How To Save Money On Your Summer Rafting Trip

Written by Ben Sack, 03.26.2024

Pretty much everyone is always on the lookout for tips to save money on vacation, right? And that’s just as true for river-based vacations, such as we offer here at Echo Canyon. Our Colorado white water rafting deals give you bucket-list experiences on the legendary Arkansas River without breaking the bank!

Cutting Costs On Your Summer Rafting Trip

There are many ways to save on white water rafting. Let’s run through some of the strategies you can pursue to lighten the load on your pocketbook while enjoying one of the finest forms of outdoor recreation out there!

Book in Advance to Save on Travel Expenses

Rafters throw their paddles up in celebration after paddling a rapid

There’s often a very real financial benefit to planning ahead. Booking whitewater rafting packages well in advance will likely translate to genuine savings, including on associated transportation, accommodations, and other activities. More last-minute bookings, we probably don’t need to tell you, often come with a steeper price tag.

Consider Off-Peak Times

Arkansas River rafting tours are most popular during the summer months, particularly June, July, and August. Yet the rafting window here is broader than that, kicking off as early as mid-April and running till Labor Day or so.

Timing your rafting adventure for the off-peak season, spring, or late summer/early fall can be a great way to save money—and reward with a quieter, more personalized sort of river-running experience, to boot!

Reserve a Rafting Package or Bundle Experiences/Lodging

Another way to save on white water rafting is by booking a package deal and/or bundling a river trip with lodgings. That’s certainly a possibility here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, given we also manage Royal Gorge Cabins: a premier place to stay in Cañon City, Colorado, right at the doorstep of the Royal Gorge.

Bundling a package with Echo Canyon and Royal Gorge Cabins can land you a discounted rate on both rafting and some swoon-worthy accommodations (which include both luxury cabins and glamping tents).

(Choosing accommodations such as Royal Gorge Cabins right in the Fremont County region, nice and close to your rafting destination and other vacation activities, also naturally yields savings compared with commuting from, say, Colorado Springs.)

Single King Cabin rental

Take Advantage of Colorado White Water Rafting Deals, Coupons, and Discounts

From evergreen offers to limited-time white water rafting coupons and deals, you’ll often find quite the assortment of discounted specials on whitewater rafting packages and trips. Here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we feature a regular lineup of Royal Gorge rafting coupons and other deals.

For instance, using the promo code 15AMGORGE, you can land yourself $15 off per person for morning Royal Gorge half-day trips from May 25th through September 3rd, 2024.

Code STAYPLAY, meanwhile, gives you and another guest a free half-day rafting trip with us when you book two consecutive nights at the standard rate in a Single King or Double King Cabin (blackout dates are June 14th through August 10th, 2024).

Select a Whitewater Rafting Company With the Most Value

Choosing a responsible outfitter that provides high-quality and high-value service is another way to save on white water rafting.

What is included when whitewater rafting with Echo Canyon River Expeditions? We offer a discount that provides river gear for guests who raft with us; you’ll have wetsuits, splash jackets, and river shoes available to you, though you can certainly elect not to wear them. (They’re a good option for a colder day on the river, though!) We of course also have all our rafters outfitted in Coast Guard-certified PFDs and safety helmets.

Now that we’re on the subject, what do you need to bring for your whitewater rafting trip? We recommend you come with quick-drying layers, sunscreen, sunglasses, water—and a good attitude! Anything else is unnecessary and stands a good chance of ending up in the river…

World-Class Group & Family Whitewater Rafting on the Arkansas River With Echo Canyon

From half-day to multi-day whitewater rafting trips, the itineraries we maintain here at Echo Canyon really run the gamut: There’s something for everybody, from stone-cold newbies to experienced longtime rafters. And our routes lie along one of the most fabled whitewater rivers in the U.S.: the mighty Arkansas!

Find out why Echo Canyon is Colorado’s premier whitewater rafting location. Take advantage of unbeatable value with our top-tier rafting trips. Secure your spot today!

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About the Author

Ben Sack is the General Manager of Echo Canyon River Expeditions, Colorado's largest white water rafting outfitter. He's also a raft guide, a photographer, and he loves exploring Colorado and beyond with his wife and two boys.
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