BOND RAFTING FIELD GUIDE
Two Days on the Upper Colorado: Guided Overnight Rafting and Riverside Camping from Pumphouse to State Bridge
A fully guided, two-day rafting trip on the Upper Colorado River with one night of secluded riverside camping and all meals prepared by your guides — this guide explains what to expect and how to prepare.
Two Days on the Upper Colorado: Guided Overnight Rafting and Riverside Camping from Pumphouse to State Bridge.
Drift through towering canyon walls, wide valleys and quiet stretches of the Upper Colorado River on a fully guided overnight rafting trip that pairs splashy Class I–II rapids with a single, secluded night of riverside camping. Professional guides manage gear, camp setup and meals so groups and families can focus on scenery, wildlife and the rhythms of the river.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Gentle, playful rapids for most paddlers
This stretch of the Upper Colorado features splashy Class I–II rapids — mild enough for beginners yet lively enough to keep the pace of the trip engaging.
A single night of secluded riverside camping
The itinerary includes pulling up to a secluded riverside campsite for an evening of campfire meals and stargazing; guides handle camp setup and prepare hearty riverside dinners.
Big-sky scenery and frequent riverbank wildlife
Expect towering canyon walls, open valleys and riverbank sightings of bald eagles, deer, beaver and bighorn sheep as you float between scenic stretches of the Upper Colorado.
What the day feels like
How the trip unfolds
Over two days, guides shuttle you to the river, lead paddle time through mild rapids, serve riverbank lunches, and land at a quiet riverside camp for an evening by the fire. On day two you rise to a hot breakfast, continue downstream to a visit at Rancho Del Rio, then finish the float with take-out at State Bridge and a shuttle back to the boathouse.
THE WATER
Gentle, playful rapids for most paddlers
This stretch of the Upper Colorado features splashy Class I–II rapids — mild enough for beginners yet lively enough to keep the pace of the trip engaging.
THE CAMP
A single night of secluded riverside camping
The itinerary includes pulling up to a secluded riverside campsite for an evening of campfire meals and stargazing; guides handle camp setup and prepare hearty riverside dinners.
THE WILDLIFE
Big-sky scenery and frequent riverbank wildlife
Expect towering canyon walls, open valleys and riverbank sightings of bald eagles, deer, beaver and bighorn sheep as you float between scenic stretches of the Upper Colorado.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip is best for — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The trip is a two-day, one-night rafting and camping itinerary; participants meet in resort towns (Vail, Breckenridge, Winter Park) and are shuttled to Pumphouse for the put-in, with take-out at State Bridge and return shuttle to the boathouse.
This all-inclusive adventure includes two days of guided rafting, one night of riverside camping and all meals prepared by professional river guides; guides also handle camp setup and breakdown.
Meeting locations for departures include Vail, Breckenridge and Winter Park, Colorado.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trip?
The Guided Colorado River Overnight Rafting Adventure runs two days with one night of riverside camping.
Where do we meet the group?
Meeting locations include Vail, Breckenridge and Winter Park, Colorado; the group assembles at the Rancho del Rio boathouse before shuttling to the put-in.
What is included in the trip price?
The trip is all-inclusive: two days of rafting, one night of riverside camping and all meals prepared by the professional river guides.
What are the rapids like?
The river features splashy Class I–II rapids — mild, playful conditions appropriate for beginners and family groups.
Where does the float begin and end?
The float covers the Upper Colorado between Pumphouse (put-in) and State Bridge (take-out), with a riverside campsite overnight.
Is there a minimum group size to run the trip?
Yes. The trip requires a minimum of 6 participants to run.