Half-Day Bighorn

Family-Friendly Colorado Rafting

Our Most Popular Family Rafting Adventure!

Ages:

6 +

Skill Level:

Beginner - Intermediate

Rapids:

Class II - III

Departs From:

Royal Gorge Office or Texas Creek

Season:

April - September

Gear:

FREE wetsuit, splash jacket & river shoes

The Half-Day Bighorn Sheep Canyon trip is our most popular rafting adventure! You will experience excellent Colorado Rafting as you hit the most exciting and iconic rapids in the Bighorn Sheep Canyon. This is the perfect Arkansas River trip for beginner to intermediate rafters. You’ll love the scenery, the experience, and the intentional ministry led by our guides on your next Colorado whitewater rafting adventure.

What to Expect

Our half-day trips depart twice a day from both of our locations and covers 7-14 Miles of river, depending on river flow. You will have the opportunity to jump off of a rock or take a swim in the Arkansas River at one of our riverside swimming locations. After your trip, be sure to check out the action photos we take of you and your crew as you take on the rapids!

Half-Day Bighorn

Duration:

2 - 3 Hours

Check-In Time:

9:00am & 1:00pm

Price:

Adult: $89 / Child: $79

Book Half-Day

What Our Guests Are Saying

“Great Trip, Great People!”

Bret M
Elizabeth, Colorado 

“Traveled down the Arkansas with Journey Quest and my daughters. Our guide was friendly and helpful. She even allowed my older daughter to "guide" the boat for a stretch. Will definitely use them again!” Read Full Review

“Excellent for Youth Groups!”

Erica D
Via TripAdvisor 

“The youth group I work with has gone rafting with Journey quest multiple times as a cap-off to a week of missions outreach. Not only is it a fun and exciting time of bonding, but it is so refreshing to hear your guide talk about the beauty of God's creation like a real, down-to-earth, and fun-loving person. All the guides I've met are very skilled at teaching, encouraging, and leading their rafting crew, which puts even those who are a bit squeamish about the endeavor at ease.” Read Full Review

“Unforgettable experience!”

Kyle G
Via TripAdvisor 

“From beginning to end, this was an incredible experience! Kody Adcock was my guide for the day, but the entire staff and crew was wonderful! They made me feel so comfortable and we had plenty of laughs along the way...The water was wonderful, the stories were spectacular, and the scenery was amazing! I'd recommend a trip with JourneyQuest to anyone looking for an adventure and ready to get their adrenaline going! Thanks guys!” Read Full Review

“Great Experience for my Family with Young Kids”

RyanDavis21
Vinton, Iowa 

“Awesome experience. I have four kids ages 11 through 5 and I wanted to find something that even our 5 year old could do but that would also be exciting for the adults. This was perfect...Our guide, Mark, has young kids of his own so he knew how to give us an experience that was safe but very exciting. We did the 3/4 Day and it was the highlight of our vacation to Colorado. When we come back I will definitely book again with this company.” Read Full Review

“Fantastic, fun, faith-built company!”

Brian S
Des Moines, Iowa 

“We did the full day trip through the Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Royal Gorge on our honeymoon, and absolutely loved it...Nicki, our guide was absolutely amazing... personable, friendly, knowledgeable and in control, and did a great job of making the trip safe and fun for everybody. It was refreshing to be with other believers. You could see the love of Christ in the staff members faces, and they were unashamed of Christ, but definitely not pushy with their faith...We had the ride of our lives, and if we're ever back in that area again, we'll definitely be re-booking with Journey Quest! ” Read Full Review

Rafting with a Purpose

Like all our trips, the purpose is much more than just white water rafting. Our guides seek opportunities to use even a couple hours together on the river to share about the love and grace that is found in Jesus Christ. On this Half-Day Bighorn trip, we seek to share the transformational power of the living Gospel with all of our guests using spiritual analogies, personal testimonies, and thought provoking questions. This trip is perfect for your family, friends, or youth group who are looking to grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Our guides look to be an example of what a disciple of Christ looks like by proclaiming the truth of the Bible, showing love towards one another, and praying with you during your trip. Read more about how and why we do this at Why Journey Quest?

Bighorn Sheep River Map Colorado's Arkansas River

Half-Day Bighorn

The Journey Begins

Navigate iconic Rapids such as Three Rocks, Spikebuck, and Shark’s Tooth as you get soaked on our Half-Day Bighorn adventure. With calm sections in-between rapids, be on the lookout for Bighorn Sheep, Blue Herons, and Geese that populate the landscape. Take a swim at Harvey’s Wallbanger, a great riverside swimming beach, or take a leap off a rock into the river at Monkey’s Rock or Double-Dip Rapid. Don’t forget to take in the beauty of the rolling canyon hills and the gorgeous flowers that bloom on the Cholla Cactus.

The Great Railroad War

Did you know there are sniper forts in the canyon? There was a railroad war that ensued between two railroad companies for the rights to build their tracks through the Royal Gorge. On this section of river, be on the lookout for sniper forts that were created in an effort to halt the construction of the railroad. Rifles and Pistols were soon paired with shovels and pick axes as the fight for the railway began. Be sure to ask your guide about the history of the Royal Gorge railroad war.