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A concentrated, technical run on the Arkansas River’s Numbers Section: continuous Class IV whitewater with steep drops like House Rock and Frog Rock. This half-day trip demands fitness, strong swimming skills and clean, secure footwear.
A concentrated, technical run on the Arkansas River’s Numbers Section: continuous Class IV whitewater with steep drops like House Rock and Frog Rock. This half-day trip demands fitness, strong swimming skills and clean, secure footwear.
Sun slices across granite walls as your raft drops into the Numbers — a tight, furious stretch of the Arkansas River where water pushes, pulls and dares you downstream. The first plunge arrives fast: pour-overs and ledges line a confined canyon, and the raft responds to every paddle stroke and shout from your guide.
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Operated by Colorado Rafting Adventures · Buena Vista, Colorado
Sun slices across granite walls as your raft drops into the Numbers — a tight, furious stretch of the Arkansas River where water pushes, pulls and dares you downstream. The first plunge arrives fast: pour-overs and ledges line a confined canyon, and the raft responds to every paddle stroke and shout from your guide.
The Numbers Section earned its name because the rapids are so continuous guides historically numbered them rather than naming each one. Geologically, you float through uplifted Precambrian and Cretaceous rock that narrows the channel and accelerates flow, producing steep drops and hydraulics like House Rock and Frog Rock. Buena Vista’s river culture is blunt and practical: outfitters, shuttle drivers and veteran guides who read flows and wind as skillfully as maps.
Expect five hours that include river time, a riverside lunch and transport. This is Class IV whitewater — demanding, athletic and technical. Guides call commands sharply; participants must paddle hard, brace, and be competent swimmers. Spring snowmelt can amplify currents; summer offers warmer air but higher visitor numbers; fall cools the water and sharpens contrast in the canyon.
Practical tips: wear secure river shoes, low-bulk quick-dry layers, and a high-SPF sun layer that won’t trap heat under a lifejacket. Hydrate before launch and keep sunglasses on a retainer. Note health limits: not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with serious heart or spinal conditions. If you want continuous adrenaline in concentrated form — tight moves, steep drops and professional guides — the Numbers delivers a focused, relentless day on the river.
challenging.
5 hours.
Good cardiovascular fitness and upper-body strength for sustained paddling; strong swimming ability required.
Minimum age is 16 years old for this Numbers half-day trip.
Prior rafting experience is recommended; the Numbers is continuous Class IV and requires participants to paddle actively and follow commands.
Yes — professional outfitters provide self-bailing rafts, U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFDs and helmets as part of the trip.
Wear secure river footwear, quick-dry layers, sunscreen, and bring a water bottle; avoid flip‑flops or loose shoes.
The Arkansas River corridor supported miners and early river runners; commercial whitewater rafting grew here in the late 20th century as flows were better understood and guides formalized technical scouting.
Outfitters emphasize Leave No Trace at riverside lunch sites and manage shuttle routes to minimize erosion; adhering to group size limits helps protect riparian vegetation.
Colorado Rafting Adventures operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Sun slices across granite walls as your raft drops into the Numbers — a tight, furious stretch of the Arkansas River where water pushes, pulls and dares you downstream. The first plunge arrives fast: pour-overs and ledges line a confined canyon, and the raft responds to every paddle stroke and shout from your guide.
Sun slices across granite walls as your raft drops into the Numbers — a tight, furious stretch of the Arkansas River where water pushes, pulls and dares you downstream. The first plunge arrives fast: pour-overs and ledges line a confined canyon, and the raft responds to every paddle stroke and shout from your guide.
The Numbers Section earned its name because the rapids are so continuous guides historically numbered them rather than naming each one. Geologically, you float through uplifted Precambrian and Cretaceous rock that narrows the channel and accelerates flow, producing steep drops and hydraulics like House Rock and Frog Rock. Buena Vista’s river culture is blunt and practical: outfitters, shuttle drivers and veteran guides who read flows and wind as skillfully as maps.
Expect five hours that include river time, a riverside lunch and transport. This is Class IV whitewater — demanding, athletic and technical. Guides call commands sharply; participants must paddle hard, brace, and be competent swimmers. Spring snowmelt can amplify currents; summer offers warmer air but higher visitor numbers; fall cools the water and sharpens contrast in the canyon.
Practical tips: wear secure river shoes, low-bulk quick-dry layers, and a high-SPF sun layer that won’t trap heat under a lifejacket. Hydrate before launch and keep sunglasses on a retainer. Note health limits: not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with serious heart or spinal conditions. If you want continuous adrenaline in concentrated form — tight moves, steep drops and professional guides — the Numbers delivers a focused, relentless day on the river.