Browns Canyon Rafting + Via Ferrata

Excitement and scenery await on your Browns Canyon + Via Ferrata full-day adventure. Climb into the Rocky Mountains and rush the rapids of the mighty Arkansas River.

Spend half your day climbing high into the mountainside on our Via Ferrata course. This includes assisted climbing features, ziplines, a rappel, and even a heart-pounding 78-foot freefall! The other half of your day, you’ll paddle through Brown’s Canyon National Monument and experience some of the best rafting in the country on the Arkansas River.

Minimum age: 12, minimum weight: 75 lbs. maximum weight: 250 lbs.

Trip Highlights

What to Expect

• A full day of adventure
• Via Ferrata climbing tour at the base of the Collegiate Peaks Mountain Range
• Opportunities to rappel down the granite cliff and soar on lines from our zipline course
• A unique form of Colorado bungee jumping with our 78-foot freefall
• Rafting on class III rapids through Browns Canyon National Monument
• Opportunities for wildlife spotting
• The chance to experience a national monument from the river’s unique vantage point
• Experienced raft and Via Ferrata guides

Trip Resources

Trip Itinerary*

• Meet your guide at our Buena Vista outpost and gear up for your Via Ferrata adventure
• Climb into the cliffside along the granite rock, using iron rungs and bars to traverse the mountainside
• Break for lunch – please pack a lunch
• Meet back at the Buena Vista Outpost with your guide
• Gear up for the Browns Canyon rafting trip and shuttle to the water
• Paddle through class III rapids on this famous stretch of whitewater
• Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife
• Shuttle back to the outpost and check out the photos from your trips

*For some trips, the order of adventures may be switched. Please check your individual booking for exact details.

Getting Here

Who will love this trip?

• Families, groups, and individuals looking to try two completely unique outdoor activities
• Nature enthusiasts hoping to experience the beautiful scenery of Colorado’s rivers and mountains
• Adrenaline seekers hoping for a full-day of excitement
• Any groups with kids 12 and older

What to Expect

Related Packages

1. Browns Canyon Half Day + Zipline Package

   This multi-adventure package will keep you energized and smiling the entire day, as you fly through the trees on our Mountaintop Zipline course and then rush the rapids on our Brown's Canyon whitewater adventure.

2. Colorado Via Ferrata – Granite

   Adventure awaits as you conquer the cliffside on this unique mountaintop climbing experience. Feel a rush of adrenaline as you traverse across and above the Arkansas River Valley, using iron rungs, bars, and other features to ascend. Your stomach will drop on our hanging bridge and freefall flight line!

3. Browns Canyon Express

   Experience the best of the Arkansas River on this 3/4 day trip through class III rapids and the majestic Browns Canyon National Monument. You'll get the best of our Brown's Canyon half-day with even more splashy fun and a later start to your day.

4. Browns Canyon Half Day + Rock Climb

5. Browns Canyon Sizzler

   The full-day Browns Canyon Sizzler represents the ultimate Colorado rafting experience! This trip offers a full day of classic white water rafting through class III rapids on the Arkansas River, complete with a riverside fajitas lunch.  

Not sure yet? Here are some other activities

1. Gold Rush Rafting+ Zipline

     Join us on one of our best family trips, and experience Colorado fun on the river and in the air. From our Idaho Springs outpost, paddle Clear Creek's best family-friendly whitewater and soar through the trees on our cliffside zipline course.  

2. Mount Blue Sky, Colorado Via Ferrata

   Get your heart up on one of our most daring adventure trips! On our Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course, you will traverse the cliffside in this unique assisted climbing experience, with views of the Rockies and the town of Idaho Springs present the entire way.

3. Browns Canyon 1/2 Day

     Get ready to experience the best of Colorado on our Brown's Canyon half-day trip. This family-friendly adventure rushes you down the Arkansas River and through Browns Canyon National Monument on exciting yet mellower class III rapids.  

4. Polaris RZR 2 Hour Rental+ Scenic Float Package

   Looking to kick up a little dirt and then wash it off? Experience the best of Colorado's outdoors on our full-day UTV Rental and Scenic Float adventure package!  

5. Mt. Princeton Waterfall Ride

   Ride along the scenic Browns Creek approximately 2 hours, taking in beautiful views of waterfalls along the way. The Arkansas Valley holds the most 14,000-foot peaks of anywhere in Colorado; this stunning scenery makes it one of the best places to experience a horseback ride.

6. The Gauntlet – Pine Creek & Numbers

   Experience the wildest rafting offered on the Arkansas River in Colorado.  On this rafting adventure, you'll have the opportunity to navigate the Pine Creek and Numbers sections of this iconic river, rushing through class III-V rapids under towering peaks and through Colorado's most natural areas.

7. 24 Hours in Browns Canyon

   Experience Colorado's best overnight whitewater rafting. This trip provides a unique way to explore the most popular stretch of whitewater rafting in the country as you paddle and camp in the heart of Colorado's Rockies.

8. Upper Clear Creek 1/2 Day + Via Ferrata

   Spend your day venturing through the mountains on with this thrilling combo of activities! You'll have the opportunity to challenge yourself on the water and land, as you rush class IV rapids on the Upper Clear Creek and climb high into the cliffside on our Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course.  

9. Colorado Scenic Float-Half Day

   This wonderful Colorado River float trip is a gently flowing section that is inviting to all ages. You’ll encounter a few small rapids as the Colorado River winds through the Gore Range and Mountain Ranchland.

10. Mt. Princeton Sunset Ride

    <p style="text-align: left;">See why Colorado is known for its breathtaking sunsets. Being on horseback at sunset is a memory that will last forever. This two hour ride allows you to see the vistas that make the Arkansas Valley so renowned for its scenery.</p>

11. Mountaintop Ziplining In Colorado – Half Day

    Fly between towering old-growth pine trees and cliffs on our Mountaintop Zipline, a unique Colorado experience fun for all ages. This course may be the most incredible way to see the Arkansas River valley as you experience Colorado from a unique vantage point.  

12. Walk & Wade Fly Fishing Trip

    Explore the incredible waters of the Upper Colorado River with a knowledgeable fishing guide. It doesn't matter if it's your first-time fishing or you're a seasoned angler, this trip is fit for all levels of experience.    

13. Rock Climb Half Day

    Take in the Rocky Mountain scenery while our guides cover the basics of belaying, rappelling, and setting anchors. Whether you’re looking to learn more about rock climbing or trying it for the first time this is a perfect trip for you!

14. Stand Up Paddleboard Half Day

    Try the newest, most fun activity on the river - Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)! On this half-day trip, you'll SUP 5 miles down the Colorado River. You'll stand up or kneel on a large, surfboard-shaped board and steer with a long paddle as you navigate down the river. Prepare yourself for falling into the water, as it's highly likely that you'll go for a swim!