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Family Fly Fishing Trips In Vail, Avon, Glenwood Springs & Aspen
Make fly fishing one of the highlights of your Colorado family vacation with Colorado River Outfitters. Our family-friendly guided trips are designed to be fun, relaxed, educational, and completely customized around your crew. Whether your kids are picking up a fly rod for the first time or your family already loves to fish together, our patient, experienced guides make sure everyone feels comfortable, involved, and excited to be on the water. Choose between a scenic float trip or a hands-on walk-and-wade adventure while we provide the equipment, instruction, and local expertise. From Vail and Beaver Creek to Aspen and Glenwood Springs, there’s no better way to spend a day together than exploring Colorado’s rivers, catching wild trout, and creating memories your family will talk about long after the vacation is over.
Why Families Love Fishing With CRO
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No Experience Necessary — Our guides make fly fishing approachable and fun for complete beginners of all ages.
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Patient, Family-Friendly Guides — We keep kids engaged while giving everyone the attention and instruction they need.
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Trips Built Around Your Family — We adjust the pace, fishing style and instruction around your family’s ages, abilities and goals.
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Parents Get to Fish Too — This isn’t just a kids’ lesson; parents can fish, learn and experience the day alongside their children.
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Everything You Need Is Provided — CRO supplies quality fishing equipment, flies, tackle and the instruction needed for a great day.
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More Than Just Catching Fish — Explore beautiful Colorado rivers, see wildlife, learn about the outdoors and create memories together as a family.
Choose Your Family Fishing Experience
Family Float Trip
Relax, Explore & Discover More Water
Float trips are an excellent choice for families who want to experience miles of beautiful Colorado river without spending the day walking or wading. Your professional CRO guide handles the boat while helping each angler cast, fish and learn at their own pace.
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Great for beginners
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Comfortable way to spend the day
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Excellent for parents and kids fishing together
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Cover significantly more water
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Scenic and wildlife-rich
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Half-day, 3/4-day and full-day options
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Starting at $625.00
What Ages Are Best?
There isn’t one perfect age for a child to start fly fishing. In our experience, enthusiasm, attention span, coordination, and comfort around the water matter more than the number on their birthday. Some younger kids are perfectly happy spending a few hours learning to cast, watching for strikes, and catching their first trout, while others may enjoy the experience more when they’re a little older. Our goal is never to force a full day of serious fishing on a young angler. We keep things fun, celebrate the small victories, take breaks when needed, and let each child experience the river at their own pace. If you’re unsure whether your child is ready, give us a call, we’ll help you choose the trip length and fishing style that will give your family the best experience.
What Your Kids Will Learn
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How to Cast a Fly Rod — Learn the basic movements needed to make an effective fly cast.
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How to Read the Water — Discover where trout live and why certain areas of the river hold fish.
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What Trout Eat — Learn about aquatic insects, hatches, and how our flies imitate natural food.
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How to Recognize a Strike — Learn what to watch and feel for when a trout takes the fly.
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How to Set the Hook — Practice the timing and technique needed to connect with a fish.
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How to Fight & Land a Trout — Learn how to use the rod and reel while safely bringing a fish to the net.
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Proper Fish Handling & Release — Understand how to safely handle trout and why responsible catch-and-release practices matter.
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Respect for the River — Learn about conservation, wildlife, river safety, and why protecting Colorado’s fisheries is part of being an angler.
Parents Can Fish Too!
A family fly fishing trip with Colorado River Outfitters isn’t just an activity for the kids—Mom and Dad get to enjoy the river, catch fish, and be part of the experience too. Our professional guides handle the equipment, instruction, safety, and day-to-day details, allowing parents to relax and enjoy their time on the water knowing their children are in experienced hands. A half-day trip is especially easy to work into a Colorado vacation, giving your family an unforgettable morning on the river while still leaving plenty of time to enjoy everything else Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, or Glenwood Springs has to offer.
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Easy Half-Day Adventure — Spend the morning fishing and still have the afternoon open for other vacation plans.
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Everyone Gets to Participate — Parents can fish alongside their children rather than spending the day watching from the sidelines.
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Let Your Guide Handle the Details — We take care of equipment, instruction, flies, fishing strategy, and safety so parents can enjoy the experience.
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Relax & Enjoy the River — Take in the scenery, wildlife, and Colorado mountains while your guide keeps the entire family engaged and having fun.
Where Our Fishing Trips Take Place
CRO has access to some of the best trout water throughout the Vail Valley and Western Colorado, with most fishing destinations located approximately 15–60 minutes from where you’re staying. Your guide will recommend the best river and fishing location based on current conditions, your family’s experience level, and the type of trip you’ve booked. Don’t have transportation? No problem. Pickup and drop-off are available, making it easy to enjoy a day on the river without worrying about the logistics.
What Families Are Saying About Their Trips With Colorado River Outfitters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Michelle C.
We had an absolutely amazing experience! The guides were incredible and made sure we had everything we needed from start to finish. We had a group of four kids—two girls and two boys ranging from 13 to 16—and every single one of them caught plenty of fish and had an unforgettable time.
Having one guide for every two kids made such a difference. The attention, patience, and enthusiasm from the guides kept the kids fully engaged the entire time—no complaints, just smiles. In fact, every one of them is already asking when we can come back!
The equipment was top-notch, everything was on time, and the entire team was professional, respectful, and so easy to work with. As a mom of three boys, I truly appreciated how seamless they made the day. I was actually able to relax and enjoy the experience right alongside the kids.
Highly recommend—this is something we will absolutely be doing again!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bradley H.
Tim and Mike were awesome guides. My kids (6 and 9) had never fished before, but they were super patient with them and they each caught fish on their own. We will 100% book again the next time we come to Beaver Creek!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Zach S.
Brian w CRO has taken me and my 9 yr old fishing twice. We were both novice or beginners at fly fishing and he was a great teacher. Very patient and talented at coaching myself and kids. Both times were amazing experiences. And the best part is that we caught some unforgettable fish. My son almost caught a state record!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ryan N.
We had an incredible trip with Matthew Weldon as our guide. My 9 year old and I caught several big trout and Matthew coached him up great. He’s never been fly fishing and I’ve only been once so didn’t expect the day we had. Great trip, thank you guys!
Family Trip Frequently Asked Questions
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Do kids need a Colorado fishing license?
Children under 16 do not need a Colorado fishing license. Anglers 16 and older will need a valid Colorado fishing license before fishing. -
What happens if my child gets tired or loses interest?
No problem. Our guides understand that fishing with kids requires flexibility. We can take breaks, change techniques, explore the river, look for wildlife, or adjust the pace to keep the experience fun rather than forcing anyone to fish. -
Can our family request a specific CRO guide?
Absolutely. Guide requests are welcome and we'll do our best to accommodate them based on availability. If you don't have a specific guide in mind, we'll match your family with someone who fits your group well. -
Can grandparents join a family fly fishing trip?
Yes. Multi-generational trips can be a fantastic way to experience the river together. Let us know the ages and mobility levels within your group and we'll recommend the most appropriate trip. -
Can we bring snacks for our kids?
Absolutely. We encourage parents to bring any favorite snacks or special food their children may want during the trip, especially on longer outings or for younger anglers. -
What happens if the weather changes during our trip?
Colorado mountain weather can change quickly. Our guides monitor conditions closely and prioritize your family's safety and comfort. Light rain doesn't necessarily stop the fishing, and your guide can adjust the day as conditions change.
How Family Trips Are Priced
Family fly fishing trips with Colorado River Outfitters do not have a separate package or special family rate. Your family simply chooses between one of our standard guided float trips or walk-and-wade trips, and pricing is based on the length of the trip and number of anglers. This gives us the flexibility to build the experience around your family rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all package. Smaller families may fish together with one guide, while larger families can be accommodated with additional guides or boats. Tell us how many people are in your group and what you’re looking for, and we’ll help you choose the best and most cost-effective option.
Popular Family Trips
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1/2 Day Float (4 hours) 1-2 Anglers $625.00 Per Boat
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3/4 Day Float (6 hours) 1-2 Anglers $725.00 Per Boat
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1/2 Day Wade (4 hours) 2 Anglers $540.00
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1/2 Day Wade (4 hours) 3 Anglers $715.00
