A Tubing Guide to Boulder Creek

Rising temperatures and snowmelt mean tubing season is here! This is a local’s guide to having your best day on Boulder Creek. We often say the creek is not a lazy river; it’s a wild ride compared to most tubing destinations. However, in the right conditions and with the right preparation, you can have a great time.

Check the Flow Rate:

We use this USGS monitoring location to check the Boulder Creek flow rate. We find the sweet spot for most tubers to be about 90-150 cfs. Much below that could require walking a couple of low-water sections, and much above that will be a wild ride. We rent tubes to strong swimmers of all ages up to 135 cfs (cubic feet per second). We rent to strong swimmers 12-or-older up to 200 cfs. We rent to strong swimmers 18-or-older up to 300 cfs. Above 300 cfs, we do not rent tubes for Boulder Creek.

Wear Shoes:

Tubing requires a lot of walking around in the river. There’s getting into the water, getting out of the water, getting out of your tube to wait for your group, or chasing it down if you fall out unexpectedly. A closed-toe shoe with good traction makes walking in the river safer and much more comfortable. If you’re walking on the Creek Path to get back to your car or repeat your favorite section, it’s also very nice to have shoes. At Crystal, you can rent or buy water shoes that are comfy and specifically designed to grip well on river rock.

Wear Your Helmet (included with all rentals):

It’s not uncommon to be flipped or bounced out of your tube in shallow water on Boulder Creek. Your helmet helps to keep you safe and confident through rough waters.

Pack Light; Use Dry Bags for Essentials:

On Boulder Creek’s bumpy ride, it’s hard to hold on to anything, let alone keep it dry. Loose accessories like hats and sandals can be quickly whisked away and are better left at home. For items you can’t go without (sunglasses, keys, phone, etc.), we have solutions. We sell and rent dry bags, some of which allow full touchscreen function while keeping a phone sealed and dry. We also sell sunglass-retention straps (Croakies brand and others).

Plan Your Route; Use Landmarks:

The standard Boulder Creek tubing route is from Eben G. Fine Park to the Broadway overpass. This is the same route used for Tube to Work Day. As you float, you’ll pass under 6th Street, 9th Street, the Boulder Library’s covered walkway, and the 11th Street footbridge before you see Broadway’s labeled overpass. Once you see the sign for Broadway, you can come to a stop in the calm water on the left (under the bridge) or take the right fork for one more chute into the pool below. Lower stretches of the creek are often shallow, though you can explore and find nice floating in the right conditions. If you find a favorite section, walk back up the Creek Path and lap it!

Consider the Creek Path Walk vs. Self-Shuttling:

For many groups, walking along the Boulder Creek Path is the simplest way to return to their upstream starting point. The walk from the Broadway overpass to Eben G Fine Park (returning to the start of the standard route described above) takes about 20 minutes. However, it’s also common practice to self-shuttle with vehicles. For the same route, your group could leave a car at the 14th and Walnut parking garage, then drive a second car to Eben G. Fine Park to begin your float. Once you take out at the Broadway overpass, you can take a short walk to the parking garage then drive yourself back to Eben G. Fine Park to claim the other car. Generally, shuttling favors longer floats while walking favors shorter floats or multiple laps.

Consider Tube Transport Options:

If you’re renting 1-3 tubes, you can most likely rent inflated tubes and tie them to the top of your car (we provide twine). For larger groups, or those who prefer it, we rent multiple styles of electric pumps, which allow you to rent deflated tubes and inflate them once you’ve reached the creek. 

At the end of the day, tubing is pretty simple. Wear your protective equipment, bring just what you need, and enjoy a beautiful summer day. If you have questions about the equipment we offer and the rental process, check out our summer rentals page. We’re also always happy to talk at 303-449-7669.