Area. Your guide handles the shuttle and the route — you show up with secure footwear (no flip-flops), and they take care of the rest. Two departures run daily, so you can pick the morning or afternoon slot that fits your schedule. The whole float takes a few hours, which is why it works as a half-day trip if you're staying in Breckenridge or coming from Winter Park or Steamboat Springs and don't want to commit the whole day to the river.

What makes this Colorado River trip different from the harder sections is the pace. You're not constantly paddling or bracing for the next drop. There's actual time to sunbathe on the raft, jump in and swim if the water's warm enough, or just watch the landscape. The small rapids that do show up — and there are a few — feel like punctuation rather than the whole story. Kids as young as two can go (with a minimum weight of 30 pounds), and the guide adjusts the experience to who's in the boat. It's the kind of float where you leave feeling like you actually spent time on the water, not just survived it.

What’s included

Your day includes professional guide, helmet, wet suit and splash jacket, vehicle shuttle from Kremmling Outpost to Pumphouse Recreation Area, and the float itself from Pumphouse to Radium. You bring secure footwear and a willingness to get wet.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by AVA Rafting and Zipline

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a few hours on the water without the intensity of harder rapids or the logistics of arranging your own shuttle and gear — the fixed schedule and included transport are what make it work as a half-day trip from Breckenridge.

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Top questions

How long is the Colorado River float trip?

The half-day trip takes roughly 2-3 hours on the water, plus 30 minutes each way for the shuttle from Kremmling Outpost to Pumphouse Recreation Area.

What's included in the rafting trip?

Helmet, wet suit, splash jacket, professional guide, and vehicle shuttle to and from the put-in point. You bring secure footwear.

Can young children do this Colorado River float?

Yes. Minimum age is 2 years and minimum weight is 30 pounds. Specialized infant seats are available.

How difficult are the rapids on this section?

They're small and gentle. This is the relaxing section of the upper Colorado — suitable for all fitness levels and designed for families and swimmers.

What time do departures leave?

Two departures run daily. Check with the outpost for exact morning and afternoon times when you book.

Is this trip wheelchair accessible?

The Kremmling Outpost and check-in area are wheelchair accessible. Discuss specific needs with the outpost when booking.

What should I wear?

Secure footwear is required — no flip-flops or Crocs. The outfitter provides a wet suit and splash jacket. Bring a towel and change of clothes for after.

Do I need rafting experience?

No. This trip is designed for all ages and fitness levels, including first-time rafters.