Departures at Cotopaxi location
Action-packed day w/ lunch included
On our Brown's Canyon rafting adventure, you'll experience the best of Colorado's breathtaking natural beauty and thrilling whitewater rapids. Traverse through fun class III rapids like Pinball, Zoom Flume, the Staircase, and the notorious Seidel's Suckhole, while taking in stunning views of the Sawatch Range, home to some of Colorado's highest peaks.
As you float through the scenic canyon that parallels the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area, indulge in a delicious riverside lunch halfway through the excursion. This is the perfect Arkansas River rafting adventure for families, groups, and adventure seekers of all levels. Come raft the newly declared National Monument and make unforgettable memories!
Anyone who loves to hit rapids, eat great food, sit by rivers, learn about local natural history and soak in the beauty along the Arkansas River. So, practically everyone! Browns Canyon rafting is family-friendly for families with kids over eight years old, making it a perfect full-day trip for tweens and teens.
This is offered as a full-day adventure, so groups who want to take advantage of the river day from morning to late afternoon will love this trip. It's also a wonderful option for people who love to learn about our federally protected natural areas and the local stories and interesting facts about the area (with a few silly guide jokes thrown in, of course!).
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: Age: Minimum age requirement 8+. Weight requirement 50 lbs
Trip Length: Full-day trip: 6+ hours in total, 4 to 5 hours on the water
Adventure Level: Class II-IV rapids. Some paddling required
On our Brown's Canyon rafting adventure, you'll experience the best of Colorado's breathtaking natural beauty and thrilling whitewater rapids. Traverse through fun class III rapids like Pinball, Zoom Flume, the Staircase, and the notorious Seidel's Suckhole, while taking in stunning views of the Sawatch Range, home to some of Colorado's highest peaks.
As you float through the scenic canyon that parallels the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area, indulge in a delicious riverside lunch halfway through the excursion. This is the perfect Arkansas River rafting adventure for families, groups, and adventure seekers of all levels. Come raft the newly declared National Monument and make unforgettable memories!
Anyone who loves to hit rapids, eat great food, sit by rivers, learn about local natural history and soak in the beauty along the Arkansas River. So, practically everyone! Browns Canyon rafting is family-friendly for families with kids over eight years old, making it a perfect full-day trip for tweens and teens.
This is offered as a full-day adventure, so groups who want to take advantage of the river day from morning to late afternoon will love this trip. It's also a wonderful option for people who love to learn about our federally protected natural areas and the local stories and interesting facts about the area (with a few silly guide jokes thrown in, of course!).
Location: Arkansas River with departure at Cotopaxi location
Requirements: Age: Minimum age requirement 8+. Weight requirement 50 lbs
Trip Length: Full-day trip: 6+ hours in total, 4 to 5 hours on the water
Adventure Level: Class II-IV rapids. Some paddling required
Departures at Cotopaxi location
Action-packed day w/ lunch included
Rafting through Brown’s Canyon National Monument provides some of the most scenic views on the Arkansas River. As you leave the roads behind and navigate through exciting Colorado whitewater, the natural landscape will surely be a compliment to your adventure.
Midway through the trip we will stop riverside for a hearty fresh lunch where you can recharge and take a quick hike to view the next set of rapids
You will be accompanied by a professional river guide that will entertain, educate and safely guide your crew down the river.
Your whitewater adventure starts bright and early with a meetup at our rafting outpost at 19487 US Hwy 50, Cotopaxi, CO. . Our team will greet you, check you in, get you some gear and ensure that your group is ready to hit the rapids.
Our outpost is about 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs and 30 minutes from Salida. If you are traveling from the north we do offer the option to meet at the take out to reduce your drive time. If this is desired please schedule a trip by calling in so we can get all the logistics planned out correctly for you. If meeting at our office please aim to get to our meeting spot by at least 8:15 am for a prompt departure. Once our guest attendants check you in, it’s time to suit up in our provided helmets and life jackets and shuttle 50 minutes to the put-in. During the ride, you’ll build up excitement for the trip by talking with your guide, singing to music, and snagging peeks at the Sawatch Range in the distance as we approach Browns Canyon.
We finally reached the put-in! You’ll get to breathe the fresh air of Browns Canyon National Monument and appreciate why it’s so important to protect this region’s stunning terrain.
Before you hop on the river, it’s time for a safety talk! Your guide will take a few minutes to walk you through the best ways to paddle, explain how to navigate the rapids and share raft commands you should know. Be prepared to laugh at a few guide puns along the way!
Now, the real fun begins! Browns Canyon Rafting has a short stint of calm water for you to get your river legs and practice some group paddles, but it’s not long before it’s time to hit some fun whitewater! Some of the thrilling class-III rapids you’ll fly through are Pinball, Zoom Flume, the Staircase and (the obviously named) Big Drop. At one point, you’ll even conquer the notorious Seidel’s Suckhole, the class-IV rapid found on this section of the river.
In between rapids, you can enjoy the scenery, learn about the area from your guide, chat with your group about the previous rapid, and even jump in the water for a quick cool-off in one of the calm eddies along the river.
Halfway through the whitewater fun, you’ll get to catch your breath and enjoy a moment of peace along the river with a scenic picnic lunch. Our guides throw down on the river AND in the (camp) kitchen to make you a fantastic meal! Take a dip, soak in some sun, eat yummy food and recharge for the second half of the trip.
Along the trip, your raft will be captured by our talented photographer for some dramatic photos of navigating rapids. These photos will be available for purchase at the end of your trip so you can keep your Royal Gorge memories forever.
Browns Canyon Rafting
Browns Canyon rafting has a range of water personalities, from calm moments of water to small riffles to exciting class-III rapids and one wildly thrilling class-IV rapid. You will navigate through fun and splashy rapids that are easy and fun to navigate, like Pinball, Zoom Flume, the Staircase, and the notorious Seidel’s Suckhole. You can get a little taste of every type of water on this all-you-can-raft whitewater buffet!
Your expert guide will ensure everyone has a great time on all the different types of whitewater. In between rapids, you can hear some quick facts about the areas you float by.
Browns Canyon Views
In 2015, Obama declared Browns Canyon a National Monument, granting this area extra protections and national recognition. The river grants you a view of the rugged granite cliffs, vibrant rock outcroppings and stunning mountain vistas that make Browns Canyon a renowned area for nature activities. This monument includes the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area, a popular spot for archeologists to learn more about the unique geology, diverse ecosystems and 3,000-foot range of elevation across its 22,000 acres.
During the calmer moments in the water, you can also drink in the views of the striking Sawatch range, home to some of Colorado’s highest peaks.
Across the map, Browns Canyon rafting will connect you to some of the most stunning and scientifically important areas of Colorado’s wilderness.
During our Colorado rafting season, we raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
We can fit 6 to 7 guests in a raft depending on the group’s size, plus your guide.
Transportation to and from the river, helmet, PFD/life jacket and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
We recommend using a wetsuit for May and June departures, while for July and August departures, they are typically not needed. Be sure to check out our packing list!
It is recommended but not required. We take non-swimmers down this stretch on a normal basis.
During our Colorado rafting season, we raft daily from the beginning of May through Labor Day weekend. The season can be extended if conditions permit.
We can fit 6 to 7 guests in a raft depending on the group’s size, plus your guide.
Transportation to and from the river, helmet, PFD/life jacket and splash jacket. Lunch is also provided on full-day tours.
We recommend using a wetsuit for May and June departures, while for July and August departures, they are typically not needed. Be sure to check out our packing list!
It is recommended but not required. We take non-swimmers down this stretch on a normal basis.
We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch customer service and are here to assist you in any way we can. Let us know how we can help!
If you'd prefer, email us at info@arkansasrivertours.com or call 1.800.321.4352.
Since our inception in 1973, Arkansas River Tours has been committed to providing the safest, highest-quality river trips available.
Phone: 1.719.942.4362
info@arkansasrivertours.com
Cañon City Location
Cotopaxi Location
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