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.
The Highlights Of Your Trip
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.
Book this trip
How much
Pricing
From $203
Ages 12+
What's included
Activities
- Rafting
- Via Ferrata
Trip Length
Duration
full day, no lunch
How Hard
Difficulty
Who can go
Minimum Age
12 years old & Up
What an AVA Browns Canyon RAFTING + VIA FERRATA looks like
Trip Highlights
A. 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
B. 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 HereC. 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
On Your Whitewater Rafting + Via Ferrata Adventure
A full day of excitement
Your morning will kick off with a mountaineering adventure on our Via Ferrata course. You will traverse along the granite cliffside high above the Arkansas River Valley. Between ascending crags, rappelling down the rock face, multiple ziplines, and the incredible views, this one-of-a kind climbing experience will not disappoint. This course also includes AVA’s newest feature: a flight line. Spring from the cliff face into a freefall as your heart pounds with excitement.
The adventure continues as you hit the water on one of Colorado’s most whitewater stretches on our Browns Canyon trip. For a few hours, these Class III rapids will keep you paddling as you admire the beautiful scenery and paddle through the National Monument.
Unparalleled Scenery
Set in the Arkansas River Valley, both your river and mountain experiences reward with unapparelled views in addition to thrilling adventure. The startling blue water of the Arkansas River will take your breath away, as the granite walls of Browns Canyon rise alongside your raft. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including bighorn sheep, eagles, and trout.
On your Via Ferrata adventure, you’ll experience a completely different view of this beautiful area. From your mountaintop vantage point, the sheer exposure of the cliff face reaps stunning views of the river below and the Collegiate Peaks Mountain Range stretching into the distance.
Included Gear & Packing List
All of your gear will be provided for your rafting and Via Ferrata excursions. This includes:
- PFD
- Wetsuit
- Splash jacket
- Helmet
- Via Ferrata Gear
- Gloves
WHAT TO BRING
- Shoes that will stay securely on your feet… no flip flops or crocs! (Rafting)
- Fleece and/or quick dry clothing
- Waterproof sunscreen & sunglasses
- Closed toed-shoes (Via Ferrata)
- Pants or longer shorts that will fit in your Via Ferrata harness
- Lunch
- Cash to tip your raft & Via Ferrata guides!
Continue the Adventure
Adventure abounds in the Arkansas River Valley and nearby Buena Vista. Whether you’re in the area for a day or a weekend, there’s plenty activities to keep you entertained.
- Stay at one of our cabins or campsites to make the most of your time in the area
- Explore other outdoor activities in the area including hiking, biking, fly-fishing, or horseback riding
- Check out one of the many restaurants or breweries in the town of Buena Vista
- Soak and relax in nearby Cottonwood Hot Springs or Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Testimonials
Trip Location
Buena Vista
40671 US-24
Buena Vista, CO 81211
If using Google Maps, ‘US 24 North’ is incorrect and will take you 10 miles south of us. Type in the address exactly as listed above to ensure correct directions.
On the hunt for a true mountain excursion? Head to Buena Vista, Colorado to raft through a national monument on our Brown’s Canyon 1/2 day trip, fly above the Arkansas River Valley on our Mountaintop Zipline, or Rock Climb the majestic Granite Gorge Cliffs, where views of the majestic Collegiate Peaks will take your breath away.
AVA’s Buena Vista Outpost is located just over an hour from Summit County and under two and a half hours from Denver, Colorado.
FAQs
Those with generally good physical fitness will be able to enjoy this experience. Our Via Ferrata course requires that you must be 12 years old and weigh at least 75 pounds, as this climbing adventure may be a bit more challenging. Guests do not need to have prior rafting or climbing experience but should be able to be active all day, as well as climb ladders.
It depends. Your guides will evaluate all the groups participating in the trip and assign out the rafts from there. All of our rafts can fit at least 6 people, but the number of people that will be in your raft depends on numbers. If you are part of a large group, you may be spread across a few rafts.
We provide all necessary gear, including wetsuits, splash jackets, helmets, harnesses, and gloves. We recommend that for your rafting portion you wear closed-toed shoes that will stay on your feet. For your Via Ferrata course, please wear long pants or longer shorts that will be comfortable with a harness and avoid any loose-fitting clothing or jewelry.
We seek to run all rafting trips regardless of weather, including during thunderstorms. Aerial adventures may be cancelled due to high winds or lighting. We prioritize guest safety above all else, however, and guides and managers at the outpost will communicate with your group if it is determined it is unsafe for your adventure to continue.
Please refer to our cancellation policy for all details regarding weather and cancellations.
On your Via Ferrata adventure, you may bring a small backpack that can be used to hold a water bottle. In hot weather, we recommend coming prepared with water. On your rafting trip, you will not be able to bring a water bottle into the raft, as it may fall out during your trip. Please ask your guide if you may be able to bring and leave water in your shuttle vehicle.
Our Via Ferrata courses adhere to all safety standards and are extremely safe. Participants remain connected to the cliffside at all times through a harness and 2 cable system. You will clip these cables in and out as you move up and along the course, with it being impossible to clip out of both cables simultaneously.
The Via Ferrata offers a physically challenging experience encompassing a range of activities such as hiking, traversing, mountaineering, rappelling, ziplining, and navigating various cable bridges. To fully enjoy the Via Ferrata tour, we advise participants to be physically active, possessing upper body strength, balance, and endurance. While previous climbing experience is not required, a willingness to embrace adventure and a moderate level of fitness are recommended.
Yes, please pack a lunch to enjoy between adventures.
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