Arkansas River, Buena Vista, Colorado

Follow the snowmelt

Family floats to Class IV big water, run by guides who read this river every day of the season.

Pick your run Check dates

1,480 cfsRiver flow

52°FWater

74°FAir

Day 41Of the season

Sample readings for this prototype.

Step one

Choose your section of river

Four runs on one river. The map holds the screen while you scroll, sixty eight miles from the steps above Granite to the walls of the Royal Gorge, and every rapid shows up by name.

Arkansas River, Colorado · schematic chart, sample readings

10 mi

The whole river

River mile
0.0
Elevation ft
8,940
Drop ft per mi
60
Water
Class IV
Ahead
Scroll to run the river
  • Raft dropping into a steep whitewater rapid

    Class IV

    The Numbers

    Mile 0.8 to 7.8 · Granite to Railroad Bridge

    Drop after drop with no rest in between. Steep, cold and loud from the first bend.

    Miles
    7
    On the water
    3 h
    Ages
    15 and up

    From $129

  • Group paddling a raft through a line of waves

    Class III

    Browns Canyon

    Mile 14.0 to 26.0 · Buena Vista to Stone Bridge

    The classic. Granite walls, Zoom Flume, and wilderness the whole way down.

    Miles
    12
    On the water
    4 h
    Ages
    12 and up

    From $109

  • Raft on a wide green river below canyon walls

    Class II to III

    Bighorn Sheep Canyon

    Mile 43.0 to 54.0 · Salida East to Parkdale

    Big canyon walls, steady waves and room to learn. The run most families start with.

    Miles
    11
    On the water
    3.5 h
    Ages
    7 and up

    From $79

  • Yellow raft working through a rocky rapid

    Class IV to V

    Royal Gorge

    Mile 55.5 to 65.5 · Parkdale to Cañon City

    Thousand foot walls, Sunshine Falls and the bridge hanging in the sky above you.

    Miles
    10
    On the water
    4.5 h
    Ages
    16 and up

    From $149

Step two

Choose your level

Tell us how much water you want under the boat and we will show you the runs that match today's flow.

Whitewater running past pines and granite
Flow right now 1,480 cfs Prime water for Class III and IV. Sample reading.

Step three

Pick a date and we hold the boat

Season runs May through September. Availability below is sample data for this prototype.

May 2027

  • Open
  • Few seats
  • Full

“The river tells you what kind of day it wants to be. Our job is to listen first and paddle second.”

Marisol Vega, head guide since 2014

Good to know

What comes with every seat

  • Certified guide in every boat, one for every six paddlers.
  • Helmet, life jacket, wetsuit and splash jacket through June.
  • Shuttle from the shop to the put-in and back to your car.
  • Photos from the rapids, free to download the same evening.

Bring a swimsuit, shoes that stay on your feet, sunscreen and a change of clothes for the drive home.

Raft crew paddling into evening light

From the takeout

What people say when they get off the water

Our guide read every rapid out loud before we hit it. My nine year old is still telling the story.

Dana R., Fort Collins

Booked The Numbers at 8 am on a whim. Coldest, loudest, best three hours of the summer.

Marcus L., Austin

They moved us to a calmer section when the flow came up. No fuss, no upsell, just a better day.

Priya N., Denver

The water is running. Come get in it.

Book a run