Raft Browns Canyon National Monument & Hot Springs
Raft Browns Canyon, then soak at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs
Duration
Up to 8 Hours
Includes
Rafting, lunch, hot springs
Highlights
Raft through Browns Canyon National Monument, then head to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort to relax after your time on the river. Your day includes a Burger BBQ lunch at the Riverside Beer Garden.
- Raft through Browns Canyon National Monument
- Relax at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort with included tickets
- Enjoy a Burger BBQ lunch at the Riverside Beer Garden
- Start at the Buena Vista Rafting Outpost with a 9:00 am departure
- Plan for up to 8 hours total, depending on conditions
- Meet the minimum age requirement of 7+
What's Included
- Rafting trip
- Burger BBQ lunch
- Tickets to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort
- Wetsuit package: wetsuit, splash jacket, river shoes
Things to know
Check in 45 minutes before departure. Bring extra money for optional guide gratuity, photos, and souvenirs.
Cancellation Policy
Fewer than 10 guests: full refund if you cancel more than 72 hours before departure; no refunds within 72 hours. Groups of 10+: full refund if you cancel more than 1 week before departure; no refunds within 1 week.
FAQs
Arrive and check in 45 minutes before the 9:00 am departure.
Bring a swimsuit, quick-drying clothes (no cotton or denim), sunglasses, sunscreen, and dry clothes and a towel for after your trip.
Yes. Your trip includes a free wetsuit package: wetsuit, splash jacket, and river shoes.
More about Browns Canyon National Monument
Browns Canyon National Monument is one of Colorado's most spectacular stretches of wild country, a 21,500-acre expanse of granite cliffs, ponderosa forests, and rolling whitewater carved by the Arkansas River. Designated a national monument in 2015, this protected corridor sits between Buena Vista and Salida and offers some of the most accessible and exhilarating river rafting in the American West. The combination of dramatic rock formations, abundant wildlife, and consistently splashy rapids makes Browns Canyon National Monument a bucket-list destination for anyone who loves the outdoors.
This experience takes you straight into the heart of Browns Canyon National Monument by raft, navigating classic Class III rapids like Zoom Flume, Big Drop, and Seven Stairs as the river twists through towering walls of pink-hued granite. Between the adrenaline-pumping sections, calmer pools give you time to soak in the scenery: bighorn sheep picking their way along the cliffs, bald eagles overhead, and wildflowers spilling down the canyon walls in season. After the river miles, the trip continues to Mount Princeton Hot Springs, where natural geothermal pools at the base of the Chalk Cliffs offer the perfect counterpoint to the cold splash of the Arkansas. The pairing of whitewater inside Browns Canyon National Monument and a long soak afterward is what makes this day trip so memorable.
This adventure is ideal for active travelers, couples, families with older kids, and friend groups looking for a true Colorado mountain day. You do not need previous rafting experience, just a willingness to paddle, get wet, and trust your guide through the rapids. History buffs and nature lovers will appreciate the geology and wildlife of Browns Canyon National Monument, while anyone who enjoys a good soak will find the hot springs finale deeply restorative. If you want one day that captures the wild beauty, the thrill, and the relaxed mountain spirit of central Colorado, rafting Browns Canyon National Monument and unwinding at Mount Princeton delivers all of it.
