Browns Canyon Rafting Tours

Adventures Depart Daily May – Labor Day

Browns Canyon whitewater rafting trips are perfect for adventurous families and first-time rafters. Choose from full-day, half-day, and overnight rafting tours. Experience majestic canyon scenery and legendary class III (IV) rapids like Pinball, Zoom Flume, Big Drop, Staircase, Widow Maker, Raft Ripper, Seidel’s Suckhole, and Twin Falls.

Put in at River Runners

All River Runners Browns Canyon rafting trips depart from our riverside property (at normal flows), giving you more time to relax on your Colorado vacation.

The best class III-IV rafting trip in Colorado

Get ready to cool off and have fun on this family-friendly rafting trip near Buena Vista, Colorado. Whether this is your first time rafting or you’re a seasoned river runner, everyone will love this classic stretch of Colorado whitewater.

Paddle Boat or Oar Boat

You can paddle along with guide instruction (most popular) or request an oar boat if you prefer to hold on as your guide rows you down the river.

Do you still have questions about rafting in Colorado?

Call us at (800) 723-8987 or check out the River Runners FAQ.

Browns Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park

Browns Canyon National Monument was designated an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International in December 2024, becoming Colorado’s 12th certified site. The area offers minimal light pollution and stunning stargazing opportunities thanks to its remote location and strong conservation efforts.

The best way to experience this Dark Sky Park is on an overnight rafting tour on the Arkansas River.

Explore Browns Canyon National Monument 

Browns Canyon National Monument in Chaffee County, Colorado, is a stunning natural landscape known for its rugged granite cliffs, colorful rock formations, and panoramic mountain views. Spanning approximately 22,000 acres of public lands—including the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA)—this protected area showcases Colorado’s unique geology, diverse ecosystems, and rich cultural history.

The monument features a mix of riparian corridors, granite outcroppings, and forested drainages leading to upland areas filled with aspen, limber pine, Douglas fir, and subalpine grasslands. This varied terrain supports a wide range of wildlife and offers exceptional hiking, camping, and viewing opportunities.

President Obama designated Browns Canyon as a national monument on February 19, 2015. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service jointly manage it. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages river-based recreation, including whitewater rafting and fishing on the Arkansas River through the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA).