Before the river trip begins, families participate in a two-hour pre-trip planning session held at the Colorado River Academy gear garage. This meeting is designed to help everyone feel prepared and confident before arriving at the river.

During this session we walk through the essential equipment used on overnight rafting trips, including rafts, frames, dry bags, coolers, kitchen gear, and safety equipment. Guides demonstrate how to pack and organize gear, prepare river meals, and properly load coolers so food stays cold and accessible throughout the trip.

We also cover the logistics behind successful river trips, including how river permits work, trip planning basics, shuttle coordination, and how to organize gear for smooth launches and take-outs. Participants will learn practical techniques for packing personal gear, preparing food, and setting up equipment for multi-day river travel.

This session is also a great opportunity to ask questions, review trip details, and make sure everyone understands what to bring and what to expect. By the end of the meeting, families have a clear plan and the knowledge needed to arrive at the river ready for a fun and organized adventure.

Meet at Pumphouse Recreation Area

Your adventure begins at Pumphouse Recreation Area on the Upper Colorado River, about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Denver, making it an easy escape into the mountains. Our guides will welcome you, check everyone in, and help you get fitted with the proper river equipment including personal flotation devices (PFDs), helmets, and paddles. We have a wide range of adult and youth sizes to ensure everyone is comfortable and safe for the trip.

Before launching, we spend time covering some important river basics. Participants will learn boat ramp etiquette, how to prepare and rig a raft for the river, and how to organize gear for a smooth trip. Our team will also demonstrate how a shuttle system works, how guides coordinate vehicles, and what happens behind the scenes to make river trips run efficiently.

During this time, everyone will receive a river safety orientation covering topics like how to sit in the raft, how to paddle as a team, what to do if someone falls in the water, and how to safely enjoy the river environment.

Kayaks are available for participants 12 years and older who are comfortable swimmers, while the raft is a great option for younger adventurers—kids as young as four can enjoy the trip when accompanied by family members.

Once everyone is geared up and the boats are rigged, we launch into a relaxing and scenic float down the Upper Colorado River. Along the way guides share tips on reading the river, basic rowing or paddling techniques, and how to work together as a river crew.

Throughout the day we may stop for swimming, short hikes, riverside lunch, or fun activities like rock jumping where conditions allow. These breaks also give guides the chance to demonstrate river safety skills such as helping someone back into a raft using their life jacket and practicing rescue rope throws.

Starting your float will feel equally relaxing and invigorating. You can expect some stretches of smooth, calm water and sections of playful jumpy splashes to keep everyone excited. As you wind down the river, your guide will share stories of the area, tell you about the surrounding nature, and share some of their favorite raft puns and jokes (family-friendly, of course!).

Different sections of the river may offer the opportunity to take refreshing dips in the water or play splashy raft games. Everyone can keep an eye out for exciting wildlife – you can even make a contest of who spots the coolest one. When you’re not playing games or splashing around, you can sink into the beauty of the area and simply enjoy your surroundings on the water.
You will spend 4-5 hours on the water, so everyone gets their fill of Colorado River fun.

Lunch Break

About halfway through the float, we will pull over to a beautiful little riverside area for a picnic and hang out. Your guide has some serious camp kitchen skills and will prepare a delicious hearty lunch while you soak up some sun, take a little hike or splash in the water. There’s even a nearby natural hot spring fantastic for soaking sore muscles or enjoying a moment of relaxation. It’s the perfect intermission before more river float fun.

Along the trip, your guide can capture cute photos of your group enjoying the lunch break or posing by the boat so you can keep your Upper Colorado float trip memories forever.

In the late afternoon we arrive at our riverside camp where the academy portion continues. Families learn how to set up a functional river camp, including kitchen setup, food storage, cooler organization, and dishwashing systems. Guides also cover campfire safety, Leave No Trace practices, and how teamwork makes overnight river trips run smoothly.

After camp is set up, everyone helps prepare a simple riverside dinner before gathering around the campfire for stories, games, and a relaxing evening under the Colorado stars.

Morning at Riverside Camp

Wake up to a peaceful Colorado morning along the Upper Colorado River. After a relaxed start to the day, everyone helps with simple camp breakdown and kitchen cleanup, learning how experienced river crews organize gear and pack equipment efficiently for the day ahead. Guides will demonstrate how to properly load rafts, secure gear, and manage coolers and dry boxes so everything stays organized and accessible on the river.

Breakfast is prepared together as part of the academy experience, giving families a chance to practice simple river cooking techniques and meal planning for overnight rafting trips.

Once camp is packed and boats are rigged, we launch back onto the Upper Colorado River for another scenic day of floating through the beautiful canyon near Kremmling. Along the way guides continue sharing tips about reading water, rowing or paddling techniques, and how to work together as a crew on the river.

Throughout the float there may be opportunities to swim, explore along the riverbank, or enjoy fun features of the river corridor. Guides may also review and practice key safety skills such as rescue rope throws, helping someone back into a raft, and understanding how to stay calm and safe in moving water.

As the trip comes to an end, we arrive at the take-out where guides walk through the final steps of a river trip including unloading boats, organizing gear, and preparing equipment for transport. This is also a great time to ask questions and talk through ideas for planning your own future rafting and camping adventures.

Families leave the Colorado River Academy with great memories, practical river knowledge, and the confidence to plan their own rafting trips throughout Colorado and the West.