Trip Recommender
The Arkansas River in Colorado begins in the Sawatch Range near Leadville and Buena Vista and joins the Mississippi River in Arkansas. The Arkansas River is one of Colorado’s most notable natural landmarks and waterways and offers some of North America’s most popular whitewater stretches. Here you’ll find everything from the wild and challenging section of Pine Creek near Granite, CO, to the thrilling and scenic family-friendly rapids of Browns Canyon near Buena Vista, to the towering rock walls of the Royal Gorge near Cañon City. With every class of whitewater available and great Colorado rafting for families with young kids, groups and adrenaline junkies, Arkansas River rafting truly has something for everyone.
There’s a reason that Whitewater Rafting on the Arkansas River in Colorado is one of the most popular and exciting river trips in the country. Combine the scenic beauty of the Arkansas River Valley with the majestic Colorado mountain terrain and the excitement of continuous whitewater and you get the best whitewater trips available in Colorado!
LOCATION: Buena Vista, CO
ACTIVITIES: Whitewater Rafting Colorado
DURATION: 1/2 Day
DIFFICULTY: Level 4 (moderate)
RIVER RATING: Class III
MINIMUM AGE: 7 years old
PRICE: from $94 Ages 13+
from $89 Ages 7-12
LOCATION: Buena Vista, CO
ACTIVITIES: The Numbers Rafting, Via Ferrata
DURATION: Full Day
DIFFICULTY: Level 5 (intense)
RIVER RATING: Class IV
MINIMUM AGE: 15 years old
PRICE: from $238
LOCATION: Buena Vista, CO
ACTIVITIES: Browns Canyon Sizzler
DURATION: Full Day
DIFFICULTY: Level 4 (moderate)
RIVER RATING: Class III
MINIMUM AGE: 7 years old
PRICE: from $159
Our Arkansas River trips include a variety of trip lengths, excitement levels and multi-adventure package options.
Our Browns Canyon trips feature a series of class III rapids through the scenic Browns Canyon National Monument, and we offer options for a 1/2 day Browns Canyon, full day Browns Canyon Sizzler or our overnight 24 Hours in Browns. Paddle through the breathtaking granite walls of the canyon with opportunities to view wildlife. Kids ages 7 and up and join us on this section, and the thrilling rapids and breathtaking scenery make this trip great for all ages!
Just north of Browns Canyon lies the Numbers and Narrows sections of the Arkansas River. Our Numbers and Narrow trips are a bit more extreme than Browns Canyon, and rafters must be at least 15 years old to join us on these sections. Our Numbers half day trip speeds you through exciting class III-V rapids over 6 miles and is perfect for those looking to experience the thrill of more advanced rapids on a half day adventure.
The most extreme section of the Arkansas River is the Pine Creek section of Granite, CO, just a few minutes north of our Buena Vista Outpost. This section features the most technical and challenging whitewater on the Arkansas River. The Pine Creek rapid gradually drops 200 feet and brings you right into the next rapid, Trip Drop Rapid. Our trips on the Pine Creek section are available as a The Gauntlet, a full day trip allowing you to blast down the most continuous section of whitewater on the Arkansas River, as you navigate class III through V rapids on some of Colorado’s fastest whitewater. and 3 day Mild to Wild that includes rafting on Browns Canyon, Pine Creek, Numbers and Narrows sections, as well as an exciting rappel and one night spent under the stars, the other in one of our cozy cabins!
Our Buena Vista outpost also hosts our Mountaintop Zipline and Granite Via Ferrata courses, with opportunities to package your adventure experience and maximize your day! We additionally offer Horseback Riding trips, as well as cabins and campsites!
Best time to raft: May – September
Ages: 7 years old and up
Duration: 1/2 day, full day, multiday
Other Activities: Zipline, Via Ferrata, Rock Climbing, Horseback riding
