Taking a family trip end of July and staying in Breckenridge. What would be the best river/guide service to use around there? 2 boys are 7 and 9 years old.

Something through Browns Canyon on the Arkansas
is your best bet if you're coming from Breck. I'd avoid the Blue River.

We usually run Shoshone on the Colorado or Browns on the Arkansas for rapids and Dotsero to Bair Ranch or No Name to Two Rivers if we want a gentle float.

Be careful out there though, I had a friend pass away a couple of weeks ago during peak flow at Grizzly Creek.

One issue you may have is the minimum age/weight for most of the Browns Canyon trips is 8 or 50+ lbs.

https://sageoutdooradventures.com/rafting/browns-canyon-colorado-rafting/

https://timberlinetours.com/timberline-trips/browns-canyon/

I'm good friends with both of these outfitters and they both do a GREAT job.

You may try the upper Colorado or clear creek if Browns/Numbers isn't attainable because of age.

I would also say, don't fudge the age or weight just to get them on a boat. One of my best friends and one of the top rafting guides in CO passed away late May and he knew the water better than probs anyone. It's a steep runoff year and not the time to play games w nature.

You could also look at going down the Roaring Fork - It's way more chill than the Arky or Colorado. Defiance Rafting out of Glenwood runs those and does a fantastic job.

It's a little further drive (you'll drive past the upper Colorado turnoff at Dotsero and through Glenwood Canyon) but I see those rafts everyday passing the house and they appear to have a lower age limit.

You can also hit up the hot springs before heading back. Terrible way to end a day on the river

In terms of driving from
Breck: Browns/Numbers: 1:10 minutes
Breck: Clear Creek: 55-1:10 minutes
Breck: Upper Colorado (State Bridge) 1:15 minutes
Breck: Lower Colorado/Shoshone 1:05 minutes
Breck: Colorado/Roaring Fork confluence (Glenwood): 1:30 minutes

Moral of the story: regardless of what direction you travel (S to Browns, W to the Colorado/RF, or E to CC) you're only adding at max 30 minutes there and back regardless of where you go so find the place that resonantes best that you think they kids would enjoy.

one other thing to think about is the water can be cold and I think most have limited sizes of wet suits for the kids. I have been wanting to take my kiddo on one but I know the second she gets cold we are done it will make for a long trip for everyone.

End of July the water should be really nice. It'll still be cold, but nothing like the last month. Late July/August are when most of the locals start tubing the class I-II's.

Here's the lower colorado water temp for the last year right outside our house across from two rivers park in Glenwood.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09071750/#parameterCode=00010&period=P365D

We did a Class 3 tour last year at Brown Canyon with my family. My son was 7 at the time and just a little over 40 lbs. I think the cutoff was 40 lbs. This was early July so I would think the river will be even milder in late July

We've been going to Vail every August for about the last 6 years

We've used Sage Outdoor Adventures for lots of rafting trips and would highly recommend them

We've also done multiple horse riding trips with Sage and Fly Fishing

Heading to Breck this weekend and we have a rafting trip booked with AvA on the colorado. Taking our five years old. Supposed to be a more scenic float type deal vs rapids

If it's one where you meet at Kremmling, we took my parents on that one when they were in their 70s and my youngest was about the age of yours. Definitely more of a scenic float, but was a good time and the guide was fantastic. An Asian kid who just graduated from Northwestern with a degree in neuroscience and he was spending his summers living in a tent with his girlfriend and guiding rafting tours. Really nice and entertaining dude

AVA is a great outfitter.

You're probs doing something like Dotsero to Bair Ranch or Lyons to Dotsero. Good water coming out right now. It's a super chill little float but really gorgeous.

Here's a list of the Upper Colorado sections that flow into Dostsero etc.

https://www.uncovercolorado.com/river-tubing-kayaking/colorado-river/

Is it customary to tip your guide after the trip?

Absolutely.

Just had a Blue Sky raft pass the house and it was ALL kids.

Might be worth giving them a buzz

Wear a hat, neck gaiter, light long sleeves and wetsuit bottoms if you have them - you'll be baked by the end in this sun.

Thanks for all the info. Booked a trip through Browns Canyon. What are some of the better hikes and jeep trails around Breck?

Mohawk Lakes on Spruce Creek Trail

I'd do Turquoise Lake in Leadville.

Boreas Pass for Jeep, Sawmill Reservoir or Minnie Mine loop to hike

Had an awesome time today with AVA. My kids loved it. Our guide was great with my boy who had a million questions and bugged the hell out of him I'm sure. Def recommend to anyone in Breck area. Said the lower colorado we today rafted usually runs around 1500-2000, but with recent rains it's was around 6500 today.

Sounds about right on the cfs. It doesn't look like we're gonna be able to pull the tubes out for another month or so.

Good news is the reservoirs are all filled and Lake Powell's up almost 60ft!

I did class IIIs down Browns Canyon with my newly minted 7 yo at the time. It can get hairy but we're also a pretty adventurous family.