The river is feeling like a roller coaster today — especially as I peer over the edge of a giant sluice at the top of the Maytag rapid. It’s like one of those log flume rides but way better. There’s no guard rails here. Water is everywhere, and the Arkansas River is raging and roiling on this day in June. It’s a perfect day for white water rafting in Colorado, and I’ve made the short journey from Colorado Springs to Cañon City for a super-soaked rafting trip with Echo Canyon River Expeditions.
Rafting the Arkansas River
We’re rafting in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, a popular section of the Arkansas River with Class I-III rapids for family fun and scenic floats — usually. That depends on the river’s CFS: cubic feet per second. Raft guides like to compare a cubic foot of water to a basketball. It’s a helpful visual aid. We’re rafting at 3,500 CFS — that’s 3,500 basketballs tumbling and bouncing through Bighorn Sheep Canyon. It’s a higher-than-average flow thanks to a blast of hot weather that created a fast melt-off of heavy winter snowfall on the nearby Collegiate Peaks, Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo range.
The high water means that my son and I are getting fully doused in the front of our raft as we blast through the turbulent waves that are currently cranked up to Class III and IV. It’s just how we like it.
No one in our boat stays dry, but no one goes overboard on this early season day. Credit our guide Wade. He’s a pro. So is Maura, who is guiding the other raft in our pod (and who runs the Ski and Ride School at Monarch Mountain during winters).
All raft guides in Colorado are required to be certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Echo Canyon guides must pass a five-week training period before they are hired. Echo Canyon owner Andy Neinas tells us that’s just the beginning, as his guides regularly train and peer-evaluate their runs on the river to keep things safe and fun for guests. That pays off when high water makes rapids like Devil’s Hole and Lose Your Lunch almost unrecognizable, as they are on our trip. But Wade and Maura lead our boats through safely — drenched and adrenalized, but safe, grinning and eager for more.
With nearly 50 raft guides and 135 employees overall, Echo Canyon’s operations include the 8 Mile Bar & Grill and the Royal Gorge Cabins. It is one of the biggest outfitters on the Arkansas River, and that’s saying something. The Arkansas is one of the most popular rivers in the United States for white water rafting, thanks to its long season — May into September — and more than 100 miles of white water.
White water rafting is big business in Colorado. In 2022, it generated nearly $38.6 million in total visitor expenditures in Fremont and Chaffee Counties. And the 45 member companies in the Arkansas River Outfitters Association (AROA) support around 500 full-time jobs within the region’s outdoor industry. In a typical year, AROA members guide about 225,000 visitors down the Arkansas River.
It’s a bonus that the river is so accessible from Colorado Springs. Whether you’re looking for a day trip or an overnight getaway (we recommend the latter — keep reading), there’s something for every kind of adventurer on the Arkansas River. To go with Echo Canyon, learn more at raftecho.com.
Here are our 10 Tips for White Water Rafting in Colorado.
1. Choose your location.
From Granite (near Leadville) to Cañon City, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area offers 152 miles of rapids dropping 4,650 feet in elevation. So you have lots of options all within a one- to two-hour drive from Colorado Springs. Scroll down to learn more about the most popular river sections.
2. Go in the morning.
It’s worth waking up early to avoid Colorado’s afternoon thunderstorms. Rafting trips typically go rain or shine, but extreme conditions like lightning can derail them.
3. Stay overnight.
Simplify the schedule before or after your raft trip by enjoying one of Echo Canyon’s Royal Gorge Cabins or glamping tents. With modern architecture featuring lots of glass for big mountain views and natural elements throughout, Echo Canyon’s cabins make your trip a luxury experience. We’re big fans of the backyard hammocks, cornhole sets and indoor-outdoor fireplaces. Read more about the cabins and rafting the Royal Gorge in this previous article.
4. Wear the wetsuit.
Or at least the splash jacket that will keep you warmer even if it’s windy. Wetsuits, booties and splash jackets are included at Echo Canyon. They come in handy especially early in the summer. And besides warmth, the wetsuits add some buoyancy if you fall in.
5. Sit in the front.
In high water, you’re going to get wet anywhere. It’s likely even at lower flows. But the front of the raft is the best place for a guaranteed dousing.
6. Wear sunscreen.
A high-elevation sunburn is not the souvenir you want to take home.
7. Listen to your guide.
It’s all hands on deck when it comes to white water rafting. The better your group coordinates its paddling on the guide’s commands, the better your raft dodges rocks and shoots through raging rapids.
8. Leave your phone in the car.
There’s little chance to take it out. And with a GoPro mounted on every Echo Canyon raft, you’re going to love the action photos and video of your friends and family getting baptized by the Arkansas River.
9. Look up.
Whether you’re rafting in Browns Canyon National Monument, Bighorn Sheep Canyon or the Royal Gorge, the scenery along the Arkansas River is spectacular. You might also get some great wildlife sightings. It’s easy to guess how Bighorn Sheep Canyon got its name.
10. Make it a meal.
A warm hoodie and cold beer are the perfect Colorado combo après white water rafting. Echo Canyon’s 8 Mile Bar & Grill has a tasty pub-style menu built around burgers, baskets, sandwiches and salads. And its full bar includes lots of Colorado craft beer on tap. Kick back around a big fire pit. Savor the views of the Royal Gorge and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. And swap stories about your day’s adventures on the Arkansas River.
When Is the Best Time for White Water Rafting in Colorado?
Choosing the best time for white water rafting in Colorado depends on what kind of adventure you’re looking for. The commercial white water rafting season on the Arkansas River is generally mid-May to mid-September. If you want high water, raging rapids and big adrenaline, go early in the season. If you want smaller rapids and a tamer experience, go later in the season.
The Arkansas River typically reaches its peak flow between mid-May and early July, and it produces some of the best white water in Colorado. May and June tend to have cooler air temperatures and higher chances for late-afternoon showers. July through early September are typically warm and sunny with somewhat lower water levels. Mid-June through mid-August is usually prime time for family rafting trips.
Where to Find the Best White Water Rafting in Colorado Springs
The Arkansas River is where you want to head if you’re thinking about rafting in Colorado Springs — and it give you lots of options. Cañon City is closest, but it’s also an easy drive to Buena Vista and Salida. You have 45 commercial outfitters to choose from, with rafting trips for everyone from first-timers to advanced adventurers. Here’s an overview of the different and most popular sections of the Arkansas River, moving upstream to downstream, generally north to south and east.
The Numbers
With class IV and V rapids, the Numbers is best for experienced rafters. It’s between Leadville and Buena Vista. If you go, be ready for nonstop paddling and charging through waves. Try to avoid getting sucked into the drainage ditch at Rapid #4, and look out for the aptly named Big Nasty rapid.
The Narrows
The splashy class III and IV rapids of the Narrows have a shorter season than other sections. Some outfitters run it closer to Buena Vista for a beginner or family trip. Others outfitters combine it with the Numbers as an advanced or full-day trip.
Browns Canyon
With tons of Class III and IV rapids and unique rocky scenery in the Browns Canyon National Monument, there’s something for everyone here. Browns Canyon is a favorite area for fun family raft trips and adventurous runs as water levels fluctuate. Find it between Buena Vista and Salida. Read our article about rafting Browns Canyon here.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is perfect for families and first-time rafters, thanks to its variety of class I-III rapids between Salida and Cañon City. Long wave trains like Spike Buck and Lose Your Lunch can be especially fun and sloshy. And the rocky terrain is perfect for spotting the signature bighorn sheep.
The Royal Gorge
Take all the snow from 14,000-foot Rocky Mountain peaks. Send it flowing downhill for 100 miles. Then channel it into the confines of a 1,200-foot-deep canyon, and you’ve got the Royal Gorge. It’s incredibly scenic and home of some of Colorado’s biggest white water. These are class IV and V rapids, best for experienced rafters or the truly adventurous seeking a real white water rush. Access it just outside of Cañon City.
