The spots on the boats were taken by people paying full-price. Hamel attributes the increased revenue to more individuals rafting in a year when camps and large groups were absent. But due to COVID-19 related restrictions, the total volume of commercial boating was down about 7 percent. Last year, the gross receipts for river trips within the AHRA totaled nearly $15 million, a 7 percent increase over 2019. This year they’re expecting even more business now that they’re fully staffed.
The Adventure Company braced themselves for 60 percent or 80 percent of average. Hammer was preparing for a down year in 2020 due to unknowns relating to COVID-19. Most people are training more guides than they did last year and trying to increase their capacity in that regard.” After a slow start due to a relatively cold, wet May, Hamel says AROA members’ advanced bookings are up. This year, companies’ limitation will be the amount of guides available.”Įxecutive Director of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association (AROA) Bob Hamel agrees, “Outfitters made a special effort this year. The limitation this year will be people’s staff … normally the limit is what marketing will produce. Owner of The Adventure Company and long-time raft-guide Mark Hammer said, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt as good of an environment for business as we’re in now. Rafting companies are expecting the increased visitation to continue. Many, though not all, of those visitors came to boat on the Arkansas. Increase in total visitation over 2019 with more than 311,000 people visiting in July alone. It saw over 75,000 commercial rafting clients in 2020. In 2020, AHRA saw a 17 percentīrowns Canyon is the most popular section of river in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. This stretch, managed as the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), is a carefully regulated collaboration between the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. The commercial impact of rafting this section was nearly $63 million in 2020 according to the Colorado River Outfitters Association’s annual report. The 102-mile section of the Arkansas River from Granite to the end of the Royal Gorge near Canon City is among the busiest sections of river for rafting in the country. But their chief skill is reading the river and safely transporting their clients down the most commercially rafted stretch of river in the United States. The raft guides have many skills – entertaining clients with stories (some of them true) and jokes, describing the Arkansas’ flora, fauna, and geology, and making lunch. In the summer, they all transform into their profession’s best – which is guiding rafting trips down the Arkansas River.
They cut firewood and run dog sled teams. During the winter they work at gas stations, liquor stores, and coffee shops.
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