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Start your Telluride day the local way—on the San Miguel River. This half-day, guide-led run blends Class II–III splashes, red sandstone canyon views, and just enough technical paddling to keep everyone grinning.
Start your Telluride day the local way—on the San Miguel River. This half-day, guide-led run blends Class II–III splashes, red sandstone canyon views, and just enough technical paddling to keep everyone grinning.
Book with Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Book directly with Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours · Placerville, Colorado
Morning comes cool and clear in the San Juans, and the San Miguel River is already talking—snowmelt urging the current forward, riffles hissing against red sandstone as if daring you to climb in. At Caddis Flats, a short drive down-valley from Telluride, guides clip helmets, tighten PFDs, and slide bright rafts into water as cold and clean as the peaks it just left. You step in, toes tingling, paddle poised. On this half-day run, the San Miguel wastes no time, pushing around cottonwood islands and pulling you toward quick, splashy drops that wake up the whole crew.
moderate.
2–3 hours.
Comfortable paddling with steady effort and brief bursts; ability to sit on raft tubes and brace through waves.
Typically Class II–III. In May–June during peak snowmelt, expect pushier Class III; by July–August it trends toward technical Class II–III with lower flows.
You’ll wear a Coast Guard–approved PFD and helmet, but you should be comfortable in moving water in case of an unexpected swim.
Choose quick-dry layers (no cotton). Wetsuits and booties are often required until July and are available for rent on site (around $15). Bring sunscreen and a towel for afterward.
Yes. Minimum age is 10, and beginners are welcome. Guides will adjust section choice or postpone during very high water for safety.
May through early July offers the most consistent whitewater. Late summer runs may be shorter or more technical depending on flows, but are warmer and more relaxed.
Action cameras are fine if chest-mounted or tethered. Phones should be in a waterproof case with a leash, or left in your vehicle to avoid loss.
Telluride’s mining era shaped the San Miguel corridor, with the Rio Grande Southern Railroad once tracing parts of this canyon to move ore. The river remains one of Colorado’s largely free-flowing snowmelt streams.
Stay off fragile riverbanks and cottonwood seedlings at put-ins and takeouts, and pack out microtrash. Seasonal flows can be low—respect closures and guide decisions to protect the resource.
Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Book directly with Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now