Arkansas River Rafting

The prime rafting season typically runs from late May through early August. Peak runoff, when the river is fastest and most exciting, usually happens in late May to June. July and August still offer great rafting, often with slightly lower, family‑friendly flows.

Half‑day trips are perfect for first‑timers or travelers on tight schedules. Full‑day trips include extra rapids and riverside lunch. Multi‑day adventures let you explore more remote sections and camp under the stars.

Popular sections include Browns Canyon (fun Class III rapids, great for most people), the Numbers (technical Class IV for adventurous rafters), and the Royal Gorge (big Class IV–V rapids for experienced paddlers). Family float sections like the Milk Run offer gentle Class II rapids.

Yes! Many first‑time rafters enjoy Browns Canyon or the Milk Run. Your guide will teach you everything you need to know on the water.

At Wilderness Aware Rafting, minimum age varies by trip and river conditions. On mellow family float sections like the Lower Browns Canyon or Cottonwood Family Float, kids as young as 4 years old can join when water levels are lower. For popular Class III trips like Browns Canyon, the usual minimum age is 7 years old, though it may increase to 10 during high water. More advanced sections such as the Numbers and Royal Gorge require participants to be at least 14 to 16 years old. Always check with us close to your trip date, as river conditions can affect age requirements.

Browns Canyon is ideal that time of year: beautiful scenery, Class III rapids, and water levels that stay fun through late summer.

Absolutely! Many guests raft one day and hike a nearby 14‑er like Mt. Princeton or Mt. Yale the next day.

It varies by section and season, but most rapids are created by shallow channels and submerged rocks rather than deep water. Your guide will explain river features along the way.

Wilderness Aware has been guiding the Arkansas River since 1976 — longer than any other outfitter in the area — and is the only company permitted to run every raftable section of the river, from the family-friendly Milk Run to the Class V Royal Gorge. Our guides are the most consistently cited reason guests choose us and keep coming back: experienced, personable professionals trained to the highest standard in the industry. Our facilities are modern and well-maintained, our equipment is first-class, and our communication from booking through post-trip is consistently praised. Many guests who’ve rafted with other area companies have switched to WA and told us we’re the clear difference. We work hard to earn that every season.

Going overboard — called “swimming” in rafting — is a normal occurrence on whitewater rivers, and our guides are trained specifically to handle it. Before every trip, your guide explains exactly what to do: float on your back, feet downstream, hold your paddle if you can, and listen for your guide. Every guest wears a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket that keeps you afloat without any swimming effort. Guides carry throw ropes and are certified in swift water rescue — they will reach you quickly. Swimming is more common on higher-intensity sections like the Numbers and Royal Gorge than on Browns Canyon or the family float trips. On any section, it’s a manageable situation when handled by an experienced guide.

Every Wilderness Aware guide completes a rigorous training program covering paddle instruction, swift water rescue, first aid, risk management, and guide-specific skills for each section they’re certified to lead. Guides must accumulate documented river miles before advancing to higher-difficulty sections — 750 river miles is the minimum to guide the Royal Gorge, and our Gorge guides far exceed that. Many guides return season after season, building expertise and river knowledge that benefits every guest. Guide quality is the single most consistent factor in our reviews over 50 years, and we invest heavily in selecting, training, and retaining the best people in the industry.

Dogs are not permitted on the rafts during trips — the dynamic movement of whitewater is not a safe environment for pets. However, Wilderness Aware offers on-site kennel facilities where your dog can be safely supervised while you’re on the river. Guests have specifically chosen WA over other outfitters because of this kennel service. Call us at 719-395-2112 before your trip to confirm kennel availability and any applicable fees for your specific trip date.

Professional photographers position themselves at key rapids on most WA trips, capturing action shots of every raft as it comes through. Photos are available for purchase after your trip at our office or online. Photo package pricing varies — check with staff at check-in for current rates. Getting a photographer into the Arkansas River canyon and back out requires significant logistics, which is reflected in the cost. As a free alternative, WA provides a GoPro mount on helmets — bring your own GoPro and capture footage at no charge throughout the entire trip.

The Arkansas River is Colorado’s most popular rafting destination, and peak summer days (mid-July weekends) do see multiple companies running simultaneous trips on Browns Canyon. That said, the canyon spans miles and groups spread out naturally, and your guide manages the experience to ensure your raft has space to enjoy the run. Sections like the Royal Gorge and Numbers see significantly less traffic than Browns Canyon. For the most uncrowded experience, consider weekday trips, early-season May and June dates, or late August trips as families return to school. Our specialty rivers — the Gunnison, North Platte, and Dolores — offer true wilderness experiences with minimal other groups.

Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most complete outdoor towns. Beyond rafting, highlights include: Mt. Princeton Hot Springs (one of Colorado’s finest hot springs resorts, about 30 minutes from town), hiking in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness with access to multiple 14ers including Mt. Yale, Mt. Princeton, and Mt. Harvard, excellent local restaurants and coffee shops in downtown BV, mountain biking on regional trails, and the arts community in Salida 25 miles south. Our Area Information section has detailed recommendations for lodging, dining, and activities throughout the Arkansas Valley.

Mixed-experience groups are extremely common on WA trips, and our guides calibrate the experience for everyone in the raft. The most popular approach: start together on Browns Canyon full-day, which is exciting enough for experienced rafters and accessible for first-timers. If your group has some members wanting more intensity and others preferring milder water, we can often split across different sections on the same day. For multi-day trips, we can design an itinerary that progresses from milder to more intense sections over multiple days, building everyone’s confidence. Call us with your group’s specifics — our staff is skilled at solving this.