The River That Made Colorado Rafting Famous

The Arkansas River begins high in the Sawatch Range above Leadville, runs past Buena Vista and Salida, then flows southeast through the Mosquito Range and into the canyonlands near Cañon City. Its diversity of terrain from glacial alpine valley to desert river canyon made it the birthplace of commercial rafting in Colorado. 

Behind the scenes, the river’s reliable rafting flows are sustained by an extraordinary system of alpine water engineering. Water from the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan River basins on the Western Slope is collected in high-elevation reservoirs and diverted eastward through tunnels under the Continental Divide.

From the Roaring Fork Basin, snowmelt enters Grizzly Reservoir (10,542 ft elev.) in the Sawatch Range and passes through a 4-mile tunnel into Lake Creek, where it drains into Twin Lakes before entering the Arkansas.

From the Fryingpan Basin, a series of diverted creeks travel 5.4 miles through the Charles H. Boustead Tunnel to Turquoise Lake, where it’s stored before being released downstream.

This network provides dependable summer flows that support recreation and agriculture alike. Farther downstream, the Pueblo Reservoir, located roughly 120 river miles below the confluence of Lake Creek and the Arkansas, recaptures these flows for municipal and industrial water in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and for irrigation across the lower Arkansas Valley.

River Conditions & Seasonality

The Arkansas River benefits from both natural snowmelt and supplemental reservoir releases, creating one of the longest and most consistent rafting seasons in Colorado. In May and June, snowpack from the Sawatch and Mosquito Ranges fuels peak wate flowsr; by mid-July, water levels are stabilized by releases from Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake, continuing reliably through August 15.

Early-season flows average 1,500–3,000 CFS in the upper river, while mid-season levels hold around 700–1,200 CFS. Air temperatures warm into the 80s and 90s by July, providing ideal rafting weather from Buena Vista and Salida down to Cañon City.

Explore the Four Legendary Sections

Browns Canyon Rafting – Near Buena Vista, Colorado

A National Monument renowned for its smooth granite corridors and splashy rapids, experience through the #1 Class III rafting trip in Colorado. With 15 Class II+ and Class III Rapids, sweeping mountain views, and alpine flora and fauna, Browns Canyon is a must for any whitewater river rafting goer. 

The Numbers Rafting – Near Buena Vista, Colorado

Test your skill on the Arkansas most consistent Class IV whitewater stretch, famous for its steep gradient, continuous rapids, and alpine setting beneath the Collegiate Peaks. This is the ultimate Wild / High Adventure run for ages 15 and up. A full-day adventure on The Numbers includes a riverside lunch and continues downstream through The Narrows, a scenic bonus stretch of Class II and III whitewater that adds another couple of hours of time on the water after lunch.

Royal Gorge Rafting – Near Cañon City, Colorado

Descend into the state’s most dramatic whitewater canyon, where the river surges through a 1,250-foot-deep granite, schist, and genesis chasm beneath the Royal Gorge Bridge. Packed with 15 Class III & IV rapids, it’s the crown jewel of rafting on the Arkansas River.

Bighorn Sheep Canyon Rafting – Near Cañon City, Colorado

Discover Colorado’s most family-friendly rafting trip near Cañon City and Colorado Springs. Warmer water with two class III rapids and colorful sandstone cliffs make this stretch an excellent first time rafting trip for kids 7 and older.