Arkansas River
🥇 Gold Medal🏞 National Park🛶 AW Stewardship
Chaffee / Fremont Co. · 148 mi · Class I–V
233CFS/ 3.55 ft
Below Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 700–3000 CFS · USGS #07091200
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Browns Canyon National Monument · Gold Medal Fishery · American Whitewater Stewardship
America's most-rafted river. From the headwaters near Leadville the Arkansas drops 5,000 feet in 125 miles. Browns Canyon is Colorado's #1 Class III run; the Numbers push Class IV–V; Royal Gorge delivers Class V through thousand-foot walls.
Trip sections
Leadville to Granite — Class I–II, beginner
The Numbers — Class IV–V, expert only
Browns Canyon — Class III, Colorado's #1 family run
Royal Gorge — Class IV–V, dramatic canyon walls
Notable Rapids
The NumbersClass IV-V
A series of named drops — Number 1 through Number 7 — each a distinct Class IV-V rapid. Expert only section above Browns Canyon.
Zoom FlumeClass III
The biggest rapid in Browns Canyon. A fun, fast Class III with big waves.
Seidels SuckholeClass III+
A powerful hole in the center of the river. Run right to avoid.
Sunshine FallsClass IV+
Royal Gorge highlight. A massive Class IV+ drop between 1,000-foot canyon walls.
Outfitters
Dvorak Expeditions
Arkansas River since 1969, all sections
AVA Rafting
Browns Canyon specialists
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.