Cañon City: Bighorn Rafting With Lunch, Wetsuit and Photos

Rafting with lunch keeps the day simple. This four-hour Arkansas River trip gives you free wetsuits and river shoes, plus a hotdog or hamburger lunch and a digital photo from the biggest rapid. I also like the family-friendly route, which covers about nine miles and includes named rapids such as Five Points, Spike Buck, and Cowgirl Up. The main drawback is timing: one outing had a long wait before rafting began, so you should allow some flexibility.

The trip is run by Raft Masters, the closest rafting operation to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. I like the clear setup, with office check-in, fitted safety gear, bus transport, river instruction, and a return to the same location. Guides have earned strong praise for organization, and Emma was singled out as an excellent guide. Just remember that guide gratuity is not included.

Key points to know before you book

• Nine miles of Arkansas River rafting: You spend about two hours and 15 minutes on the water, with splashy rapids and possible bighorn sheep sightings.
• Lunch is included: Burgers or hotdogs come with chips, a cookie, and a fountain drink, served before afternoon trips or after morning trips.
• River gear costs nothing extra: Wetsuits, river boots, splash jackets, life jackets, and helmets are provided.
• Raft Masters is convenient for southern Colorado: The Cañon City office is positioned for visitors coming from Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and nearby areas.
• You receive a digital action photo: A third-party photographer captures one of the bigger rapids, and you receive a download link afterward.
• Boats hold about six to eight people: The exact number depends on water levels and the trip selected.

Why this Cañon City rafting trip works well

At $146 per person, this is not a bargain-basement river outing. But the price includes transport, safety equipment, wetsuits, river boots, splash jackets, lunch, and a digital photo. Those extras matter because rafting costs can rise quickly once you add equipment rental, food, and transportation.

I especially like the free gear policy. Colorado river water can feel cold, and a wetsuit is not a luxury on a splashy route. You do not need to pack or rent a full set of river clothing, though you should still bring a swimsuit or clothing suitable for wearing under the gear.

The included lunch also makes the day easier. You get a hamburger or hotdog, chips, a cookie, and a fountain drink. The meal is served between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Afternoon departures eat before rafting, while morning departures eat after returning. That schedule is useful if you are planning other activities in Cañon City, but it means you should pay attention to your assigned start time.

The digital photo adds value in a different way. A third-party company photographs the rafts at the biggest rapid of the trip, then sends you a link to download the image. You should not expect a large gallery of every moment, but a well-timed action shot is a nice record of the day.

Check-in at the red building on East Main Street

Your day starts at 2315 E Main St in Cañon City. Look for the red Raft Masters building and the large parking lot across the street. Restrooms are available at the office, and there is a gift shop where you can buy snacks, shirts, souvenirs, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and other forgotten items.

The check-in process is designed to move you from the office to the river without much guesswork. Staff explain where to go and how to prepare. You then receive a life jacket fitted by the staff before boarding the bus.

That fitting is more important than it sounds. A life jacket should feel secure without making it hard to breathe or paddle. Take a moment to tell the staff if it feels loose, rides up, or pinches. You will be wearing it through the safety briefing and on the water.

You should arrive ready to follow instructions and avoid bringing alcohol or drugs. Sunglasses with a retainer, sunscreen, lip balm, a towel, and dry clothes are the useful items to pack. The retainer is especially important because ordinary sunglasses can disappear in a rapid.

The 25-minute bus ride to the Arkansas River

After everyone is fitted with gear, one of the guides calls the group onto the bus. The ride to the river takes about 25 minutes. Transportation is included, so you do not need to arrange a second car at the launch point or worry about where to leave a vehicle.

This part of the outing is practical rather than scenic sightseeing. You are being moved to the launch area with the boats and equipment. Still, it creates a natural break between office check-in and the river portion of the day.

When the raft reaches the shore, the guides unload the boats and explain what comes next. You receive a safety talk and paddle instructions before climbing aboard. Listen closely, especially if this is your first rafting trip. Paddle timing matters, and the guide needs everyone to respond together when the water gets rough.

The company usually places six to eight people in a raft. Water levels and the trip selected affect the final number. A boat of this size gives you a social outing, but it also means you will be sitting close to other people and working as a team. If you prefer a quiet, private ride, this is not that kind of activity.

Nine miles of rapids, sheep, and splashy water

The river portion lasts about two hours and 15 minutes and covers roughly nine miles. That is enough time to feel like you have had a real half-day outing, rather than a quick introductory float.

The route is described as family-friendly, but it still includes active rapids. Five Points, Spike Buck, and Cowgirl Up are named sections of the run. Their character can vary with water levels, so you should expect the exact feel of the ride to change depending on conditions.

The guides lead the boat through each section and tell you how to paddle. You may get soaked, which is why the provided splash jacket and wetsuit are useful. River shoes help with footing and keep you from sacrificing your own footwear to the Arkansas River.

You also have a chance to look for bighorn sheep along the route. The wildlife viewing is not guaranteed, and the rapids demand your attention, but watching the riverbanks between active sections adds a pleasant Colorado touch to the outing.

I would describe this trip as a good middle ground for families and mixed-age groups who want excitement without signing up for the most extreme water available. The company does not describe this as an advanced route. Still, you should be comfortable with physical activity, splashing water, and following directions in a moving raft.

Children under five are not permitted. For older children, the family-friendly description is encouraging, but parents should consider each child’s comfort with cold water, helmets, life jackets, and noisy rapids. The available information does not give a specific maximum age or weight requirement, so ask Raft Masters if anyone in your party has special concerns.

The guide makes the river feel manageable

A rafting guide does more than steer. The guide explains how to sit, paddle, and respond when the boat approaches a rapid. A calm, clear briefing can make the difference between feeling nervous and feeling ready.

The operation has received top marks for organization, and one guide named Emma was praised as especially good. That matches what you want from this kind of outing: a guide who keeps the group moving, gives clear directions, and helps the boat work together.

The staff also guide you through the process from check-in to return. That is useful if you are new to rafting or traveling with a family group that needs help with gear. You are not expected to know how to select a wetsuit, fit a life jacket, or prepare the raft yourself.

One practical caution: build in some extra time before the boat launches. A booking reported a long wait before rafting started. This may depend on group size, river conditions, equipment, or the day’s schedule, but you should avoid booking a tight afternoon appointment immediately afterward.

Lunch timing can shape your whole morning or afternoon

The included BBQ lunch is simple, filling, and well suited to an active outing. You receive one hamburger or hotdog, chips, a cookie, and a fountain drink. It is not a destination meal, but it covers the basics after several hours outside.

If you book a morning trip, lunch is ready after rafting at the Eddy Out Cafe. That order makes sense: you finish the river hungry, return to the office, and eat before changing fully into dry clothes or heading onward.

If you book an afternoon trip, lunch is served first, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. You should not arrive expecting to eat whenever you like. The meal has a fixed service window, so check your start time and plan accordingly.

The food also adds value to the $146 price. You do not have to hunt for a restaurant between the bus ride and the river. For families, that can save both time and money. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information only confirms the burger and hotdog choices, so contact the company before booking rather than assuming substitutions are available.

Photos, dry clothes, and the small details that matter

The photo process is straightforward. A third-party photographer takes pictures during the rafting trip, focusing on the best or biggest rapid. At the end, you receive a link to download the image online.

Think of this as one good souvenir, not a personal photo shoot. You will not be carrying a camera in the raft, and you will not need to risk your phone to document the ride. If your boat is well positioned at the rapid, the photo can be a memorable bonus.

Bring a complete change of clothes for the ride home. Even with a wetsuit and splash jacket, you may finish damp. A towel is also worth packing, since the provided information specifically recommends it.

Sunglasses should have a retainer such as Chums. Sunscreen and lip balm are useful because you will spend time outdoors with reflected light and moving air. These items can be purchased at the gift shop, but bringing them from home is cheaper and avoids a last-minute stop.

Returning to Raft Masters after the river

After roughly two hours and 15 minutes on the river, you load back onto the bus. The return ride takes about 15 minutes, shorter than the trip out. You then arrive at 2315 E Main St, where you can change, browse the gift shop, buy snacks, and check for your photo download information.

The return to the same office makes the logistics easy. Your car remains across the street, and you do not need to coordinate a separate pickup. If you are traveling with children, this also gives you a clear end point for the day.

The company describes the full outing as four hours. That includes check-in, gear fitting, the safety talk, bus rides, lunch timing, and the river run. Since launch waits can happen, I would treat four hours as the planned duration rather than a guarantee that you will be free at an exact minute.

Who will get the most from this $146 outing

I would recommend this trip to families with children five and older, first-time rafters, and groups who want an active Colorado outing with the main details handled. The included equipment removes much of the preparation, while the guide-led format keeps the day approachable.

It is also a sensible pick if you are based in Colorado Springs or Pueblo. Raft Masters is promoted as the closest rafting location to both cities, and the Cañon City office has a large parking area and clear bus transport to the river.

The trip suits you less well if you want solitude, a private boat, or a guaranteed fast start. Boats generally hold six to eight people, and one booking experienced a long wait before rafting. You should also look elsewhere if your priority is a very intense, expert-level run, since this outing is presented as family-friendly.

The wheelchair-accessible designation may help you decide if someone in your party has mobility needs. Because river access and raft boarding can involve specific physical steps, contact Raft Masters ahead of time to discuss the exact assistance required.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the trip for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those policies are useful when Colorado weather or a changing road schedule makes advance planning uncertain.

Should you book the Bighorn rafting trip?

Book it if you want a well-organized half-day on the Arkansas River with lunch, transport, river gear, and a digital action photo already included. The value is strongest for families and first-time rafters who would otherwise need to rent wetsuits, find a launch shuttle, and arrange food separately.

Skip it if your schedule cannot tolerate a possible delay, or if you want a private and highly challenging rafting run. For everyone else, the combination of named rapids, bighorn sheep viewing, helpful staff, and a clear four-hour format makes this a practical Cañon City choice.

FAQ

How long does the rafting experience last?

The complete activity takes about four hours. The itinerary includes a 25-minute bus ride to the river, about two hours and 15 minutes of rafting, and a 15-minute bus ride back to the office.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at Raft Masters, located at 2315 E Main St in Cañon City. The building is red, with a large parking lot across the street.

Is transportation to the river included?

Yes. A bus transports you from the Raft Masters office to the river and returns you afterward.

What equipment is provided?

Raft Masters provides a life jacket, helmet, wetsuit, river boots, and splash jacket at no extra charge.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a hamburger or hotdog, chips, a cookie, and a fountain drink. Afternoon trips receive lunch before rafting between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Morning trips receive lunch after rafting.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sunglasses retainer, sunscreen, lip balm, a towel, and a dry change of clothes.

Are children allowed on the trip?

Children under five are not allowed. The trip is described as family-friendly, but the information does not provide a specific age requirement for older children.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.