Rated 4.8/5 from 5 verified reviews.
30+ years of guiding experience.
Royal Gorge Rafting Co. has been running the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge — one of the most spectacular river canyons in North America — since 1994. The Gorge section drops through 1,000-foot granite walls that took 3 million years to carve, delivering some of the most intense Class IV–V whitewater in the country. Based in Cañon City at the canyon's entrance, we run daily trips from May through September when the snowmelt-fed Arkansas is running strong. Our guides are Swift Water Rescue certified with an average of 8 years on the river. We've paddled every cubic foot of this river thousands of times and know every line through every rapid. From family-friendly floats on our upper sections to the heart-pumping Royal Gorge and Narrows, we have a trip for every thrill level. Equipment is commercial-grade, safety briefings are thorough, and no trip departs without a comprehensive guest assessment.
"Absolutely incredible. The canyon walls are something you have to see to believe. Our guide was hilarious and kept us completely safe through some genuinely scary rapids. Best day of our Colorado trip." — Jennifer H. (5/5)
"Brought my teenage kids on the full day. They're still talking about it a month later. The guides are experienced, safety-focused, and fun. The BBQ lunch by the river was a great touch." — Tom B. (5/5)
"Did the half day Royal Gorge. Was nervous going in — had never rafted Class IV before. Our guide read the water perfectly and made everyone feel confident. Hit every line clean." — Rachel S. (5/5)