Aspen Kayak & SUP

Aspen Kayak & SUP operates kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding instruction and rental services on the Roaring Fork River and Colorado River near Aspen, Colorado. The main office sits at the Northstar Nature Preserve on the Roaring Fork River, approximately five minutes above Aspen. Charlie MacArthur founded the company in 2007, bringing over 25 years of teaching experience to the operation.

Aspen Kayak & SUP offers instruction on multiple river sections with varying difficulty levels. The Northstar Nature Preserve and Wildwood sections provide Class I and II beginner zones. The Slaughter House section, five minutes downstream from Aspen, serves advanced paddlers with Class IV whitewater, while Toothache rapids, 15 minutes from town, accommodate intermediate kayakers. Additional access points include four more sections of the Roaring Fork and portions of the Colorado River.

Lesson formats include private and group coaching in half-day, full-day, and multi-day sessions. Basic courses run either weekend or weeklong schedules, covering strokes and maneuvers in flat water and Class I and II rivers. Nine-week teen camps operate during summer months. Extended trips include six-day excursions down the Green River and two-week expeditions through the Grand Canyon. Kayak pool sessions take place at the Aspen Recreation Center.

American Canoe Association certification courses are available for individuals seeking kayak or stand-up paddle instructor credentials. As an Instructor Trainer Educator, MacArthur has certified dozens of instructors statewide and nationally under ACA standards. The company operates certification programs under American Canoe Association guidelines.

Equipment provided includes kayaks from Jackson, Liquid Logic, Dagger, Wave Sport, and Pyranha brands. Stand-up paddleboards consist of inflatable models from C4 Waterman designed for river conditions. Paddles come from Werner and Pohaku manufacturers. Safety gear includes wetsuits, fleece layers, paddle jackets, booties, and helmets. Full-day participants receive transportation and lunch with all gear included in lesson pricing.

Rental services operate from the Northstar Nature Preserve at $80 for half-day sessions or $120 for full-day use, including shuttle service. The company stocks performance-oriented equipment designed for river running progression rather than recreational flat-water models.

The instruction program serves first-time paddlers through expert-level kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Skills taught transfer to sea kayaking and sit-on-top kayak use in other locations. The high-altitude waterway location near river sources provides conditions distinct from lower-elevation paddling environments. The company serves both Aspen area residents and visitors seeking river instruction and guided experiences in the central Rockies region.