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Denver Paddleboard Rentals
Denver, CO Paddleboarding Rentals — What to Know
Denver-area paddleboard rentals are spread across six distinct venues. Every location is beginner-friendly — you'll get a safety briefing and basic paddle instruction before you launch, and all rentals include a life jacket (PFD). There are two meaningfully different ways to rent here: standard hourly sessions that you book and manage on your own schedule, and community paddle events that are hosted, themed, and built around a shared experience beyond just paddling. Denver's community events make it one of the most fun and unique paddling scenes in the country for both locals and visitiors!
To learn more about stand-up paddleboarding before you go, explore these TripOutside resources:
- Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Guide for Beginners — Gear basics, technique tips, board types, and how to get comfortable on the water fast.
- From Mountains to Sea Caves: The Ultimate Bucket List Paddle Boarding Guide — The best SUP destinations across the U.S., including Colorado's high-alpine lakes.
Where to Go Paddleboarding in Denver
There are so many stunning places to paddle in Denver. Here are the key places and the differences between them:
Cherry Creek Marina, Greenwood Village
- Located in Greenwood Village on the west side of Cherry Creek Reservoir — the largest and most active rental venue in the lineup
- Wide-open water with a full marina atmosphere: sailboats, open lake, and sweeping Front Range skyline views
- Widest selection of craft: SUPs, Party Boards, single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and canoes
- The only Cherry Creek location open on weekdays — Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun 9am–7pm
- Best for confident paddlers who want distance, open water, and the full metro mountain backdrop
- Park entrance fee: $11/vehicle ($15 on major holidays)
Cherry Creek Swim Beach, Aurora
- East-side access point on Cherry Creek Reservoir, in Aurora — calmer, shallower near-shore conditions than the Marina
- Sandy shoreline with easy beach-style entry; less boat traffic than the western basin
- Weekends only (Saturday and Sunday)
- Best for families with young children and first-time paddlers who want a more relaxed, accessible launch
- Same park entrance fee as Marina: $11/vehicle ($15 on holidays)
Chatfield Reservoir, Littleton
- Located in Chatfield State Park in Littleton, southwest of Denver — about 30 minutes from downtown
- The Gravel Pond is a separate, smaller body of water within the park reserved exclusively for paddle craft — no motorized boats, no wake, natural spring water
- Both hourly on-site rentals and full-day inflatable SUP pickup rentals are available (boards fit in any vehicle, no roof rack needed)
- Full-day pickup rentals can be transported to other lakes that allow paddlecraft — the most flexible format available in the Denver lineup
- Dogs welcome with advance notice; limited dog-friendly boards and dog life jackets available
- Season runs May 1–Sept 30; park entrance fee (daily or annual pass) required separately
- Best for paddlers who want a non-motorized-only experience, a full-day format, or the flexibility to take equipment elsewhere
Big Soda Lake — Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood
- Located in Lakewood, about 20 minutes from downtown Denver near Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Beach-like atmosphere with a sandy swim area and foothill views — more secluded than Cherry Creek
- SUPs, kayaks, and canoes available; daily seasonal operation
- Easy to pair with a morning hike at Red Rocks or Dinosaur Ridge nearby
- Best for groups wanting a quieter, beach-resort feel without a long drive
- Park entrance fee: $10 weekdays / $15 weekends and holidays
Union Reservoir, Longmont
- Located in Longmont, about 40 minutes from Denver — the best mountain views of any rental location in the lineup
- Direct, unobstructed sightlines to Longs Peak (14,259 ft / 4,346 m) and the Indian Peaks Wilderness
- Wide-open water with a community atmosphere; significantly quieter than Cherry Creek
- Home to specialty community events: Sunrise Sound Bath Paddles and Dog Paddle days (see below)
- Daily operation May 23–Sept 27; park entrance fee $8/vehicle
- Best for mountain view seekers, community event participants, and paddlers wanting a calmer alternative to the metro reservoirs
Barefoot Lake, Longmont
- Located in Longmont (~40 minutes from Denver), tucked within a residential community — the most intimate and peaceful venue in the lineup
- Still flatwater, no boat traffic, no park entrance fee
- Standard hourly rentals available on weekends; primary home of the Full Moon Paddle community events
- Weekends only, May 23–Sept 7
- Best for the Full Moon Paddle experience, or paddlers specifically seeking a quiet, low-key setting with no crowds and no entry fee
Two Ways to Rent: Hourly Sessions vs. Community Events
Denver paddleboard listings break into two distinct formats. Here's how to tell them apart and which one to choose:
🛶 Standard Hourly & Daily Paddleboard Rentals
Self-guided sessions on your own schedule. Show up, get a brief instruction, and go. Available at all five locations.
- 1-hour or 2-hour sessions; 2 hours saves money per-hour
- Board types: SUP, Party Board, single kayak, tandem kayak, canoe
- Midweek bookings typically offer the best rates and fewest crowds
- Daily operation at Cherry Creek Marina, Bear Creek Lake, Union Reservoir, Chatfield Reservoir
- Weekend-only at Cherry Creek Swim Beach and Barefoot Lake
🌕 Community Paddle Events
Hosted rental experiences with a theme, set schedule, and activities beyond the paddle. Advance registration required.
- Full Moon Paddles at Barefoot Lake (Longmont) — illuminated boards, live music, food, drinks, and raffles held on or near each full moon through the season; a festive social event rather than a standard rental
- Sunrise Sound Bath Paddles at Union Reservoir (Longmont) — early morning flatwater paddle when the reservoir is glass-calm, followed by lakeside coffee, pastries, and a guided on-water sound bath meditation; weekends through the summer season
TRUSTED LOCAL EXPERTISE, VERIFIED BY TRIPOUTSIDE
All information on this page has been carefully verified and curated by the TripOutside content team in collaboration with our vetted local outfitters, guides, and service providers. Our partners run these tours, lessons and rentals every day and provide firsthand details about the routes, terrain, conditions, safety practices, and what to expect on your adventure.
Before featuring any provider, TripOutside reviews customer feedback, ratings, certifications, and local expertise to ensure accuracy and quality. This means every recommendation reflects genuine, on-the-ground experience and up-to-date information from trusted local experts. If you spot anything that needs an update or correction, please reach out to our team at stoke@tripoutside.com — we're always improving our guides with help from our community of adventurers.
Our goal is to help you explore confidently, knowing every adventure is backed by real local knowledge, verified data, and a commitment to sustainable, human-powered travel. Adventure Better – TripOutside.
What paddleboard rental locations are near Denver?
There are six venues with active paddleboard rentals in the Denver metro area. Cherry Creek Marina and Cherry Creek Swim Beach both sit within Cherry Creek State Park (Greenwood Village and Aurora). Chatfield Reservoir's Gravel Pond is in Littleton, about 30 minutes southwest of downtown. Bear Creek Lake Park (Big Soda Lake) is in Lakewood, about 20 minutes out. Union Reservoir and Barefoot Lake are both in Longmont, roughly 40 minutes north.
What's the difference between a standard rental and a community paddle event?
Standard hourly (and full-day) rentals are self-guided — you book a time window, show up, get a quick briefing, and paddle at your own pace. They're available daily or on weekends depending on the location. Community events — Full Moon Paddles at Barefoot Lake, Sunrise Sound Bath Paddles at Union Reservoir, and Dog Paddles at Union Reservoir — are hosted experiences with a fixed start time, a theme, and extras like live music, food, or guided meditation. Events require advance registration and are not available as walk-up bookings. If you want flexibility and a go-at-your-own-pace experience, book a standard rental. If you want something more social or memorable, plan around an event.
What makes Chatfield Reservoir different from the other Denver rental locations?
Chatfield stands out in two ways. First, rentals operate at the Gravel Pond — a separate, smaller body of water within Chatfield State Park reserved exclusively for paddle craft. There are no motorized boats, no wake, and the water is fed by a natural spring. Second, outfitters at Chatfield offer full-day inflatable SUP pickup rentals, where you take the board with you and can paddle any lake or reservoir that allows paddlecraft. This is the most flexible rental format in the Denver lineup and a good option if you want to explore multiple locations in one day or over a weekend.
Which Denver paddleboarding location has the best mountain views?
Union Reservoir in Longmont offers the most dramatic mountain backdrop of any rental venue in the lineup — direct, unobstructed sightlines to Longs Peak (14,259 ft / 4,346 m) and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Cherry Creek Marina gives you the full Front Range skyline spread across open water. Bear Creek Lake frames the Hogback Ridge and Red Rocks to the south. All locations deliver some mountain scenery, but if high-peak views are your primary goal, Union Reservoir is the clear standout.
What is a Full Moon Paddle, and where does it happen?
Full Moon Paddles are community events at Barefoot Lake in Longmont. They take place on or near each full moon through the rental season — typically May through early September — and transform an evening paddle into a social event with illuminated boards, live music, food, drinks, and raffles. These are advance-registration events, not walk-up rentals. Paddlers who bring their own equipment can typically join at a reduced fee. If you're visiting with a group and want a more memorable evening than a standard session, Full Moon Paddles are worth planning your trip around.
What is a Sunrise Sound Bath Paddle?
Sunrise Sound Bath Paddles are early morning community events at Union Reservoir in Longmont. The format combines self-guided flatwater paddling — when the reservoir is typically glass-calm before 9am — with lakeside coffee and pastries, followed by a guided sound bath meditation on or near the water. These run on selected weekends through the summer season and require advance registration. They're a good option for paddlers looking for something meditative or social rather than a conventional rental session.
Do I need experience to rent a paddleboard in Denver?
No prior experience is needed at any location. All rentals include a safety briefing and basic paddle instruction before you launch. The flatwater reservoirs and lakes used for Denver rentals have no current and calm morning conditions — most first-timers feel stable and comfortable within 15 minutes on the water. If you're especially nervous, Cherry Creek Swim Beach or the Gravel Pond at Chatfield are the most forgiving starting points, with smaller, calmer bodies of water and minimal boat traffic.
Can I bring my kids or my dog paddleboarding in Denver?
Yes to both. Children ages 2–5 typically ride with a parent on the same SUP board; ages 6–11 can paddle their own board or kayak with an adult nearby; ages 12–17 can paddle independently with a signed parental waiver. Dogs ride free on SUP boards and are welcome at most locations — Cherry Creek Marina, Swim Beach, Bear Creek Lake, and Union Reservoir are all dog-friendly. Dog-sized PFDs are available at select locations (request one when booking at Chatfield).
What are the park entrance fees at Denver paddleboarding locations?
Park fees are charged separately from rental costs.
- Cherry Creek State Park (Marina and Swim Beach): $11/vehicle, $15 on major holidays.
- Bear Creek Lake Park: $10 weekdays, $15 weekends and holidays.
- Union Reservoir: $8/vehicle. Chatfield State Park: a daily or annual pass is required — check current rates at the gate or on the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
- Barefoot Lake has no entrance fee.
Park fees are generally non-refundable even if your rental is rescheduled due to weather. Colorado State Parks season passes cover multiple locations and pay for themselves after 4–5 visits.
When is the best time of year to paddleboard in Denver?
The rental season at most Denver locations runs May through September. Peak conditions — warmest water, most stable weather, fullest event calendar — fall in June, July, and early August. Water temperatures reach 70–75°F (21–24°C) through peak summer; early May water at higher-elevation or spring-fed locations can still be in the mid-50s°F (12–14°C). For the lightest crowds and best midweek pricing, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning in July. Morning sessions consistently offer calmer water than afternoons at every location.