River Runners at Browns Canyon

Certificate of excellence on tripadvisor.com »

Arkansas River

Buena Vista, Colorado

Raft Trips

Family Float starting at $45
Browns Canyon starting at $72
Overnight Trips starting at $279

Adventure Packages>>

SUP & Kayak Tours

Riverside Camping

Group Sites starting at $50

Riverside Resort
Bar & Grill
Camping
Trips

Whitewater Rafting in Buena Vista, Colorado

Riverside rafting

River Runners at Browns Canyon is located six miles south of Buena Vista, Colorado on the banks of the Arkansas River. Enjoy our private put-in for Browns Canyon National Monument. PLEASE NOTE: Rafting trips on the Numbers now depart from River Runners at South Main.

Mild to wild rafting on the Arkansas River

Buena Vista, Colorado is one of the premiere whitewater rafting and kayaking towns in the world. It’s a scenic two-hour drive from Denver or Colorado Springs. Buena Vista is located along the Arkansas River and is shadowed by snow-capped mountains. Every spring and summer thrill-seekers converge here to run the mild and wild rapids of the Arkansas River.

Time lapse of River Runners at Browns Canyon

Riverside dining in Buena Vista, Colorado

Relax on the banks of the Arkansas River

The Browns Canyon Riverside Grill has a Baja-style menu and order-up service for a unique, but casual dining experience. Menu items include carne asada burritos, fish tacos, quesadillas, chips and salsa, and much more. All products are purchased locally when possible.

The bar features local microbrews, the River Rummer, the Whiskey River Mule, and margaritas. Other beverage options include natural sodas and ice tea.

Riverside camping near Buena Vista, Colorado

Group campsites start at $50/night

River Runners offers one of the more unique campgrounds near Buena Vista, Colorado. This riverside property features five group camps with picnic tables and fire pits. Sites are $50 per night and are large enough for 10-15 campers. Amenities include bathrooms, sand volleyball, river access, and a bar and grill.

Book Online

If the River Runners campground is booked there are numerous other camping options in the area. Choose from established RV parks and private campgrounds like the Buena Vista KOA, or secluded sites on National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife land.

Whitewater rafting trips in Buena Vista, Colorado

FAMILY FLOAT RAFTING TRIP BEGINNER CLASS I-II

This beginner float departs daily at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm from our riverside location at Browns Canyon. Minimum requirements are 3 years old and 35 lbs.

This inflatable kayak tour is a unique way to experience Colorado’s Arkansas River. There is a continuous class II section in the beginning followed by three miles of mostly flat water with a few small rapids. A perfect section to learn how to paddle, ferry across the river, and catch eddies.

BOOK ONLINE

STAND UP PADDLE BOARD TOUR (CLASS II+)

This is considered a beginner stretch of water, but stand up paddle boarding it will be a challenge for most people – especially if it is your first time. All tours start in the eddy at our riverside location where you can get comfortable standing on the board, paddling, and peeling out of eddies. After about an hour of practice, we will take you a few miles upriver where you can stand-up paddleboard right back to River Runners.