Bighorn Sheep Canyon Rafting: Class II & III Whitewater

Miles of splashy rapids where you steer the raft

Bighorn Sheep Canyon half-day rafting near Colorado Springs puts you in a raft on class II and III whitewater for roughly 1.5 to 2 hours of paddling through a beginner-to-intermediate section of river. The trip includes transportation from the Echo Canyon office to the river, a professional guide on your raft, life jacket and helmet, and free wetsuit gear. Children as young as 6 can join, though swimming ability is recommended and moderate fitness helps.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bighorn Sheep Canyon rafting trip

• Check in at Echo Canyon office
• Receive life jackets and helmets
• Meet professional rafting guides
• Transport to river access points
• Raft through class II and III rapids
• Watch for Bighorn Sheep and wildlife
• Float and paddle on the river

The experience

The rapids here are splashy but manageable: class II and III whitewater designed for people new to paddling, though the current stays strong enough to keep the day interesting. You'll paddle through a number of adventurous sections, and the guide handles the bigger decisions while you work the oars. If paddling feels like too much, you can hang on and float instead. The guide won't make you do anything you're not ready for. The river corridor is home to bighorn sheep and other wildlife native to this part of Colorado, so there's reason to glance up from the water between rapids.

Check in at the Echo Canyon office about an hour from Colorado Springs, where the staff walks you through the gear setup. You get a life jacket, helmet, and access to free wetsuit gear if the water temperature calls for it. The guide is a professional who knows the river, and transportation to and from the access points is included in the price. The whole experience, office to office, takes about three hours, with roughly 1.5 to 2 hours spent on the water itself.

Wear a swim suit or synthetic shorts. Cotton holds water and gets cold. Sport sandals or water shoes grip better than flip-flops, and the outfit should be something you don't mind soaking. The river is cold enough that wetsuits make sense most of the year, and Echo provides them at no extra cost.

What’s included

• Transportation from the Echo Canyon office to the river and back.
• professional guide on your raft.
• life jacket, helmet and free wetsuit gear.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Information

Lasts 3h, from US$ 154.96 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 2 May 2027

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 75 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Echo Canyon River Expeditions

Is this one for you?This half-day trip suits families with kids as young as 6 and anyone new to paddling: the guide steers the bigger decisions while you learn the river, and you can float instead of paddle if you need to. Book it if you want splashy water without a full-day commitment or the drive to a distant canyon.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

1,069 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,042

4 ★23

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between class II and class III rapids?

Class II rapids have moderate waves and small drops that a beginner can navigate with basic paddle strokes. Class III rapids are bigger, with waves up to three feet and stronger currents that need more active paddling and quick decisions.

Do I have to paddle the whole time?

No, paddling is not required for this trip. If you prefer to hang on while floating the river, the guide and other paddlers will move the raft through the rapids.

What's included in the price?

The price includes transportation from the Echo Canyon office to the river and back, a professional guide on your raft, life jacket and helmet, free wetsuit gear, and all taxes and fees.

How long does the whole thing take?

The experience takes about three hours total, with roughly 1.5 to 2 hours spent on the water paddling through the rapids.

What should I wear for rafting?

Wear a swim suit or synthetic shorts and avoid cotton, which holds water and gets cold. Sport sandals or water shoes are ideal. Flip-flops and Crocs don't stay on in the current.