EXPLORE TRIPS

Arkansas River Tours

THE BEST RAFTING COLORADO HAS TO OFFER

Trips for all experience levels. From family-friendly floats to premiere Colorado whitewater rafting thrills.

Group 9

CELEBRATING Over 50 YEARS & 325K+ HAPPY GUESTS

Group 9

Our Most Popular rafting Trips

Experience the thrill of Arkansas River rafting in Colorado! Surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks, the Arkansas River offers a range of exciting rafting opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a scenic float or an extreme class V whitewater adventure, there’s a rafting trip for everyone.

Check out our most popular Colorado whitewater rafting trips below!​

Our #1 All-Time Trip

Bighorn Sheep
Canyon Rafting

  • Great for first-timers and families
  • Plenty of thrills and dramatic views
  • Half-day and full-day options
  • Class II & III rapids

Starting at $119/person

Trip Details
For Thrill-Seekers

Royal Gorge Rafting

  • World-class whitewater
  • Huge waves, steep technical drops
  • Half-day and full-day options
  • Class III–IV+ rapids

Starting at $129/person

Trip Details
Gentle & Scenic

Cottonwood Canyon
Family Float

  • Great for seniors & young children
  • Spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery
  • Quarter-day and half-day options
  • Fun, mild whitewater

Starting at $84/person

Trip Details
Group 5 Play Video

More Colorado Whitewater RAFTING Adventures

MuLTi-Day

2-3 day trips on Colorado’s best rivers.

PRIVATE

Looking for a private group trip? We have options.

View ALL TRIPS

A full-range of options to meet all trip needs.

Other Offerings

  • Explore Gold Medal waters
  • Single & multi-day trips available
  • Options for all skill levels & group sizes
  • Float fishing, wading, and instructional options
  • Packaged activities with our regional partners
  • Train rides, zipline, and ATV adventures
  • Family-friendly pricing
  • Unforgettable adventures
• Full flexibility • No cancellation fees
Book with confidence

HASSLE-FREE BOOKING GUARANTEE

• Full flexibility
• No cancellation fees
• Book with confidence

PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP

Safety

We love to have a blast on the river but safety is our #1 priority.

FAQs

If you've got questions, we've got answers!

Our Blog

Want to know more about our world of rafting?

Don’t Take Our word for it

From navigating rapids on a Colorado whitewater rafting trip to catching fish on a guided fishing tour, our adventures will get your adrenaline pumping and leave you with a big smile on your face. And don't just take our word for it - read our five-star reviews from past customers who have had a blast on our trips! We are committed to making sure that you have a five-star experience.

5/5

(4.9 844+ Reviews)

5/5

(5.0 898+ Reviews)

5/5

(5.0 403+ Reviews)

Our Guides

Our guide training is well recognized by our fellow outfitters. We have provided rescue courses and trained guides from other companies in proper techniques of paddle boat guiding. Many of the high standards we set for ourselves have become guidelines for others. We were the pioneers Royal Gorge rafting in paddle boats. In fact, ART was the first company to include swim tests at certain water levels and to mandate the use of helmets in the Royal Gorge.

ART guides receive the most extensive training available, exceeding all state requirements by several hours. Our guides consider whitewater rafting in Colorado to be their profession, not just a summer job. These fun-loving professionals are always willing to share their love for rivers and knowledge of the river environment.

Most of our guides are EMTs or Wilderness First Responders and all guides are First Aid and CPR certified. Their average experience is more than 5 years. Safety being our #1 concern, all of our boats are self-bailers with foot cups and we use only the finest equipment available.

Colorado whitewater rafting

OVER 50 YEARS OF COLORADO WHITEWATER RAFTING

We have connected over 325,000 guests to the river since our inception in 1973 as one of the original Colorado white water rafting companies. Arkansas River Tours is committed to providing the safest, highest-quality river trips available. We have 2 convenient locations that offer whitewater rafting Colorado Springs and Salida, Colorado. From advanced Royal Gorge rafting to beginner and intermediate Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting, we have trips for every experience level and age group. Our strong background in experiential education transfers into personable trips with an emphasis on safety. Arkansas River Tours strives to be the highlight of your summer year after year!

We’re celebrating 50+ years! Throughout our long history as a professional outfitter we have learned and gained a lot of experience along the way. This experience has allowed us to create one of the top Colorado whitewater rafting and fishing adventures for our guests. With 50+ years on the water, Arkansas River Tours has been able to fine tune and enhance our training programs to create some of the safest, hassle-free and most engaging river experiences out there. We are excited to share our 50+ years of experience with you and show you an adventure of a lifetime with one of our carefully crafted 5-star tours.​

Colorado whitewater rafting