Arkansas River Whitewater Wave Cam

The Arkansas River Through Cañon City

The camera looks out over the Arkansas River, one of the great rivers of the American West, as it flows past Cañon City in central Colorado. Born high in the Sawatch Range, the river has already carved the dramatic Royal Gorge just upstream before easing into the broad channel seen here.

A Whitewater Playground

This stretch is home to an engineered whitewater park, where a shaped standing wave gives kayakers, rafters, and river surfers a year-round playground. The boulder-lined drop in midstream is the feature that gives the Wave Cam its name.

The Riverwalk and Its Surroundings

Along the near bank runs the Arkansas Riverwalk, a popular trail shaded by cottonwoods and dotted with picnic shelters and public art. Beyond the water, high-desert mesas and the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains form the horizon.

Gateway to the Royal Gorge Region

Cañon City is the gateway to the Royal Gorge and a hub for rafting, hiking, and scenic rail excursions. This camera offers a steady, real-time look at the river that defines the town's outdoor character.