YUMA WATER ACTIVITIES FIELD GUIDE
A Cool Half-Day Drift: The 5-Mile Gila Float on the Colorado River
A 3–3.5 hour, five-mile tubing float beginning at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers; this guide compiles the logistics, rules, and what to bring for the Gila Float Trip out of Yuma.
A Cool Half-Day Drift: The 5-Mile Gila Float on the Colorado River.
Get some relief from the Arizona sun on a gentle, five-mile float down the Colorado River. The Gila Float Trip is a 3–3.5 hour, family-friendly tubing outing that begins at the confluence of the Gila and offers wide, lazy-river scenery without white caps or drops.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Five Miles from the Gila Confluence
This is the operator's longest float trip: a five-mile drift that begins where the Gila meets the Colorado, providing a sustained, low-gradient run ideal for cooling off in summer.
A Wide, Lazy River with Scenery
The Colorado River on this stretch is described as a wide, lazy river with scenic banks — there are no white caps or elevation drops, making the trip accessible and easygoing for a broad range of participants.
Half-Day Escape from the Heat
Running three to three-and-a-half hours, the float is promoted as a welcome relief from the harsh Arizona summer and suits travelers seeking a short, water-based cooldown.
What the day feels like
What the Float Feels Like
You’ll set up at West Wet Lands Park, shuttle upriver in operator vans, then drift downstream for the full five miles — a relaxed, continuous float that lasts roughly three to three-and-a-half hours and emphasizes scenery and cooling off rather than rapids.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this float suits — and when to be cautious.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Typical outing lasts 3–3.5 hours and covers five miles. Saturdays and Sundays run from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for Gila floats with limited seating; Monday–Friday trips are by reservation only and require a minimum group size.
Bring one cellular phone (required to communicate with the operator when you are about one mile from the exit) and one form of identification to leave at check-in. If renting a cooler tube (additional fee), you must supply your own cooler; the operator notes cooler tubes fit 64‑qt sized coolers or smaller.
Tubes must be returned by 6:00 pm; late returns may result in additional charges. The operator shuttles guests in vans from the park up to the put-in before the float.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Gila Float Trip?
The trip lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours and covers a five-mile float.
Is there an age limit?
No — the operator states there is no age limit and that the river stretch has no white caps or elevation drops, making it accessible to participants of all ages.
Where and when do I check in?
Check-in and setup are at West Wet Lands Park (the first parking lot to the right after the roundabout when entering from 12th Ave). Weekend floats run from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; weekday trips are by reservation only and require a minimum group size.
Do I need to bring anything specific?
You must bring one cellular phone to contact Colorado River Rafting, LLC when the group reaches the first bridge (about one mile from the exit), and one form of identification to leave at check-in. If you rent a cooler tube you'll need to provide your own cooler.
Can I rent an extra tube for gear or a cooler?
Yes — an extra tube that holds a cooler (64 qt or smaller) is available for rent for an additional fee (listed as $20 plus tax); you must supply your own cooler.
What happens if I return my tube late?
Tubes must be returned by 6:00 pm. If returned after 6:00 pm, you may be charged for another float.