Parents ask a narrower question than "is Aspen good for families." They ask whether a child can actually fish, whether the boots will fit, and whether a grandparent who cannot walk a riverbank is stuck in the car. Rich Valley Adventures answers those three questions with a policy, not a slogan.
Kids ages 3 and up can fish. Waders are available for all children 3 and up, and adult sizes go up to size 15 feet. Kids on the full-day float are $175. At the Spring Creek Ranch private ranch and picnic, kids are $250 each (ages 3+). Guests and grandparents with limited mobility can be hosted at the ranch ponds.
That is the whole kids policy. The rest of this note is how to use it without guessing.
Waders, including the adult who wears a size most shops do not stock
The wader line starts at children's sizes for ages 3 and up and runs through adult sizes up to size 15 feet. Say "size 15 feet" the way the company says it, because that is the top of the published range. If a parent or a teenager wears a large foot, mention the size when you book. If a five-year-old is coming, mention that too. The guide can put the right pair in the truck. You do not need to buy waders for a first day.
All other fishing gear is provided: rods, reels, and flies, along with the waders and boots. A child does not need a youth rod from home. Beginners are welcome, and a first cast counts as a real trip.
If you also want time on a paddleboard, that is a separate product. Paddleboarding is a rental from $100, and it is not a guided trip. The paddleboard rental page is where that lives. It is not a substitute for the kids fishing policy.
Two prices, two kinds of days
The full-day float starts at $1,400 for 2 people, with one boat and one captain. Additional adults are $375 each. Kids are $175. The day covers an 8 to 12 mile stretch of the Roaring Fork or the Colorado River. Lunch, gear, and luxury door-to-door transportation are included. A license is still required for anyone 16 or older. A child on that boat is the $175 rate, not the adult add-on.
The ranch day is different. Spring Creek Ranch is in Carbondale. The private ranch and picnic starts at $800 per adult and $250 per child ages 3 and up. You are on ponds, creeks, and a private section of the Roaring Fork River. The fish there are rainbow, brown, native cutthroat, and brook trout, from 12 to 30 inches. Guests and grandparents with limited mobility can be hosted at the ranch ponds, which is why this is the day to book when someone in the family should not be asked to wade a river or climb in and out of a drift boat.
The Carbondale page is the service area for that part of the valley. The fishing page that carries both trips is guided fly fishing.
Licenses and notice
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing license is required for ages 16 and up. A 15-year-old does not hit that requirement. A 16-year-old does. Buy the license before the morning of the trip. The guide cannot undo that rule on the riverbank.
Book at least 2 days in advance. A 50% deposit is due at booking. Cancellations within 72 hours are billed in full. A family trip has more moving pieces than a solo day, which is a reason to book earlier than the minimum, not a reason the minimum disappears. Call 970-456-3666 or use contact. Tell them the ages, the wader sizes, and whether a grandparent should be at the ponds rather than in the boat.
The company has guided here since 2012. Guided adventures is the list if you want to see the float and the ranch next to hiking. Say the ages out loud when you book so the kid rate and the wader size are on the same reservation. For the kids question, you already have the answer. Ages 3 and up can fish, the waders go up to size 15 feet, and the two kid prices are $175 on the float and $250 at the ranch.
Private ranch fishing at Spring Creek Ranch
Frequently Asked Questions
Can kids fish?
Kids ages 3 and up can fish. Waders are available for all children 3 and up, and adult sizes go up to size 15 feet. Kids on the full-day float are $175. At the Spring Creek Ranch private ranch and picnic, kids are $250 each (ages 3+). Guests and grandparents with limited mobility can be hosted at the ranch ponds. Private ranch fishing at Spring Creek Ranch
Do children need a fishing license?
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing license is required for ages 16 and up.
What does the full-day float cost for a parent and a child?
The full-day float starts at $1,400 for 2 people, one boat and one captain. Additional adults are $375. Kids are $175. It is an 8 to 12 mile stretch of the Roaring Fork or the Colorado River, with lunch, gear, and luxury door-to-door transportation included.
Is paddleboarding the same kind of family day?
Paddleboarding is a rental from $100. It is not a guided trip.