About Us

We are foremost river women and river men.  We are an open-hearted tribe of adventurers, seekers, pilgrims, travelers, musicians, and stewards.  We draw inspiration from the explorers, pioneers, and protectors of the rivers and canyons that came before us.  We believe that right now we are in a position to exact positive influence and help inspire a new generation of stewards, extreme athletes, and adventurers that will continue a legacy of environmental activism and stewardship.

Javier Placer and Scotty Stoughton founded Stand Up Paddle Colorado in 2010 to share their love of the sport with those seeking adventure. Fellow water enthusiast, Craig Yarde, joined in this business venture as a partner in 2015. In 2016, Javier and Scotty were among the first to paddle the entire Grand Canyon on the majestic Colorado River and knew they had to find a way to share the magic of an unplugged multi-day river expedition with the world. When the opportunity came up to acquire a permit for Dinosaur National Monument on the Green River and the Yampa River – Javier, Scotty and Craig put together a deal, and the rest is history.