With snowmelt accelerating the start of the 2026 rafting season, Arkansas River outfitters are rolling out early trips and a new marketing campaign to draw visitors to what has become one of Colorado’s top whitewater destinations.

Most rafters won’t start trips until early May, but some have already started hosting limited trips due to water conditions, a spokesperson for the association said. The season is starting earlier with mountain snow melting more rapidly across the state and the Arkansas River Basin, federal data shows.

Rafters are seeing bookings pick up already, the association spokesperson said.

As the season gets underway, the association also announced a partnership with marketing agency Obviouslee to elevate the Arkansas River’s profile as a destination offering both challenging and family‑friendly rafting experiences.

“Our goal is to bring national and regional attention to what makes the Arkansas River special,” Eric Henderson, chief operating officer at Obviouslee, said through a news release. “From family rafting trips to the local businesses and communities that depend on the river, the Arkansas River Valley is a cornerstone of Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy.”

The Arkansas River is one of the most popular rafting destinations not just in Colorado but in the entire United States, drawing more than 175,000 visitors each year.

According to an analysis by the Arkansas River Outfitters Association, which represents nearly 30 rafting companies, the commercial rafting and outfitter industry along the Arkansas River contributes an estimated $50–$60 million to the regional economy each year.

More than 75% of visitors come from outside of Colorado, the association said. 

The association added that visitations support hundreds of jobs as they spend on lodging, shopping, and dining at local businesses and restaurants around Buena Vista, Cañon City and Salida.

Arkansas River Tours is already offering online booking for half‑day Royal Gorge trips this weekend, but some trips still need to be reserved by phone or won’t be available to book until May.

Colorado whitewater rafters are preparing for an earlier — and possibly shorter — summer season after the state’s record‑low winter snowpack melted rapidly during March’s unusually high temperatures, The Denver Gazette reported last week.

The fast melt is triggering early surges in major rafting rivers, which could leave water levels too low later in the season unless additional rain or snow arrives.

However, the Arkansas River does hold an advantage. Unlike Colorado’s other free-flowing rivers, the Arkansas River is less susceptible to the ebbs and flows of snow melt. The dam-controlled river is part of a voluntary flow management program established in 1990 to help release water and control flows between July 1 and Aug. 15, further supporting the whitewater rafting industry.