One of the preferred training and competition runs of many World Class kayakers, your experienced guides love using this section as a raft run.
Highlights
- Full Day Rafting - The Numbers
- Make radical maneuvers as you punch powerful hydraulics and make lateral raft moves
- These class III-IV rapids, combined with outstanding scenery, make a float trip through the canyon an unforgettable experience
Useful Information
Full Day Rafting - The Numbers
Extremely rocky, this steep and very technical series of drops requires pinpoint precision paddling. Be prepared to make radical maneuvers as you punch powerful hydraulics and make lateral raft moves to thread the needle in boulder-choked drops. If you have time to look around you, the views of the 14,000 foot Collegiate Peaks are awe inspiring.
Finish the day in the relatively moderate non-stop whitewater of the Narrows section.
Wildlife is abundant in the Rockies! Bighorn sheep, eagles, deer, beaver, and coyotes can often be seen during your river trip.
This tour is seasonal and only operates from May to September.
Itinerary
The Arkansas River in central Colorado begins in the high mountains of the Mosquito and Sawatch Ranges near Leadville. It winds its way south and east through the mountains and eventually onto the Great Plains. There, the river meanders across Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas before becoming the Mississippi River's second largest tributary.
River rafting is the biggest single attraction, and with good reason. The Arkansas River boasts the most and, mile-for-mile, the best whitewater in Colorado. Among the many raftable sections of the river, Browns Canyon is the most popular. The river leaves the broad valley here and plunges into a beautiful, boulder-strewn chasm. The rapids are of the pool-drop variety, each rapid is followed by a pool where boaters can regain their composure before plunging into the next one. The rapids have names like Zoom-Flume, Big Drop, and Widowmaker, to name a few. These class III-IV rapids, combined with outstanding scenery, make a float trip through the canyon an unforgettable experience.
While you are visiting the Arkansas Valley, relax and enjoy the mild climate. The high mountains to the west capture most of the moisture, leaving the valley sunny and dry. There is only an average of 9.8 inches of precipitation per year - compared to 15.5 inches for Denver.
