Explore Trips
Departures at Canon City (Half-Day) or Cotopaxi (Half-Day or Full-Day)
Our all-time favorite trip
Action-packed day w/ lunch included
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing introduction to whitewater rafting, Bighorn Sheep Canyon will give you a great first impression of our favorite activity!
Our raft trip in Bighorn Sheep Canyon strikes the perfect balance between thrilling adventure and easy fun. With a mix of exciting rapids and calm stretches of water, this is one of our most popular trips. Your group can navigate thrilling water and take in the stunning Sangre de Cristo mountain range while keeping your eye out for the beautiful bighorn sheep that call this canyon home.
With class II - III rapids, Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting offers a fantastic experience for both novice and experienced rafters. This trip is fantastic for groups with adventurous children and groups with diverse rafting skill levels.
Don't miss out on this world-class rafting trip! Half-day and full-day options are available.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is the most versatile stretch of rafting in our area, with rapids that are fun for both seasoned rafters and beginners!
This stretch of the river is great for families looking for a thrill, groups with various rafting skill levels and people who want to experience rapids for the first time. The rapids on this stretch of the river are thrilling and a fantastic adventure, but still small enough to be a great introduction to whitewater.
Some paddling is necessary on this trip, so it’s also an easy opportunity to learn paddle commands and practice paddle technique.
Location: Arkansas RiverHalf-Day Departures:
Canon City or Cotopaxi Outposts Full-Day Departures: Cotopaxi Outpost
Requirements: Minimum age requirement is 7+. Weight requirement is at least 50 lbs Some paddling required
Trip Length: Half-Day Length: 3.5 hours in total, 2 to 2.5 hours on the water Full-Day Length: 6+ hours in total, 4 to 5 hours on the water
Adventure Level: A great beginner whitewater trip with class II-III rapids
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing introduction to whitewater rafting, Bighorn Sheep Canyon will give you a great first impression of our favorite activity!
Our raft trip in Bighorn Sheep Canyon strikes the perfect balance between thrilling adventure and easy fun. With a mix of exciting rapids and calm stretches of water, this is one of our most popular trips. Your group can navigate thrilling water and take in the stunning Sangre de Cristo mountain range while keeping your eye out for the beautiful bighorn sheep that call this canyon home.
With class II - III rapids, Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting offers a fantastic experience for both novice and experienced rafters. This trip is fantastic for groups with adventurous children and groups with diverse rafting skill levels.
Don't miss out on this world-class rafting trip! Half-day and full-day options are available.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is the most versatile stretch of rafting in our area, with rapids that are fun for both seasoned rafters and beginners!
This stretch of the river is great for families looking for a thrill, groups with various rafting skill levels and people who want to experience rapids for the first time. The rapids on this stretch of the river are thrilling and a fantastic adventure, but still small enough to be a great introduction to whitewater.
Some paddling is necessary on this trip, so it’s also an easy opportunity to learn paddle commands and practice paddle technique.
Location: Arkansas RiverHalf-Day Departures:
Canon City or Cotopaxi Outposts Full-Day Departures: Cotopaxi Outpost
Requirements: Minimum age requirement is 7+. Weight requirement is at least 50 lbs Some paddling required
Trip Length: Half-Day Length: 3.5 hours in total, 2 to 2.5 hours on the water Full-Day Length: 6+ hours in total, 4 to 5 hours on the water
Adventure Level: A great beginner whitewater trip with class II-III rapids
Departures at Canon City (Half-Day) or Cotopaxi (Half-Day or Full-Day)
Departures at Canon City (Half-Day) or Cotopaxi (Half-Day or Full-Day)
Our all-time favorite trip
Action-packed day w/ lunch included
This is our most popular trip that offers something for the entire family, from paddling exciting whitewater to relaxing while floating through the beautiful canyon.
Sightings of Bighorn Sheep, Golden Eagles, and active Trout seeking their next meal are common on this family whitewater rafting trip.
You will be accompanied by a professional river guide that will entertain, educate and safely guide your crew down the river.
Your whitewater adventure starts with a meetup at our rafting outpost in Cotopaxi or Cañon City, CO, depending on the trip you choose. Each trip is the same section of water for the ½ day tours, but we offer the two different outposts as starting locations to make it convenient for guests depending on the direction they are coming from. The full days only launch from Cotopaxi because the trip typically starts right at the base from our private beach.
Our team will greet you, check you in, get you some gear and ensure that your group is ready to ride. Make sure you account for the time it takes to get to the outpost you choose. For example, our Cañon City outpost is about 5 minutes from Cañon City, while our Cotopaxi is about 40 minutes away. Aim to get to our meeting spot by at least 9:15 a.m. for morning trips and 1:15 p.m. for afternoon trips.
Once you’re checked in and ready for action, we will shuttle your group to the put-in. As our shuttle winds along the river, you can get a sneak peek of the beautiful river you’re inches from riding!
After you reach the put-in, your guide will set aside a few minutes to go over a safety talk and explain everything you need to know before hopping on the river. Since this trip requires some paddling, your guide will walk through easy paddle commands so everyone can work together as a team on the water.
The second the raft sets off on the current, the real fun begins!
Your trip starts with a bang with some fun class II-III rapids to get your group splashed and ready for the fun. The rapids throughout the trip will continue to be this exciting and welcoming size, with a couple that will really wow you, depending on the water level!
As you float down the water, there may be calm water and easy spots for a quick dip in the water! You’ll raft past Texas Creek, Pinnacle Rock, and other stunning natural phenomena in between rapids.
During your trip, our talented photographer will capture your raft for some fun family photos of enjoying the river. These photos will be available for purchase at the end of your trip so you can keep your Bighorn Sheep Canyon raft memories forever.
Rafting Bighorn Sheep Canyon is full of easy rapids and fun. A few of the rapids on this trip are bouncy and splashy class-II rapids, but most are wild and fun class-III rapids that will have your heart pumping and pulse racing! There are at least 16 named rapids on the full day tour and 9 on the ½ day tour for this stretch of the river, like Spikebuck, Shark’s Tooth, and Double Dip.
The exciting views you can see in this area are in the name of the canyon! You can find many bighorn sheep climbing the sheer rock faces of the Rocky Mountains or ambling through the brush near the river. If you’re lucky, you may see these majestic creatures, along with birds of prey, squirrels and mule deer as you float down the river.
Rafting through the river, you’ll float past giant boulders jutting out of the water, creating dramatic and stunning untouched canyon scenery. All around the river, you’ll have front-row views of desert brush, coniferous trees, craggy mountain faces, rock features, and the wildlife that calls this area home.
During our Colorado whitewater rafting season, we raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
On our Arkansas River rafting trips, we can fit 6 to 7 guests in a raft depending on the group’s size, plus your guide.
Transportation to and from the river, helmet, PFD/life jacket, wetsuit, and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
We recommend using a wetsuit for May and June departures, while for July and August departures, they are typically not needed. Be sure to check out our packing list!
It is recommended but not required. We take non-swimmers down this stretch on a normal basis.
During our Colorado whitewater rafting season, we raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
On our Arkansas River rafting trips, we can fit 6 to 7 guests in a raft depending on the group’s size, plus your guide.
Transportation to and from the river, helmet, PFD/life jacket, wetsuit, and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
We recommend using a wetsuit for May and June departures, while for July and August departures, they are typically not needed. Be sure to check out our packing list!
It is recommended but not required. We take non-swimmers down this stretch on a normal basis.
We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch customer service and are here to assist you in any way we can. Let us know how we can help!
If you'd prefer, email us at info@arkansasrivertours.com or call 1.800.321.4352.
Since our inception in 1973, Arkansas River Tours has been committed to providing the safest, highest-quality river trips available.
Phone: 1.719.942.4362
info@arkansasrivertours.com
Cañon City Location
Cotopaxi Location
Dumont Location
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