Explore Trips
Departures at Cotopaxi location
One day just isn’t enough
When you really need to unplug
Don’t miss out on the best rafting Colorado has to offer! This is the perfect trip for families looking for a longer experience on the river.
This Arkansas River multi-day rafting adventure combines Brown’s Canyon rafting and Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting with camping at our riverside location in Cotopaxi. Each section provides a unique Arkansas River experience of varying scenery and rapids. The easy accessibility we have to these canyons from our location allows us to customize our trips to your group’s needs. We have a spectacular setting at our camping area below the Cotopaxi Cliffs for the exclusive use of our guests. We commonly view bighorn sheep coming down to the water to drink. We provide scrumptious meals and do all the cooking while you enjoy fishing, horseshoes, or relaxing around the fire with river tales. Camping equipment rentals are available. You’ll get adventure, excitement, quality time with your group and much-needed time in the outdoors.
Looking for some family bonding time? You'll find terrific opportunities for connection on the Arkansas River. This trip is appropriate for kids as young as eight years old, so almost everyone can get in on the fun. There's no better way to help your kids connect with nature than floating down a fun, splashy river, spying Bighorn Sheep coming by for a drink, and sharing stories around the fire.
This is a great trip for families and groups with kids who want to spend two or three days in nature without having to plan all of the confusing logistics. When you plan an overnight trip with us, all you have to do is pack up, wrangle the kids into the car, and head to the meet-up spot. Once you get here, our team will take over, and you can relax on a fully planned experience.
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: Minimum age of 8 and minimum weight of 50 lbs; some paddling required
Trip Length: Two or three days
Adventure Level: Class III-IV rapids
Don’t miss out on the best rafting Colorado has to offer! This is the perfect trip for families looking for a longer experience on the river.
This Arkansas River multi-day rafting adventure combines Brown’s Canyon rafting and Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting with camping at our riverside location in Cotopaxi. Each section provides a unique Arkansas River experience of varying scenery and rapids. The easy accessibility we have to these canyons from our location allows us to customize our trips to your group’s needs. We have a spectacular setting at our camping area below the Cotopaxi Cliffs for the exclusive use of our guests. We commonly view bighorn sheep coming down to the water to drink. We provide scrumptious meals and do all the cooking while you enjoy fishing, horseshoes, or relaxing around the fire with river tales. Camping equipment rentals are available. You’ll get adventure, excitement, quality time with your group and much-needed time in the outdoors.
Looking for some family bonding time? You'll find terrific opportunities for connection on the Arkansas River. This trip is appropriate for kids as young as eight years old, so almost everyone can get in on the fun. There's no better way to help your kids connect with nature than floating down a fun, splashy river, spying Bighorn Sheep coming by for a drink, and sharing stories around the fire.
This is a great trip for families and groups with kids who want to spend two or three days in nature without having to plan all of the confusing logistics. When you plan an overnight trip with us, all you have to do is pack up, wrangle the kids into the car, and head to the meet-up spot. Once you get here, our team will take over, and you can relax on a fully planned experience.
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: Minimum age of 8 and minimum weight of 50 lbs; some paddling required
Trip Length: Two or three days
Adventure Level: Class III-IV rapids
Departures at Cotopaxi location
One day just isn’t enough
When you really need to unplug
The Arkansas River multi-day rafting trip will run an upriver section in the Browns Canyon National Monument and a section in the lower end of the river in the Bighorn Sheep Canyon. We are skipping the floating parts and providing you with the best whitewater!
You will camp right on the river at our private campground. Access great fishing, swimming, indoor bathrooms, fire pit, spectacular scenery, and common sightings of bighorn sheep.
We will provide meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day with fresh foods and meats from our local butcher. Your guide will become your chef and cook/prepare your meals riverside while you enjoy the outdoors of Colorado.
Your multi-day whitewater adventure starts with a meetup at our rafting outpost at 49311 US 50, Canon City, CO. Our outpost is about 5 minutes from Cañon City and 1 hour from Colorado Springs. Aim to get to our meeting spot by at least 8:15 am.
Our team will have already organized the rafting gear, scheduled the meals, and reserved the campsite, so you don’t have to. Once we collect and organize the personal gear you bring for the trip, we will ensure everyone has what they need for a great experience. If anyone needs extra gear, we have camping rentals available. Once our guides check you in, it’s time to suit up in helmets and life jackets and shuttle to the put-in!
Day one of rafting is on Browns Canyon, which throws you head-first into the fun (metaphorically speaking!). Browns Canyon has a short stint of calm water to warm you up before you tackle some fantastic class-III rapids like Pinball, Zoom Flume, the Staircase and the notorious Big Drop. All of these provide maximum fun while still being a great experience for first-time rafters.
Day two of rafting is on the splashy and fun Bighorn Sheep Canyon, which has moments of small splashy broken up with some fun rapids and interesting nature like Pinnacle Rock and Texas Creek. If you plan for a three-day adventure, you can explore both the upper and lower portions of Bighorn Sheep Canyon.
Every day of your trip, you’ll get to stop for swim breaks, float in the water, and explore the surrounding nature. You may even see some deer or bighorn sheep as you float by!
Each night you spend on the Arkansas River, you stay at our exclusive riverside campsite in Cotopaxi. With indoor bathrooms, fire pits, lawn games, and areas for fishing or swimming, you can fill every moment with fun and relaxation—on and off the river.
You can soak up some late afternoon sun, teach your kids to fish or play some family games while our guides will cook up fantastic camp meals using fresh ingredients from our local butcher. As you gather around the campfire, you can share stories and bond with your family as you watch the stars fill the sky.
Along the trip, your raft will be captured by our talented photographer for some dramatic photos of navigating rapids. These photos will be available for purchase at the end of your trip so you can keep your Royal Gorge memories forever.
Arkansas River multi-day rafting
The Arkansas River may be known for some intense whitewater, but there are multiple stretches of the river suitable for kids and first-timers. The best family-friendly rafting is found on Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Browns Canyon. From calm water perfect for lounging, wildlife searching and chatting to bouncy class II-III rapids that will have your kids hooting and hollering, planning a multi-day Arkansas River trip ensures there is fun sunup to sundown and beyond.
Browns Canyon National Monument is a federally recognized section of the Arkansas River, thanks to its impressive geology and beautiful wildlife. This part of the river has diverse water that ranges from calm and peaceful to wild and fun, with several class III rapids. In between rapids, you can view the striking Sawatch Range in the distance, home to some of Colorado’s highest peaks. This is a fantastic river for families that want a taste of whitewater before hopping on an intermediate or advanced trip.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is another family favorite that will be a fun ride for everyone! The two-day adventure explores the lower section of the canyon, while the three-day trip includes both upper and lower sections of the river. We skip the floating parts to provide you with the best whitewater! This canyon is home to many bighorn sheep (hence the name), so every group that rafts down this canyon has a pretty good chance of seeing some of our Rocky Mountain friends stop by the river for a drink.
What’s included:
What’s not included:
Ages 8+ years old and at least 50 lbs. Swimming ability is not required but recommended.
We offer this trip daily from the beginning of May through June 30th. We will run select dates in July and you can call for details (1.719.942.4362).
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, meals, PFD/life jacket, wetsuits, helmet, and splash jacket. Wetsuits and camping gear are available for rent.
No, we use camp to store all of your personal gear and do not need to bring it on the river unless you have a necessary item. This makes the day easier and allows for more time out on the river.
Ages 8+ years old and at least 50 lbs. Swimming ability is not required but recommended.
We offer this trip daily from the beginning of May through June 30th. We will run select dates in July and you can call for details (1.719.942.4362).
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, meals, PFD/life jacket, wetsuits, helmet, and splash jacket. Wetsuits and camping gear are available for rent.
No, we use camp to store all of your personal gear and do not need to bring it on the river unless you have a necessary item. This makes the day easier and allows for more time out on the river.
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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