The Story of the Royal Gorge:
A Canyon Shaped by Force and Time

Over millions of years, the Arkansas River cut through layers of Precambrian gneiss, schist, and granite, carving the 1,250-foot chasm that defines the Royal Gorge today. A thin sedimentary layer once sat atop the hard igneous rock, forcing the river downward until it had no escape but to continue its path leaving behind this awe-inspiring corridor.

In the late 1800s, railroads battled for control of the canyon to transport ore and passengers between Leadville and Pueblo. The line still operates today as the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, tracing the river’s edge as rafters charge through the same bends that once echoed with steam engines.

Now, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Zipline span the canyon, giving friends less brave an opportunity to wave from above.

River Conditions & Seasonality

The Royal Gorge rafting season typically runs from May through August, powered by snowmelt from the Sawatch and Mosquito mountain ranges. In May and June, flows average between 1,500 and 3,000 CFS, creating fast, cold, and powerful water that builds huge waves and hydraulics through Class IV–IV+ rapids. Peak flows of 4,000 CFS or more on big water years push the rapids into class V territory. As summer progresses into July and August, the river transitions into slightly lower warmer water averaging around 900 to 1,500 CFS, offering a more technical and precise experience while still packing plenty of punch.

Thanks to supplemental water releases from Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoirs, the Royal Gorge maintains reliable flows well into late summer, giving it one of the longest Class IV rafting seasons in Colorado. Air temperatures in the canyon average 75-90°F mid summer, while the snow-fed river typically stays between 48-58°F, creating a refreshing balance of warm air and cool water for rafting.

You can check current and historical flows on the USGS Arkansas River Gauge at Parkdale, CO.

Trip Details

Trips launch at the Park Dale Recreation Site off Colorado Highway 50, just west of Cañon City, and take out 10.5 miles downstream at the Pink House Recreation Site on Riverside Avenue.

The Royal Gorge offers 1.5 miles of warm-up Class II water, followed by six miles of continuous Class III & IV rapids from El Primero through Pipeline, and finishes with a three mile Class II float-out, perfect for catching your breath and reflecting on the adventure.

The 15 major rapids include El Primero (III), El Segundo (III), El Tercero (III), Pumphouse (III–IV), Hollywood Hole (IV), Sunshine (IV), Grateful Dead (IV), Sledgehammer (IV), Hey Diddle Diddle (III–IV), Dire Straits (III–IV), Wall Slammer (IV), Boateater (IV–V), Corner Pocket & Soda Fountain Rock (IV), Lion’s Head (III–IV), Exit (III–IV), and Pipeline (III).

Along the way, rafters pass historic landmarks like the Pumphouse Dam remains, the old caretaker’s house, and the soaring Royal Gorge Bridge high overhead.