Take the helm of your own ducky (inflatable kayak) and paddle into the splashy fun of the Class III Colorado River near Vail. This guided adventure is designed for beginner to intermediate paddlers and puts you right in the action—close to the water, feeling every wave, and steering your own line through the rapids.

Start by meeting at the Colorado River Centre and checking in with the team. Your guides will fit you with all required river gear, then walk you through paddling basics, river signals, and how to handle your ducky in moving water. Choose what suits your crew: go solo (single boaters, ages 12+) or team up in a double ducky (double boaters, minimum passenger age 5 with a parent).

After gearing up, hop on the shuttle for a short ride upstream to the put-in. Then it’s time to launch—paddle, laugh, and learn to lean into the splash as you navigate waves and rapids on your way downstream. Your guide stays with the group to coach your technique, keep the pace flowing, and help you read the river.

Wrap up back at the Dotsero outpost where you’ll return gear and change into dry clothes—tired arms, big smiles, and a Colorado river storey you earned by paddling it yourself.