Spring Sale: 15% Off All Trips. Use Code Spring At Checkout
Spring Sale: 15% Off All Trips. Use Code Spring At Checkout
4.9 · 1,800+ Google Reviews
Two stretches of the Arkansas River. Two different experiences. Pick the one that fits your group — or call us and we’ll help you decide.
Red rock canyon walls, open desert sky, and rapids with enough splash to make everyone laugh. Bighorn Sheep Canyon is where most families and first-time rafters start. The rapids are real — you’ll paddle, you’ll get wet — but the difficulty is manageable and your guide coaches you through every move.
Between rapids, keep your eyes on the canyon walls. Bighorn sheep graze the ledges above the river, and eagles circle the thermals overhead. Half-day trips cover the highlights; full-day trips add more river miles, a riverside lunch, and a more relaxed pace.
Thousand-foot granite walls straight up on both sides, a hanging railroad bridge overhead, and Class III–V rapids that hit fast and don’t let up. The Royal Gorge is Colorado’s most iconic whitewater run — and it earns that reputation every mile.
This isn’t a float trip. You’ll dig in, brace hard, and take waves over the bow while your guide calls lines through rapids like Sunshine, Sledgehammer, and Wall Slammer. Half-day trips pack the full gorge into a few intense hours; full-day options add calmer upstream miles to warm up before the canyon tightens and the river picks up speed.
Hwy 115 south to Hwy 50 west. The outpost is 8 miles west of Cañon City on the right.
I-25 south to Colorado Springs, then Hwy 115 to Hwy 50 west. Or take Hwy 285 south through Buena Vista for a scenic route.
West on Hwy 50.
The Arkansas River runs through some of Colorado’s most dramatic terrain on its way past Cañon City — high desert canyons, towering granite walls, and wildlife habitat that hasn’t changed much in a century. It’s the most commercially rafted river in the country, and this stretch is the reason why.
River Runners’ Royal Gorge Outpost sits eight miles west of town on Hwy 50, right at the gateway to both canyon sections. Check in here, gear up here, and launch from here — no long shuttle rides eating into your day on the water. The outpost has everything you need: changing areas, gear fitting, and a team that’s been running these trips since 1972.
The season runs May through Labor Day. Flows peak in June with snowmelt off the Collegiate Peaks, then settle into ideal rafting levels through July and August. Your guide reads conditions daily and adjusts the run to match — so the trip you get is tuned to the river you’re on, not a script.
The season runs May through Labor Day. The river changes character throughout the summer, and each window offers something different.
Snowmelt pushes the Arkansas to its peak flows. Rapids intensify — Bighorn Sheep Canyon runs Class IV in places, and the Royal Gorge gets loud and fast. This is the most thrilling window of the season. Age minimums go up during high water (typically 14+ for Bighorn, 16+ for Royal Gorge).
Flows settle into ideal rafting levels. The full trip menu is running, the weather is warm, and the rapids hit a sweet spot of challenging-but-fun. This is the most popular window — book early if you have specific dates.
Water levels drop gradually. Rapids are mellower, the river is warmer, and crowds thin out. A good window for families with younger kids and groups who want a more relaxed pace.
Trips run rain or shine. Rafting is a wet activity regardless of weather — a little rain just adds to it.
On the Arkansas since 1972, hundreds of thousands of guests guided safely.
Every guide holds current CPR, first aid, and river safety certifications.
Coast Guard-approved PFDs, helmets, wetsuits, and splash jackets.
We don't cut corners on equipment — your safety is built into every decision we make, from guide training to gear maintenance to real-time river assessment.
Colorado Springs sits about an hour northeast of our Cañon City outpost — close enough for a morning drive and a full day on the river. Take Hwy 115 south to Hwy 50 west, and you’re at the put-in before lunch.
Most of the Arkansas River rafting you’ll find marketed as “Colorado Springs rafting” actually launches from Cañon City or Buena Vista. We’re not a city outfitter running a shuttle operation from a parking lot — our Royal Gorge Outpost is on the river, in the canyon, at the doorstep of the whitewater. You gear up where you launch.
If you’re visiting Colorado Springs and want to add rafting to the trip, Cañon City is the closest access point to both Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Royal Gorge. Drive down in the morning, raft, grab food in town or at the Royal Gorge Bridge, and be back in the Springs by dinner.
About an hour. Take Hwy 115 south to Hwy 50 west — it’s a straightforward drive through open ranch country.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon: ages 6 and up at normal flows. Royal Gorge: ages 14 and up (16+ during high water in May–June). We offer a family float on the Buena Vista stretch for kids as young as 4.
About an hour. Take Hwy 115 south to Hwy 50 west — it’s a straightforward drive through open ranch country.
Trips run rain or shine. You’re getting wet either way. Guides evaluate conditions daily, and we’ll adjust or cancel a trip only if conditions are unsafe — which is rare.
Bighorn is a wide, scenic canyon with Class III rapids — great for families and first-timers. The Royal Gorge is a narrow, deep canyon with continuous Class IV-V rapids — for experienced or adventurous rafters aged 14+. Both launch from our Cañon City outpost.
Everything you need: wetsuits, PFDs (life jackets), helmets, splash jackets, and river boots. No extra charge.
Quick-drying synthetic layers. Skip cotton — it holds water and gets cold. Wear secure footwear with a heel strap, or use our complimentary river boots. Bring sunscreen, a water bottle, and a change of dry clothes for after.
You can, but you’ll likely get wet — and we’re not responsible for lost or damaged electronics. Waterproof cases or GoPro-style mounts work best. We also offer trip photos taken by our team.
For the biggest water and most intense rapids: early to mid-June. For warm weather and ideal conditions: July. For a more relaxed experience with smaller crowds: August through Labor Day. Every window has something to offer.
