You hear it before you see it—the Arkansas River roaring beside Colorado’s ribbon of highways, daring you to pull over and paddle.
Roughly 250,000 people do that each summer, making the Ark the busiest white-water playground in the United States, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
We’ve driven every canyon road and punched through every rapid to rank the river’s seven signature sections—from mellow Class I riffles to full-on Class V gauntlets.
Use this guide to match your skill level, choose