Stand Up Paddle Board Rental and Shuttle

Trip Details

Self Guided

Mild 1/2 day

Runs June to August

Minimum age is 9

Location: Aspen/Snowmass

Meeting times: 8:50, 10:30, 12:10, 1:50, 3:30

Includes: All the necessary gear

Price: Starting at $110

If you wish to book within 48 hours of your trip time, please call our shop at (970) 920-3511 . We would be happy to book for you!

Stand Up Paddle boarding is a fun and easy way to explore local rivers, perfect for those who want an adventure at their own pace. The North Star Nature Preserve is a scenic nature preserve only five minutes from downtown Aspen. It’s the perfect leisurely activity for anyone visiting Aspen who wants to enjoy the outdoors in a unique way. It’s perfect for beginners and intermediate paddle boarders alike. Aspen Whitewater will provide shuttle services to and from the North Star Preserve.

AWR offers shuttle services to and from the North Star Preserve.
Meet us at our downtown Aspen location, across from the Silver Queen gondola, or we will pick you up at your hotel or residence within the downtown Aspen area. We drop you off at the North Star Preserve with plenty of tips and tricks for making the most of your experience and assist in getting you and your board onto the river. On the way up we will educate you on river paddle boarding and the rules of the perserve so you will feel prepared to take on your paddle board adventure. When you reach the take out just give us a call and we’ll come pick you up and bring you back to Aspen. We are limited to only six people per hour starting at 9:00 am.

A rental and shuttle, includes a paddle board, paddle, a PFD (personal flotation device), and a dry bag for the group. If you are looking to book for within a 48 hours, please call our office (970) 920-3511 for availability. Rentals are not eligible for the 10%online booking discount.

Stand Up Paddle Board Rental and Shuttle Rental Prices:
Per Person SUP Rental w/Shuttle Seat: $110
Shuttle Seat Children 8 and under(no SUP rental): $30

Any trip can be made private and customized for your group.

Or Call Us at (970) 920-3511

Additional information

What’s Included
Rental includes paddle board, paddle and straps for securing the boards onto your vehicle. We will be happy to assist in loading them onto your car and showing you how to secure them.

What to Wear Paddle Boarding
We suggest wearing quick drying clothing such as non-cotton shorts and t-shirt or bathing suit. Be sure to bring waterproof sunscreen (you will be Paddle Boarding at 9,000 feet where the sun is intense!) and sunglasses with a retaining device.

Reviews

My husband and I took our two boys (6&10) rafting with Aspen White Water Rafting and had the absolute BEST time! Marina, Leah and Fathom were our guides, they made it fun while keeping everyone safe ! We would highly recommend this company if you’re looking for your family but based on the girls experience and stories they’d be great at a more advanced rafting trip as well. Our kids can’t wait for our next river trip !
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Jenifer Sanregret
9/14/2023

We had such a great day with our guide Adaire (and Lenny)! My husband and I brought our 17 year old daughter and her 2 friends. We were a little anxious, but felt so safe and confident with our guide. They were so much fun and professional. We will definitely come back again!
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Natalie P
9/03/2023

We had an amazing time! Sam, our guide, was very friendly, made us feel safe, and dealt with all of our family’s unusual questions and mannerisms. The river and surroundings couldn’t have been more beautiful
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T F
9/03/2023
Charles was an amazing guide! He is super knowledgeable about the wild life and surrounding area. A rafting tour with Aspen Whitewater is the way to see this area of Colorado. Absolutely gorgeous and a ton of fun! The rest of the staff was also very friendly and helpful. We had a huge group (8 boats) and every single one of us had a fantastic time. 10/10 would recommend Aspen Whitewater Rafting – just watch out for Charles’ corny jokes, you may find yourself laughing.
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Kirsty Wallace
8/22/2023

Kyle was our guide and he was the best!! We had a blast on our first whitewater rafting trip as a family. Our kids are ages 14 and 11 and they loved it! We chose the upper roaring forks trip and it was very fun. I highly recommend this group to guide you down the river. They were wonderful!!
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Jaycie Mirabella
1/18/2023

Faboulous exprierence rafting the Colorado River under the guidance of Sam. Level 3 rapids for beginners was perfect under Sam’s coaching and navigating the big stuff in the river. His great knowledge of the surrounding town’s history was a huge plus as you make your way down the river, and loved his sense of humor. 5 out of 5 stars for Sam and AWR Company. Aug 28, 2022
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Elle R.
8/28/2022

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I need any prior paddle-boarding experience to join this rental & shuttle?

No prior SUP (stand-up paddle-board) experience is necessary. This rental + shuttle is designed for beginners and intermediate paddlers alike—you’ll be dropped off at the scenic North Star Nature Preserve and given basic orientation and gear. The site says: “perfect for beginners and intermediate paddle boarders alike.” aspenwhitewater.com
If you’d rather have an instructional guided tour, you might also check out our separate “SUP Tours” option. aspenwhitewater.com

What are the meeting time(s) and what does the shuttle logistics look like?

Typical meeting times listed: 8:50 am, 10:30 am, 12:10 pm, 1:50 pm, 3:30 pm. aspenwhitewater.com
The company meets at the downtown Aspen location (520 E. Durant Ave, across from the Silver Queen gondola) or can pick you up at a hotel/residence in downtown Aspen area. They then shuttle you to Wildwood or South Gate Put-in and inform you of the North Star Preserve regulation, show you the take-out, the beach where you can stop and hang out and give some tips on paddle boarding. When you arrive at the launch site the shuttle driver will assist you getting the boards / gear to the water, give you more SUP instruction and assist you in launching. The shuttle driver will also provide you with a dry bag for a phone so you can call us when you arrive at the take-out. When you finish and arrive at the pedestrian bridge take out you call us and we will come pick you up and bring you back to town. aspenwhitewater.com

What is the minimum age or ability for participants (and children)?

The page says “Minimum age is 9 years old for their own paddle board, but kids younger can go on an adults board for this rental & shuttle. aspenwhitewater.com
If you have children younger than 9 or adult non‐paddlers, you can tandem on one paddle board.

What should I wear / bring for the Paddle Board experience?

It’s recommended to wear quick‐drying clothing (non-cotton) like shorts with a nylon t-shirt or a bathing suit. Bring waterproof sunscreen (you’ll be at ~9,000 ft elevation) and sunglasses with a retaining strap. Most people go barefoot but you can ware your own flip flops or river shoes. AWR can provide booties if reserved in advanced. aspenwhitewater.com
Also advisable: water bottle, hat, maybe a light layer depending on weather, you will be provided with a dry bag on the shuttle so you can put an extra layer in that.

Is this trip private / customizable for my group?

This is a rental and a Shuttle up to the North Star Preserve, if you book 6 people the maximum number per shuttle it can be private or you can register for a private Stand Up Paddle Board Tour and have your own guide.
Per county regulations operators are only allowed to transport up to 6 people per shuttle window. if your group is larger than that AWR recommends you rent the boards and doing your own shuttle. They will load the boards on your car, point you in the right direction and give you all the information for you own adventure.

What are the conditions like (water, current, scenery) and is it suitable for a relaxed outing?

You’ll be floating the Roaring Fork River through the North Star Nature Preserve—a mellow river section with scenic views, nature, and minimal whitewater. The preserve is described as “mellow” lazy river and close to downtown.
So yes—it’s very suitable for a relaxed outing rather than a high-adrenaline whitewater rush.

What is the pricing? Are there any extra charges or restrictions?

The listed starting price is $110 per person for the SUP Rental with Shuttle. aspenwhitewater.com
For children age 8 and under (shuttle seat only, no board rental) the price is $30. aspenwhitewater.com
Note: Because the rental & shuttle option is often sold out it is not eligible for the any online booking discount. aspenwhitewater.com

What happens if the river conditions change or if the weather is bad?

AWR has a 48 hour cancelation policy and you can adjust your time and date 24 hours prior to your departure. Colorado has an average of 300 days of sunshine annually so it is rare that we see a full day of bad weather.
River conditions do change through out the summer. In Late spring and Early summer the volume of water is greater and parts of the preserve turn into a lake. As we move into summer the volume decreases and the flow slows down. Because there is very little gradient change the the section is always class I slow moving water. Outfitters do have to move Put-in’s (starting Points) due to county regulations when the flows go below 60 CFS flow rate they are required to change the start point. When this occurs the flows a so slow you can actually paddle up stream on ponds created by beaver dams.