Colorado's most-rafted river, from expert-only Class V kayaking in The Numbers to the legendary gorge beneath a 956-foot suspension bridge.
About the River
The Arkansas River rises in the Mosquito and Sawatch ranges above Leadville at roughly 10,000 feet, carrying snowmelt from the highest terrain in Colorado. It flows south through the Upper Arkansas Valley before turning sharply east near Salida, carving four distinct whitewater corridors through granite canyon walls on its way toward the Kansas plains.
Colorado's most commercially rafted river, the Arkansas sees hundreds of thousands of visitors every summer drawn to Browns Canyon National Monument and the Royal Gorge. The river serves every skill level: expert-only technical kayaking in The Numbers, family-friendly commercial rafting through Browns Canyon, scenic fishing floats in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and dramatic Class V drops inside the Royal Gorge.
The primary gauge near Nathrop is the most-watched flow reference for the Browns Canyon section. Peak runoff typically arrives mid-May through late June depending on Sawatch Range snowpack. The gauge at Granite governs The Numbers; Parkdale and Canon City gauges cover the downstream sections.
Flow Guide
The table below shows recommended CFS ranges for each major activity at each section. Status badges reflect the current reading from the closest gauge.
| Pursuit | The Numbers | Browns Canyon | Bighorn Sheep | Royal Gorge |
|---|
* Flow ranges are general guidelines. Conditions vary; always assess local hazards before launching. The Numbers is private craft only with no commercial operations.
Interactive Map
River Sections
Related Rivers
Check real-time flows at every station on the Arkansas before you drive to the put-in.