Tubing in ColoradoTubing in Colorado is an activity that I look forward to each summer. When I first moved here I kept hearing about “tubing,” but didn’t really know the details of what I needed or where to go. I’ve probably been about 15-20 times and each time has been different with regards to where we entered and exited the water, the flow of the water, and the weather that we experienced.First off, a tube can be purchased at any tire shop or even a local Walgreens pharmacy. The tube is just the inflated part that would be inside of a car tire. You can use tubes made for cars or even semi-trucks. The larger ones are fun for a couple people, but more difficult to navigate through tricky areas in the river. Some of them are so big that your entire body is out of the water except for your feet. A tube will run you about $10-$15, but they can be used many times if you take care of them. I used one during summer for floating down the river and then used it the following winter to slide down a snow covered hill. You need to have at least two people from tubing in Colorado so that you can park a car at the ending point and them get back up to your starting area-- unless you feel comfortable sticking your thumb up, which is common on the rivers in the summer. Remember that you need to use a car that is big enough to hold the inflated tubes, so with a group of 5, you might need two cars to drive up the river. My favorite areas in Colorado to go tubing are Cache La Poudre River (The Poudre) in the City of Fort Collins or just west of town. There’s all kinds of places to drop in, but if the river is really flowing hard, I like to start on the far northwestern side of town off of Overland Trail and take it to Shields Street. If you take, for example Taft Hill Road or Shields Street to College Avenue, you’ll end up right in front of New Belgium Brewery. All the drop in points are just north of Vine Street. Others like to go up into the canyon, but I had a scary experience with the water flowing too fast and haven’t been back. A good time to go is between May-August, but the water flow varies drastically from one day to another. A pair of shorts with zipper pockets is useful for storing the car keys. Sandals with a back strap or old sneakers are necessary since you will have to get out and walk some of the way. There are a handful of dams that you’ll have to get out and walk around between Overland Trail to College Avenue. Other than that I bring a container of water. This is such a good activity for children, teenagers, and even adults. To me there’s nothing that beats a group of friends floating down the river on a hot and sunny Colorado day. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
