Pagosa Outside
Pagosa Outside
5
River Rafting & Tubing • Bike Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours • Gear Rentals • Kayaking & Canoeing
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Pagosa's Premier River Outfitter offering whitewater rafting, kayaking, stand up paddleboards, and whitewater tubing. Stop by our shop in downtown Pagosa Springs for Pagosa's best guided rafting trips, river tubing adventures, quality river gear, local info, and friendly service.
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(123 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
530 reviews
Excellent
475
Very good
42
Average
5
Poor
6
Terrible
2
berrystephie
1 contribution
May 2021 • Family
We went white water rafting in 2 rafts with a group of 4 adults and 4 kids ranging from 7-14 years old. We went end of May. I was soo worried we would freeze but they supplied us with rain shedding jackets pants and waterproof shoes! It was soo helpful. We went down the Mesa section of river and it was perfect for our group. There were plenty of fun thrills for the entire group but safe enough for the kids. We had a very timid 8 year old before we started that was begging for more by the time we were finished. I would recommend to family and friends and we would do it again! The guides were very fun and had lots of tips for us for the rest of our vacation
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for sharing your experience on Mesa Canyon and giving us a 5 star recommendation. It is a great trip for everyone and such a scenic and isolated stretch of river. Happy to hear the guides were able to convert a hesitant kiddo into a rafting fanatic.
Written October 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joel I
Silver Spring, MD91 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Really enjoyed our experience (3 adults, 2x 5-y.o.) and would rent here again.
Great location near the town park and the hot springs- makes it easy to return after a few rides down the river. Staff was very helpful selecting the right set of tubes and life preservers, ensuring that we didn’t do anything silly like take glasses or phones or car keys on the river. Also gave great advice for where to put in, where the river can be tricky, and the best spots for landing.
Great location near the town park and the hot springs- makes it easy to return after a few rides down the river. Staff was very helpful selecting the right set of tubes and life preservers, ensuring that we didn’t do anything silly like take glasses or phones or car keys on the river. Also gave great advice for where to put in, where the river can be tricky, and the best spots for landing.
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole W
Jenks, OK9 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We did the shuttled tubing option. It was great. They have changed how the do it since we went in 2018. The shuttled tubing goes further down the river the first time. If you make it before the 2 hours is up, they'll drive you to the top again. The second time, you must exit the river near the hot springs to be able to walk up the hill to the shop to return your tube. The people are very friendly and we had a fabulous time!
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jordan F
5 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Terrifying for our kid. River flow rate was just under allowable tubing threshold. We only found this out on the bus ride to the put in. We reached a rapid that sucked us all under and water was barely shallow enough to stand. Our 5-year old refused to go any father and we had no guidance on pickup if we didn’t make it all the way to the takeout spot. Left to walk a quarter mile to the takeout spot.
Biggest issue for us was that we weren’t given any warning at checkin. Would’ve been great if ANY of the half dozen or so staff we encountered had said, “hey, this might not be the best experience for someone his size/age. Before you commit, we’d like to offer you another option or even a refund.” Instead, our son was held under water in a recirculation rapid I believe was called “the Gooch,” for several seconds before we could pull him up above water, even though he was wearing a life preserver. After getting him and my wife to shore, I had to go back and recover one of our tubes, which was still stuck in the same recirculation. I, myself, a moderately strong swimmer, spent several minutes also stuck being recirculated and pulled back into the rapids before I could get myself back into the flow of the river. A very unpleasant experience for myself as well.
I wish we had been given better warning as to the high flow of the river and had all the information we needed to make a better-informed decision.
Biggest issue for us was that we weren’t given any warning at checkin. Would’ve been great if ANY of the half dozen or so staff we encountered had said, “hey, this might not be the best experience for someone his size/age. Before you commit, we’d like to offer you another option or even a refund.” Instead, our son was held under water in a recirculation rapid I believe was called “the Gooch,” for several seconds before we could pull him up above water, even though he was wearing a life preserver. After getting him and my wife to shore, I had to go back and recover one of our tubes, which was still stuck in the same recirculation. I, myself, a moderately strong swimmer, spent several minutes also stuck being recirculated and pulled back into the rapids before I could get myself back into the flow of the river. A very unpleasant experience for myself as well.
I wish we had been given better warning as to the high flow of the river and had all the information we needed to make a better-informed decision.
Written August 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm sorry that your experience was not what you expected and that you felt ill informed. We keep our information about river levels and what it means for floaters updated in a bunch of places. The "daily river levels board" at our check-in desk is updated multiple times per day and our website as well the booking confirmation emails have info about what the river levels mean and links to the live river gauge. Having kids of my own, I worked with our river tube manufacturer to design our double river tubes so an adult can keep better track of their youngsters on the river. These are offered at no extra charge and are always recommended by staff at check-in and by the drivers when there are younger tubers. After 15 years of running tubing trips, I am still amazed at how 2 different groups on the same trip can come back having such different experiences.
Written October 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Seth B
2 contributions
May 2022 • Family
I took my 7 and 9 year old white water rafting for the first time with Pagosa Outside. We did their 2 hour trip through town and the kids and I had so much fun we came back two days later to do their 4 hour trip through Mesa Canyon. Our guides on both trips were fun/supportive and knew their job well.
Was very glad that they could give my kids such an awesome introduction to rafting and what may well be a lifelong hobby.
Was very glad that they could give my kids such an awesome introduction to rafting and what may well be a lifelong hobby.
Written May 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WOW! What a compliment. I'm thrilled that we could provide such an enthusiastically received introduction to the wonderful world of whitewater.
Written October 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
beachbumhq
Colorado Springs, CO10 contributions
Jul 2021
What a hoot. We felt like kids again. We really enjoyed doing a double tube. Easy to book. It's across the stern from the river. Easy access. A world of fun. Tubing on the San Juan River.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great compliments coming from someone that goes by "beachbumhq." The river in Pagosa is our version of a day at the beach. It's hard not to feel like a kid again on a tubing trip through the rapids.
Written October 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris T
2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
This was a wonderful thing to do on our trip. The river was fun to go down and the guides were amazing. We had a blast with Matt and he made the entire experience very enjoyable. All of the staff were very friendly and the river was full of excitement. Well worth the money if you are in the area.
Written June 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much Chris. There isn't anything quite like floating down the river.
Written October 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ken C
Issaquah WA38 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
I have visited PS many times over the las 50 years but I never took the time to explore the San Juan river. Last week we were staying at the Springs Resort and saw some folks riding innertubes past us on the river. We decided to try it. The staff was very friendly but they neglected to tell us that the river was really too low to have smooth ride. My wife navigagted the low water with a little difficulty. I walked about half the length of the trip because my tube drew too much water. There were places where the water was only inches deep. Perhaps I would have more fun if the water was significantly higher.
Written July 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1tomcat
Saint Louis, MO4 contributions
Jun 2011 • Friends
After some research my 3 friends and I decided to go white water rafting. "Pagosa Outside" made our whole experience great. Matt was our guide and he is very passionate / knowlegable about what he does. The rafts & dry suits were top notch, well maintained up to date equipment. The overall experience was awsome & we recomend this outfitter to anyone. They offer mild family trips all the way to crazy white water fun.
Written June 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wndx
Kansas City, MO9 contributions
We had a first rate experience with Pagosa Outside Adventures, a raft and kayak outfitter on the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Our family of five went on a half day guided raft trip June 4 and it was our best ever. The guides were professional, intelligent, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and truly have a heart for the river.
Written June 9, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
what is the water level like in August around Aug. 23rd?
Nicole W
Jenks, OK9 contributions
I don't really know for sure as I don't live there, but I have done this tubing trip in June and in mid-July. June is a much better time for better river flow and depth. It was still fun in July but I got hing up on rocks a few times. I would guess August is lower than July since the river is fed by snow melt. Pagosa Outside's wensite has a link to a river flow forecast webpage.
Passenger26884127331
Prosper, TX1 contribution
Are river rafting activities still available in late September?
pagosaoutside
Pagosa Springs, CO1 contribution
We are open from early May through Labor Day weekend. Rafting season is May - June when the river is higher and Tubing season is July - August when the river is lower .... on a normal summer. River levels determine if we can offer Rafting or Tubing and they are driven by springtime snowmelt which can vary greatly year to year as well as weather trends throughout the summer. By late September, air temperatures and water levels are usually too low for rafting. We will always have one of the activities available during our operating season.
pezell
Galveston, TX63 contributions
We have a trip planned this weekend with a grandson who is 13. He is lightweight at 66 lb but he is very athletic. With the river running higher than normal, is he safe to take?
Helmets?
With temps 37-75 this weekend, will we be miserably cold?
T. Brown
Mustang, OK8 contributions
He should be fine, but call theboutditter just to be sure. We had some smaller teenagers on another boat in our group. They have wetsuits you can rent, but they provide dry suits for free along with fleece undershirts to help stay warm.
I wore a helmet (provided free of charge) just becasue youn only have one brain.
I would recommend renting the neoprene booties for warm feet for $3.
Enjoy the river!!!
denisegilpatrick
Altus, OK
Can you tell me how much Pagosa Outside activities cost? We plan to be there this summer, and we'd like to be able to plan some activities. There will be four adults, two boys (12 and 13), and two toddlers (1 and 2). Some activities will include the toddlers, and some won't. We'll be interested in tubing, fishing, swimming, and rafting (but not white water). Can you give me any price quotes on those activities?
pagosaoutside
Pagosa Springs, CO1 contribution
Hi denisegilpatrick,
At this point in the summer we are offering our Whitewater Tubing trips, Mountain Bike tours and full day rafting and kayaking trips on the Rio Chama. All the details can be found on our website (that TripAdvisor wont let me post here) I don't think any of our tours would be appropriate for toddlers. I have a 5 year old and a 1.5 year old and we love to spend time at the river. The 5yo and I usually take the tubing trip and meet Mom and the toddler at the end of the trip. There are quite a few spots gravel beaches right in Town Park that are great for the youngster to wade, splash and float. There are also a couple of free hot springs pools right on the edge of the river. The cost for tubing is $17 for 2 hours and $29 for the whole day. We offer a shuttle service (no additional charge) that transports you and your tube up river for what ends up being a :45-1:00 float. Please give us a call if you have any other questions. 970-264-4202
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