Pagosa Mountain Sports' River Tubes are the best!
Tubing for the 2025 season has not begun. It typically starts in late June or early July.
For more information on river levels, check the What to Know section below.
The San Juan River flows right through the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs. What better way to enjoy it on a hot summer day than some river tubing? It's the perfect family activity!
Pick up a rental tube at Pagosa Mountain Sports' downtown location, make the short walk to the put-in at the end of the River Walk by Riff Raff on the Rio and enjoy a leisurely three-quarter mile long float down the San Juan River to the take-out by the Visitor's Center. (The float takes approximately one hour and the return walk from the Visitor's Center takes around fifteen minutes.)
Don't mind a longer walk and want to add another hour of quiet floating time? Pass right on by the crowds at the usual take out and float all the way to the last take out spot at the end of Yamaguchi Park just past the gazebo.
Our staff will happily point out the typical float route and river features!
Rental Includes
- Tube
- PFD/Lifejacket
- Required by law for children under 13
- Highly recommend for adults who are not strong swimmers or all adults when the water level is running above 200 CFS
Recommend Gear
. Closed-toed water shoes
. Reusable water bottle
. Sun screen
. Water tight bag for keys, phone, wallet, etc.
. Floating sunglasses retainers
What to Know
Tubing on the San Juan River
Pagosa Mountain Sports encourages you to be safe while on the river.
It is important everyone in your group understands and practices river safety!
San Juan River Tubing Access:
- Open this Google Map created by Pagosa Mountain Sports for directions to all the San Juan River tubing put-ins and take-outs
San Juan River - Water Level Safety:
- Typically drops to a safe level for tubing by early July - sometimes sooner, sometimes later
- Open this LINK for the current San Juan River level website
- Look for the 'Most Recent Instantaneous Value'. Measurement in CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)
- Recreational
- 50-90 CFS - Still Floatable
- 90-150 CFS - Good for most
- Ideal
- 150-250 CFS
- Might flip
- Rowdy for young children
- Strenuous
- 250-400 CFS
- Flip likely
- Not for < 50 lbs or inexperienced swimmers
- Dangerous
- 400+ CFS
- Too high for tubing, rafting is the way to go!
Tubing Safety Tips:
- . PFD/Lifejacket
- Always free with a tube rental
- Children and inexperienced swimmers should always wear a PFD
- PFDs are required by law for children under 13
- When the river is running above 250 CFS, they are highly recommend for all adults
- Inexperienced swimmers and Children
- Very young children should not participate
- During high water levels, adults and children who cannot get to shore unassisted should not participate
- Stay Hydrated
- 1 Liter of water per hour is recommended. Avoid excessive alcohol as it can lead to dehydration
- Use Sunblock
- Apply before and during float
- Protect Your Feet
- Close-toed shoes are highly recommended to prevent cuts and bruises from the rocky river bottom and for walking to and from the river
- Keep Tubes Untied
- Tied tubes can more easily flip in rapids than those untied
- Hazard for others enjoying the river
- Our tubes have nice handles. You can hold onto each other's tube instead
- Standing in the River
- Do not stand up in the river unless it is less than calf high
- Rocks can shift and feet become trapped
Rental Pricing
$15 - 3 Hours
$18 - Same Day: Maximum rental time is shop open until 1/2 hour before shop close
$25 - 24 Hour: Maximum rental time is from reservation start time until the same time the next day
