Explore Trips
Departures at Cotopaxi location
4+ years old for Cottonwood & 7+ for Bighorn
Our most popular package, the Arkansas River and riding the Royal Gorge Train is a full day of family-friendly fun! In partnership with the historic Royal Gorge Railroad, we pair a scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge with a half-day or quarter-day river trip.
This trip is the ultimate family adventure that will take you to some of the most beautiful areas of Royal Gorge. We will plan all of the logistics, from a river shuttle to a hearty riverside lunch, so you can just relax and enjoy the day from start to finish.
We offer this trip with a raft trip to either the bouncy and exciting Bighorn Sheep Canyon or the scenic and calm Cottonwood Canyon, so you can tailor the trip to the age and ability level of your group. Enjoy 1000-foot towering canyon faces by raft and by train all day on this classic Colorado adventure!
Who Should Book a Raft and Royal Gorge Train Package?
Our Royal Gorge River and Rail package is perfect for families planning a day trip or mini vacation to Royal Gorge. This is the most time-effective way to experience the best activities in the area! Booking a full-day package for your family means that we take care of logistics, so you can spend more time anticipating the trip instead of stressing over planning the details.
This is also our most welcoming trip, perfect for groups with a wide range of ages. So bring grandma and grandpa, bring your preschool-age kiddos, bring everyone! From family reunions to visiting friend groups to small family adventures, this is a fantastic Royal Gorge adventure to add to anyone’s calendar.
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: 4+ years old for Cottonwood & 7+ for Bighorn Sheep Canyon
Trip Length: 7-8 hours for entire trip depending on water levels
Adventure Level: Bighorn Sheep Canyon: class I-III rapids. Cottonwood Canyon: Mild class I-II rapids.
Our most popular package, the Arkansas River and riding the Royal Gorge Train is a full day of family-friendly fun! In partnership with the historic Royal Gorge Railroad, we pair a scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge with a half-day or quarter-day river trip.
This trip is the ultimate family adventure that will take you to some of the most beautiful areas of Royal Gorge. We will plan all of the logistics, from a river shuttle to a hearty riverside lunch, so you can just relax and enjoy the day from start to finish.
We offer this trip with a raft trip to either the bouncy and exciting Bighorn Sheep Canyon or the scenic and calm Cottonwood Canyon, so you can tailor the trip to the age and ability level of your group. Enjoy 1000-foot towering canyon faces by raft and by train all day on this classic Colorado adventure!
Who Should Book a Raft and Royal Gorge Train Package?
Our Royal Gorge River and Rail package is perfect for families planning a day trip or mini vacation to Royal Gorge. This is the most time-effective way to experience the best activities in the area! Booking a full-day package for your family means that we take care of logistics, so you can spend more time anticipating the trip instead of stressing over planning the details.
This is also our most welcoming trip, perfect for groups with a wide range of ages. So bring grandma and grandpa, bring your preschool-age kiddos, bring everyone! From family reunions to visiting friend groups to small family adventures, this is a fantastic Royal Gorge adventure to add to anyone’s calendar.
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: 4+ years old for Cottonwood & 7+ for Bighorn Sheep Canyon
Trip Length: 7-8 hours for entire trip depending on water levels
Adventure Level: Bighorn Sheep Canyon: class I-III rapids. Cottonwood Canyon: Mild class I-II rapids.
Departures at Cotopaxi location
Departures at Cotopaxi location
4+ years old for Cottonwood & 7+ for Bighorn
Spend the morning floating the river on a raft and then in the afternoon get a different perspective of the area from the Royal Gorge Railroad.
After your morning on the river, your guide will prepare a fresh meal for you severed with locally sourced steak, fruits, vegetables and other delicious items right on the river!
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, CO. Aim to get to our meeting spot by at least 8:45 or 9:15, depending on your specific group time.
Our team will greet you, check you in, get you some gear and ensure that your group is ready to raft. We have child-sized PFDs and helmets, so everyone will be outfitted in suitable gear. 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 about to raft!
Before the River
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 in the raft. Depending on the river, your guide may cover paddling techniques and commands. They will tailor their talk to the age and ability level of the group so everyone will feel capable and ready to go.
Once you set off, the fun begins!
Bighorn Sheep Canyon kicks off with some bouncy and exhilarating rapids right at the top of the trip to get everyone cheering and having fun. You’ll have a trip full of fantastic rapids that range from splashy and fun to rowdy and exciting.
Cottonwood Canyon’s calm water is broken up with small riffles and splashy rapids to keep things exciting. Your group can relax on the river, point out cool wildlife, swap raft jokes and learn about the area as you enjoy the current.
On both trips, you’ll get to take swim breaks and take in the gorgeous surroundings that are best enjoyed by raft!
When you finish rafting, you’ll pull up to a beautiful guide-made riverside picnic with fresh ingredients, locally sourced meat and vegetarian options, and all the fixings for a fantastic meal. Your group can enjoy this delicious hearty lunch and get some wiggles out along the river.
After the raft trip and lunch, you will have a 35-minute drive to Cañon City. Many groups have a few extra minutes to check out town before heading to the station for your afternoon train ride. Since you booked a package, your seats will already be secured. When you book the trip, you can choose coach or deluxe vista dome seating. All seats have access to go out to the open cars or to the bar for drinks and snacks. Order a cool drink, explore the train, and wave at the rafters passing by on the famous Royal Gorge raft trip!
The train ride follows the Arkansas River as it carves through a 1,000-foot deep gorge and usually lasts 2-2.5 hours. The train ride will end back where it started, dropping you off at your car for a seamless and convenient trip to Royal Gorge.
Raft the Arkansas River and Ride The Royal Gorge Train
If you are spending a day at Royal Gorge, this adventure package ensures that you get to experience the two most popular activities in the area. Both rafting and the Royal Gorge train are must-do’s for the area, and this full-day adventure is the easiest way to secure a spot on both of them.
There are two river options for this package:
Cottonwood Canyon is a calm, scenic stretch of river that has small riffles suitable for children four and older. This is a paddle-optional ride, so you can have the opportunity to help navigate the boat or just enjoy the views and wildlife sightings with your young children.
Bighorn Sheep Canyon is our most popular trip, with beginner-friendly rapids suitable for kids as young as seven. A few of the rapids on this trip are bouncy and splashy class-II rapids, but most are exciting class-III rapids like Spikebuck, Shark’s Tooth, and Double Dip, which will have your kids cheering for more!
The Royal Gorge Train is also customizable, with options for seating on an open-air deck or inside a cool cabin. There are even options for more luxury cabins with extra amenities. No matter what area you choose, you can be sure you’ll see some jaw-dropping canyon and river views.
River and Rail Raft Trip Views
When you raft either canyon, you can expect staggering views of sheer rock faces, giant boulders jutting out of the water, and beautiful mountains in the distance. The river’s edge is often buzzing with wildlife, and lucky rafters will get to watch bighorn sheep stop by the river’s edge for a cool drink.
We raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
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, wetsuits, and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
After your morning of rafting and eating your gourmet meal, you will have a break in the day and need to drive to the Royal Gorge railroad station for a 3:30pm departure. Travel time is 35 minutes.
It is recommended but not required. We take non-swimmers down this stretch on a normal basis.
We raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
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, wetsuits, and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
After your morning of rafting and eating your gourmet meal, you will have a break in the day and need to drive to the Royal Gorge railroad station for a 3:30pm departure. Travel time is 35 minutes.
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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